Western routs Trinity for winning mark

Oct. 22—CUYAHOGA HTS. — The Western Reserve football team finished with a winning record for a fourth consecutive season after Friday's 48-7 win over Garfield Heights Trinity.

The Roughriders (6-4) will unofficially be the No. 13 seed in the Division VI Region 22 playoff bracket, where they will make the 40-mile trip to No. 4 West Salem Northwestern (8-2) next Friday.

"We came out and did a good job early of setting the tone," Western Reserve head coach Ty Stevenson said. "I'm proud we were able to go on the road in an unfamiliar place and play a good clean game."

Logan Wiegel scored on a 44-yard touchdown on Western's third play from scrimmage to give the 'Riders the quick lead. The first of six straight extra points by Sarah Handke gave Western the 7-0 lead.

On their next possession, quarterback Rhett Grose ran 37 yards to the 5, then scored two plays later from the 4 for a 14-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Western scored a third time when Gross connected with running back Connor Dawson on a 24-yard TD pass. Trinity (4-6) answered with its lone score on a 75-yard TD pass to make it a 21-7 deficit.

But on Trinity's next possession, the punter dropped the snap and the 'Riders took over at the Trojans' 37-yard line with just 50 seconds left in the first half.

The 'Riders then cashed in, as Grose found Chris Buchanan on a 24-yard TD pass with just five seconds left in the half to make it a 28-7 lead.

Western's first two possessions of the third quarter resulted in touchdown runs of 40 and 50 yards by Wiegel as it made it a commanding 42-7 lead.

"Logan ran hard and had a nice game," Stevenson said.

With backups in the game late, freshman Hayden Keith threw a 41-yard TD pass to classmate Brexton Fraelich to close out the scoring.

Wiegel ran 13 times for 177 yards and 3 TDs to pace the 'Riders. Grose ran 12 times for 178 yards and a TD, and finished 3-of-8 passing for 44 yards and 2 TDs. Dawson added 52 yards on 10 rush attempts.

As a team, Western ran for 325 yards on 41 carries.

After a 2-8 season in Stevenson's first year at Western, the 'Riders are 28-13 over the past four years.

"I'm happy for our seniors to finish the regular season on a high note with a win to get us to 6-4," Stevenson said. "After a 1-3 start, I'm proud of them for continuing to practice and play hard and get to above .500 tonight."

Western Reserve 14 14 14 6 — 48

Garfield Trinity 0 7 0 0 — 7

Scoring

WR — Logan Wiegel 44 run (Sarah Handke kick)

WR — Rhett Grose 4 run (Handke kick)

WR — Connor Dawson 24 pass from Grose (Handke kick)

TR — Lejon Woods 75 pass from Michael Miles (kick good)

WR — Chris Buchanan 24 pass from Grose (Handke kick)

WR — Wiegel 40 run (Handke kick)

WR — Wiegel 50 run (Handke kick)

WR — Brexton Fraelich 41 pass from Hayden Keith (kick failed)

Willard 26, Vermilion 14

VERMILION — In a streaky regular season, Willard closed out with a win.

The Flashes won their first four games, then dropped their next five, before securing a league victory over the Sailors to finish the season 5-5 (1-4 SBC Bay).

Willard finished 31-of-44 passing for 367 yards and 3 TDs.

Willard will miss the state playoffs, which it hasn't qualified for since 2002. A win over any of its other SBC Bay opponents would likely have been enough to get in, but Bill Speller's team for its first five-win season since 2018.

Willard 0 13 0 13 — 26

Vermilion 0 7 7 0 — 14

Scoring

WIL — 65 pass (kick good)

VER — Tyler McCale 7 run (Caleb German kick)

WIL — 26 run (kick failed)

VER — Owen Keyser 20 pass from Aaron Mathis (German kick)

WIL — 34 pass (pass failed)

WIL — 20 pass (kick good)