Lake County Sentinel
Blue Devils demons haunt them in loss to Red Devils
BY TIM SHIRER
SPORTS EDITOR
(WICKLIFFE, OH) - On Friday night the Wickliffe Blue Devils welcomed the Crestwood Red Devils to the Campus of Wickliffe’s Memorial Stadium. The Blue Devils entered the game 1-2 but had shown positive signs in the first three games. Crestwood entered 2-1 and proved the better record was the better team as they defeated the Blue Devils 26-7.
The Red Devils took control of the game early on a methodical drive of 13 plays on 70 yards which ended in with a seven-yard touchdown run by junior Nate Blasiole giving Crestwood an 8-0 lead with 5:44 left on the first quarter clock after Blasiole ran the ball in to convert the two-point conversion.
After the Blue Devils turned the ball over on down on their first drive Crestwood took too little time taking advantage. On the second play of the drive Blasiole took the ball to the house 63 yards giving the Red Devils a 14-0 lead with 2:03 left on the first quarter clock after the two-point conversion failed.
It was a full 12 minutes before more points were put on the board. Wickliffe scored their first and only points of the night when sophomore Jimmie Feaster took the ball 17 yards for the score and senior Eliza Wills kicked the extra point to cut the Red Devils lead to 14-7 with 2:03 left on the first half clock.
After both teams had short unsuccessful drives the first half ended.
The Blue Devils who deferred to start the game received the second half kickoff and looked like they were putting a nice drive together when the Red Devils intercepted a pass and took possession at the Wickliffe 20-yard line after a 45 return of the pick by junior Tristan Addis. The momentum had swung back in favor of the Red Devils.
Just three plays later the Red Devils turned the ball over and the momentum swung back to Wickliffe. It didn’t last long as the Blue Devils senior QB EJ Mester threw his second interception of the quarter giving Crestwood the ball at the Wickliffe 32. Five plays later with 2:50 left on the third quarter clock who else but Blasiole took the ball across the goal line from five yards out. The 2 pt conversion failed and the Red Devils were in control 20-7.
As the third quarter wound down and the final quarter began both teams continued to play sloppy football committing a boat load of penalties and both sidelines getting warnings.
The final pitchfork by the Red Devils came on a 58-yard run by Blasiole with just 2:36 left on the game clock. The 2 pt conversion once again failed and the final total was 26-7.
The Red Devils only outgained the Blue Devils 243-232, but turnovers and penalties made it impossible for the Blue Devils to finish drives and that was the difference in the contest.
The Blue Devils will travel to Grand Valley next Friday to take on the Mustangs in Orwell at 7 pm..
tshirer@lakecountysentinel.com follow Tim on Twitter @TBBucsTim or follow us on Twitter @LCSentinelcom
POSTED 09/08/2023 23:44
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Photo by Tim Shirer
