Bulldogs sports roundup: One-point loss to Brecksville rattles SMF after leading nearly all of the game

Frustrating is the best way to describe the Stow-Munroe Falls football team’s 43-42 loss Sept. 16 at home to Brecksville-Broadview Heights in the Bulldogs’ Suburban League National Conference opener.

Stow-Munroe Falls fell to 1-4 overall.

The Bulldogs were up 15-0, 28-9 and 42-35. Their freshman quarterback, Jake Harrington, was 15-of-23 for 227 yards with three touchdown passes – in the first half. Junior Jack Smith replaced the injured Harrington in the second half and was 5-of-5 for 114 yards with a touchdown pass. The home team racked up nearly 500 yards of total offense, outgaining the Bees 485-358.

“We should be talking about a victory. We were exponentially better than Brecksville,” head coach Martin Poder said. “We should’ve blown them out. Jake got injured at the end of the first half. He had a hell of a game. He was probably going to throw for six touchdowns and have 500 yards passing. It was going to be pretty impressive. It’s sad. We’ve got to figure out how to win.”

A 25-point second quarter allowed Brecksville to forge a 28-28 tie at halftime.

“We let that second quarter get out of hand,” said Poder. “We let them stick around. Brecksville got some things clicking on their side of the ball in that second quarter, and we needed to get to halftime and regroup defensively. That was pretty much the story of the game.”

With Stow-Munroe Falls leading by seven points with about 4 1/2 minutes left in the game, Bulldogs senior cornerback Rider Spath seemed to make the play of the game when he intercepted the ball deep in his team’s own territory.

On the very next play, a Brecksville defender stripped Smith of the football, picked it up and ran it into the end zone to pull the Bees within 42-41. The visitors converted the 2-point conversion to take their only lead of the game.

“We got the ball back and had multiple opportunities to capitalize,” Poder said. “We probably picked up 60 yards of offense, but the ball only moved about 10 yards because of multiple penalties and errors. That last part of the game was a microcosm of our season to date of us just in critical situations where we’re not welcoming those situations and thriving in them. We’re cowering in them right now.

“With about a minute and a half left, we had a 4th-and-30 from our own 25-yard line and we completed a 29-and-a-half-yard pass. We were a half-yard short. We get another half-yard and a new set of downs, and we only have to go 20 more yards to kick a field goal.”

Senior running back Sal Romito rushed the ball five times for 86 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown run. He also had six receptions for 119 yards, including 61- and 39-yard touchdown catches from Harrington.

Senior running back Teddy Gregory, Jr., ran the ball nine times for 75 yards, including a 1-yard TD run.

Spath, doubling as a wide receiver, had three catches for 87 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown pass from Harrington.

Senior wideout Jabari Hopkins caught five passes for 83 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown pass from Smith. Smith plays wide receiver when not quarterbacking, and he had a 29-yard reception from Harrington prior to the freshman’s injury.

Defensively, Spath led the way with four tackles. Gregory, Jr., doubling at linebacker, had three tackles, including a sack and a tackle for loss. Also with three tackles was junior safety Mike Murtaugh.

The Bulldogs travel to National Conference rival North Royalton at 7 p.m. Sept. 23.

Girls golf: Bulldogs tie record in win over Aurora

The girls golf team tied a school record for nine holes in a 156-169 victory over Suburban League crossover rival Aurora Sept. 13 on the front nine at Fox Den Golf Course in Stow. Stow-Munroe Falls improved to 5-1 on the season in dual matches.

The Bulldogs had set the record just five days earlier on Sept. 8 in a win over league crossover rival Kent Roosevelt, also at Fox Den.

“The girls work hard on the range,” head coach Scotte Rorabaugh said, “and I think they push each other to be better, which is a good thing.”

Pacing Stow-Munroe Falls in the win over the Greenmen was junior Gabby Berlingieri, who fired a 2-over-par 37. Freshman Olivia Berlingieri, Gabby’s sister, and senior McKenzie Ickes both shot a 39.

“Gabby usually keeps herself out of trouble,” said Rorabaugh. “Maybe just a couple missed shots here and there kept her from having a better score. But the last two matches she’s gone 37 and 35, so you can’t be too upset about that. Gabby and Olivia are always working together and out on the golf course late at night practicing, so they’re always pushing each other, making each other better.

“McKenzie had three birdies but also a couple double-bogeys thrown in there. A couple bad holes might’ve cost her an even better score. But it’s good to see her playing aggressive and making some birdies in our matches. She’s seen good results because she’s putting in a lot of work this season.”

Junior Addison Ades carded a career-best 41.

“Addison made a double-bogey on the last hole, which cost us from having four scores in the 30s. She was a little bit upset about that but was pleased with the way she played,” Rorabaugh said. “Hopefully, that’s a springboard for her to start putting up some more consistent scores for us.”

The Bulldogs are set to play Brecksville-Broadview Heights at Fox Den at 2:45 p.m. Sept. 21.

Boys golf: Win over Solon tempered by showings in Suburban, Hoban tourneys

The boys golf team had a very good day in a 150-162 front-nine triumph over Solon Sept. 13 at Grantwood Golf Course in Solon.

“Grantwood is not an overly difficult course,” head coach Chet Feldman said. “Senior Ben Skirpac and junior Matt Kurtz had our first eagles of the season.”

Skirpac fired a 1-under-par 35.

“Ben hit the ball well,” said Feldman.

Senior Mitch Tyger shot a 36, Kurtz shot a 39, and freshman Eddie Norman, Jr., carded a 40.

Feldman was not nearly as pleased with his team’s performance four days later on Sept. 17 in the third Suburban League Tournament at Windmill Lakes Golf Club in Ravenna.

Stow-Munroe Falls finished third in the National Conference with a score of 317. Wadsworth won the competition with a score of 301, and Hudson finished second with a score of 307.

“We had a three-way tie in the conference heading into the tournament, and we prepared well,” Feldman said. “The kids are very familiar with Windmill Lakes, but they’ve struggled there all season. We had two guys in the 90s. That’s unacceptable. I was the most disappointed I’ve been this season hands down.”

Skirpac fired a 1-under-par 71.

“Ben started out bad, but, boy, did he grind it back. I’m really proud of him,” said the coach. “He’s been there and done it. He plays in tournaments all the time, so he knows how to grind.”

Tyger shot a 78, sophomore Austin Wilhoit shot an 82, and Norman, Jr., had an 86.

“Mitch was on pace to finish with a 75, but his last two holes he double-bogeyed and bogeyed,” Feldman said. “He had a great round going, he just didn’t close it out.

“Regarding Eddie, that’s a tough track for any freshman. I still expect more out of him. He’s capable of going under 80, but he has to slow down sometimes and evaluate his lies, what his line point is, his situation. Sometimes he’s so fast, he just gets up and hits. You see this with freshmen.”

The Bulldogs began the week by placing 13th out of 19 teams with a score of 345 Sept. 12 in the Archbishop Hoban Invitational at Brookside Country Club in Canton.

Dublin Jerome won the competition with a score of 306. Cleveland St. Ignatius finished second with a score of 307, and Hoban was third with a score of 308.

“We played horrible,” said Feldman. “Brookside is probably one of the hardest courses we will see all year long. The greens are just lightning fast. I had kids who four-putted. That was the most three-putts my team has had all season.”

Skirpac shot a 6-over-par 78, Wilhoit shot an 87, Tyger had an 89, and Kurtz carded a 91.

The Bulldogs are scheduled to oppose Alliance at 9 a.m. Sept. 23 at Alliance Country Club.

Note: Due to computer issues, the rest of this week’s Bulldog Sports Roundup was not able to be compiled.