Rossford’s Chase Maxwell stiff arms Genoa defender R.J. Adkins. (Lee Welch | Sentinel-Tribune)
By Ben Shanahan
Special to the Sentinel-Tribune
GENOA — The night at Genoa was filled with maroon and gray, but it was the Comets’ maroon and gray that dominated at Firestone Field as Genoa easily defeated visiting Rossford 41-0 Friday.
“We suffered two humbling losses the past two weeks. We looked in the mirror. We knew a lot of things we were doing were not getting out of our own way. We could control the aspects, make it a focal point and area improvement, and we had high energy play well on all three sides of the ball,” said Genoa coach Bill Fisher.
Genoa is 6-3 overall, 4-2 in the Northern Buckeye Conference. The Bulldogs suffer another tough loss, and with a mix of injuries, they have had a tough campaign, falling to 1-8 overall and they remain winless in the NBC.
“We are pretty banged up. Unfortunately, kids we had out there were playing as hard as they possibly could. We did not do a good job just adjusting. We need to do a better job on preparation. Hats off to Genoa,” said Rossford coach Todd Drusback
The first half was all Comets, as Genoa scored on every single drive, but the Bulldogs had something special to start the game.
Rossford ran a surprise onside kick to start the game, but the Comets were all over it as they recovered and started on offense from the 45. From there, it was Genoa’s run game, led by junior Luke Clement, that took the ball downfield for nine plays and 63 yards, ending with Clement’s one-yard touchdown, and making it 7-0 with 8:20 left in the opening quarter.
Genoa’s defense forced a turnover on downs on Rossford’s first possession. This time Genoa’s offense was led downfield by their passing game as sophomore quarterback Myles Mollenhauer led a six-play, 67-yard drive ending with fellow sophomore Alex Materni running it in for three yards, making it 14-0 with 1:51 left in the first.
Genoa’s defense forced another three-and-out to get Mollenhauer back under center quickly. He cooked up an eight-play, 59-yard touchdown drive ending with another rushing touchdown, this time Alex Spencer punching it in to make it 21-0.
Genoa’s defense then got an interception from sophomore Tommy Braun. Mollenhauer scored his first touchdown of the game after leading a four-play, 63-yard drive ending with him connecting with sophomore Jaxon Magnone for a 20-yard touchdown pass. Fisher says Magnone is coming into his own as a playmaker.
“He is a phenomenal player. He continues to be a very tough critic of himself, but he is a student of the game, but he understands what his job is, and he understands the places he can go on the field. I am glad he is in maroon and gray,” said Fisher.
Mollenhauer was not satisfied with just one touchdown throw. He got another after leading a seven-play, 70-yard drive ending with a three-yard pass, finding Josiah Clements in the end zone and making it 34-0 with 1:32 left in the opening half.
“I want to thank my O-line. They protected me great all day. My receivers made it easy to make plays. That is what it is all about,” said Mollenhauer.
The Comets’ defense forced another turnover, this time off a fumble. Materni, on the defensive side of the ball, scooped up the fumble, giving Genoa back the ball to end the first half.
Genoa scored the only touchdown of the second half coming from senior R.J. Adkins on a four-yard touchdown after an eight-play, 65-yard drive. The Comets’ defense finished the shutout with a fumble recovery by sophomore Adam Knight.
“Shutouts do not happen often,” Fisher said. “There are some places that get memorable ones. Anytime you get one that is a special game in which you play very disciplined, few mistakes, and it is great they got to experience that — the seniors in thier last regular season home game,” said Fisher.
