Buchtel finishes off regular season with shutout of Firestone; 4 teams from Akron City Series headed to postseason
AKRON, Ohio – It didn’t take long for Buchtel to take control in a 31-0 win over Firestone in the final game of the regular season for both teams on Saturday afternoon in an Akron City Series matchup.
Firestone received the opening kickoff and fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, which was recovered by Buchtel. On Buchtel’s first play, quarterback Stevie Diamond hit Demetrice Coates over the middle for a 17-yard touchdown.
On the second play of Firestone’s next possession, Buchtel defensive back Dame Johnson jumped a route, intercepted the pass by Firestone quarterback Daylon Taylor and took it to the end zone to give the Griffins a 14-0 lead just 65 seconds into the game.
“I was being patient looking at the (wide receiver’s) hips,” Johnson said. “I saw (the quarterback) read a slant, so I broke on the ball, and I caught it.”
The start was just what the doctor ordered for the Griffins.
“Now you get that oil burning,” Buchtel head coach Bryan Williams said. “It fuels the players up, it fuels the coaches up, and our mind is racing and now we are ready to go and that's what type of team we are.”
The Buchtel offense stalled out in the first half, gaining just 32 more yards of total offense after the Diamond touchdown pass, but the Griffins came out firing in the second half, going 55 yards in eight plays and finishing with an 8-yard touchdown run by Justin “Hawk” Hill to take a 21-0 lead. Hill added another touchdown run later in the third.
The initial drive of the third quarter covered more yards than Buchtel’s offense had gained in the entire first half and Williams didn’t pull any punches when asked why the second half was different than the first.
“I cussed their (butts) out (at halftime),” Williams said. “I’m going to be honest with you, I’m not sugarcoating that.”
Demetrion Duvall finished the scoring on a 38-yard field goal with 9:45 left in the game to send the game into a running clock.
The Buchtel defense was stingy all game, allowing just 33 yards in the first half and 82 yards overall, while forcing three turnovers. Firestone did not get into Buchtel territory until there was 2:16 left in the third quarter.
It was the fifth shutout for the Buchtel defense this season and the fourth in five games in Akron City Series play.
“Our offseason started in May, and we've been out here getting after it, even if it was on the gym floor just walking through,” Williams said. “These guys fully understood what our defense was going to be and defense wins championships.”
Both teams clinched their spots in the OHSAA football playoffs on Friday night as games across the area played out.
Buchtel will most likely be the No. 9 seed in Division IV, Region 13 when the playoffs begin on Friday, Oct. 28 and will play at Cardinal Mooney. Last season, the Griffins made a run to the regional semifinals in Region 13 as the No. 13 seed, knocking off Woodridge and Northwest before falling to West Branch.
With the experience of tasting some success in the postseason last year, Williams has a simple message he will preach to his team this week.
Buchtel football coach Bryan Williams works the sidelines in a game in 2022. Photo: Jeff Harwell
Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports
“Don’t take it for granted and take it all in,” Williams said. “Understand that only so few get to Week 11. And to our seniors, if you want to continue your season, you will do whatever you need to do in your preparation, you will do whatever you need to do inside the hallways, you'll do whatever you need to do inside the classroom and that transitions over to play.”
Despite the loss, Firestone still made the playoffs in Division II, Region 5, where they will most likely be the No. 15 seed and would then play at Walsh Jesuit in the first round.
The Akron City Series will send four teams to the playoffs, as East also made it in Division III, Region 9, where the Dragons will most likely be the No. 8 seed and have a will home game against Canfield in the first round (at Ellet).
Ellet also made the playoffs in Division II, Region 5 with a win over East on Friday night and will be the No. 16 seed with a game at Archbishop Hoban.
Williams says it is “beautiful” to see four of the six teams from the Akron City Series make the postseason.
“I don’t hold my tongue,” Williams said. “I said it in our preseason media day that all of these other leagues look at us as a doormat. They don’t respect us at all. And for us to have four teams out of the league go to the playoffs, that speaks volumes.”
-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveoh
