MOHAWK 49, EDGERTON 14
By Kyle Holsinger
SYCAMORE — Mohawk advances in the OHSAA Division VII, Region 27 playoffs after a first-round home win against Edgerton, 49-14.
Despite quarterback Ben Bogner’s big performance, Mohawk’s coach Eric Daniel felt like the Warriors took a while to get started Friday night.
“Inconsistent, but our kids, again, they play hard,” Coach Daniel said. “They’re physical. We stopped messing around, got them behind the sticks there; and then we finally cleaned it up with about four, five, six minutes left in the first half and made that nice run."
Edgerton received the opening kickoff and marched 47 yards on 12 plays before being turning the ball over on downs on a fourth-and-one at the Mohawk 15-yard line. That’s when Scottie Krontz was tackled for a loss by Warrior defenders Garrett Rinehart and Andon Clouse to give the Mohawk (9-2) the ball at their own 19.
Three plays later, Bogner kept it up the middle with nearly the entire Edgerton defense on his back and rumbled for a 19-yard run. A short pass to the left on the following play by Bogner to Kahne Hayman for nine yards got Mohawk into Bulldog territory.
A defensive pass interference call on Edgerton (6-5) moved the Warriors to the Bulldog 29. Two plays later, Bogner kept it up the middle again while running behind blockers for a 21-yard carry. Hayman scored on the next play on a rush from three yards out.
Brant Kirian’s point after was good, and Mohawk led 7-0 with 3:26 left in the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, Mohawk ran a reverse. Bogner handed the ball off to Kaden Bish who ran right and tossed the ball to Hayman who was scrambled the opposite direction before heaving a pass intended for Bogner on a wheel route. Edgerton linebacker Jackson Flower thwarted the trick play when he intercepted Hayman’s pass.
Midway through the quarter, the Bulldogs started their possession at their own 16-yard line. After a five-yard Maddox Baker keeper and a six-yard rush by Krontz, Baker looked off the Mohawk secondary to the left then threw right to a wide open Karter Gibson, who took it the rest of the way for a 73-yard touchdown pass. Parker Elden’s kick was good, and the score was tied 7-7 with 5:18 remaining in the first half.
Edgerton elected to attempt an onside kick, and Mohawk’s Hayden Parker covered the ball perfectly to give the Warriors the ball at their opponent’s 49.
A Bogner keeper up the middle for six yards then a keeper to the right for 15 yards set up a 14-yard trek by Kaden Bish to get Mohawk into the red zone. The next play, Bogner mowed over defenders on his way to the end zone for a 14-yard TD run. Aden Patrizi’s point-after-try was good and Mohawk was up by seven again just 54 second off of the clock since the last score.
The Warrior defense forced Edgerton to punt after going three-and-out. A 16-yard Bogner keeper on the first play set up a deep pass to Hayman for a 45-yard gain the next play.
Two plays later, Kaden Bish bulled into the end zone on a 13-yard run up the middle. Patrizi’s kick was good, and Mohawk led 21-7 with 1:58 to go in the second quarter.
Edgerton turned the ball over on downs on their ensuing possession to give the Warriors the pigskin at midfield.
Bogner found Kaleb Bish over the middle for a 25-yard pass. A few plays later, Mohawk found themselves in a fourth-and-12 situation from the Edgerton 16. Bogner scrambled to his left then found Hayman in the middle of the end zone for the TD strike with 16 seconds left in the half. Patrizi was good again to extend the Warriors lead going into the half, 28-7.
Another failed Bulldog onside kick gave Mohawk the ball at midfield. After picking up a first down, Bogner sprinted up the middle for a 28-yard TD trek. Patrizi put it through the uprights to make it a 35-7 game less than two minutes into the second half.
The Warrior defense was again able to get Edgerton to turn the ball over on downs after a huge sack on third down by Eli Chevalier and Logan Hemminger.
Mohawk’s Kaden Bish blasted to the right for a 25-yard pickup to get the ball into Bulldog territory. Bish powered ahead again the next play for another 14 yards.
On third-and-five, Bogner kept it for a seven-yard gain to get down to the Edgerton 16. Bogner scored on the very next play when he kept it and ran through defenders on his way to pay dirt. Patrizi’s converted the PAT for a running clock in the third quarter, 42-7.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Edgerton faced a fourth-and-eight at the Mohawk 40. Baker darted a pass to the right that was picked off by Hayman who returned it 65 yards for the pick-six. Patrizi’s kick made it 49-7.
The very next play from scrimmage, Edgerton’s Krontz ran to the right and beat the defenders that were chasing him to the corner as he was able to take it to the house for a 68-yard touchdown run. Elden’s PAT was good to round out the scoring.
Mohawk gained 369 total yards with 251 yards on the ground and 118 yards through the air.
Bogner was 6-of-11 for 118 passing yards and a TD while also having 17 rushes for 169 yards and two TDs on the night.
“Unbelievable. He’s a great quarterback, but god dang, give him the football, and he’s a load,” Coach Daniel said about Bogner’s rushing performance. “He doesn’t go backwards very often. He does a great job finishing it forward.”
“I could’ve been better in the pass game at times, but the O-line played a hell of a game,” Mohawk’s Bogner said. “I wasn’t getting touched ’til four or five yards so I give credit to the O-line tonight.”
Edgerton had 314 total offensive yards with 242 passing yards and 72 rushing yards.
Baker was 21-of-34 for 242 passing yards, a TD, and an interception. Gibson had six receptions for 120 yards.
The Warriors will host 12th-seed McComb (8-3) in the Region 27 quarterfinals.. The Panthers beat Edon on the road, 28-14 last night.
Benedictine 35, Tiffin Columbian 7
The Tornadoes' Zach Shawberry hit Daelen Brandeberry for a 41-yard scoring strike. It was tied 7-all after one quarter. It was all Bengals after that.
Calvert 55, Hardin Northern 25
The Senecas jumped out to a 21-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. Cal Warnament rushed for 296 yards in his team's victory.
Hopewell-Loudon 43, Margaretta 8
The Chieftains also jumped out to a big lead by the end of the first (23-0). Hopewell-Loudon will host former Midland Athletic League-rival Seneca East next Friday.
Seneca East 56, Collins Western Reserve 20
The Tigers were up 37-6 at the end of the first half. Next up, undefeated Hopewell-Loudon in the quarterfinals.
Carey 21, Tinora 17
This game came down to the final play. Different Devils scored each touchdown as Kyler Boes connected with Tripp Phoenix for a 60-yard TD pass; Mace Puckett ran in a 60-yard score; and Eli Steen rushed for a four-yard TD.
Gibsonburg 21, Arlington 6
Grant Smith scored on runs of 45 and four yards for the Golden Bears. Aidan Morant returned a pick-six as the defense got in on the scoring for Gibsonburg.
