Bainbridge OH- On Friday, October 6th Bomber Stadium saw a Clash of the Titans. The (7-0, 2-0) Riverside Beavers make the trip from Painsville to Bainbridge to face the the (6-1, 2-0) Kenston Bombers in a WRC tilt. Apart of the pregame festivities, the 2023 Kenston Bomber D2 State Champion Baseball team were gifted with their rings. It was also the Kenston Bombers homecoming game.
The inaugural Kenston drive saw a heavy dose of RB Sean Patrick. The senior tail-back picked up a total of 41 yards. With the ball inside the Riverside 5, Lucas Kaltenbach took the snap and handed to Patrick who burst into the end zone for the games first score. Grady Kucharson added the extra point as the Bombers took an early 7-0 lead.
Riverside QB Mikey Maloney would lead a good drive for the Beavers. A pair of read-option tosses to Jason Mackey gave Riverside 33 yards between the two plays. Later in the drive Maloney would set up Brady McKnight on a screen. McKnight took off for a 32 yard touchdown catch and run. Following the Leo D'astolfo extra-point we were tied at 7-7.
Kenston was forced to punt, and on the final play of the first quarter a Riverside fumble nearly proved costly. They were able to recover as they had possession 2nd & 20 from their own 2.
With the ball near their own goal line, the Beavers were able to create breathing room. Maloney took off for a gain of 5 and then followed up with a pickup of 38. With the ball at midfield, he took off again, hitting pay dirt with his legs from 50 yards away.
Another Kenston Bomber possession would die off with a punt. At their own 19, Maloney found Brady McKnight over the middle and he went untouched to the end zone for the score.
Kenston was nearly forced to punt again but a defensive holding penalty gave them new life. Lucas Kaltenbach hit up Tymir Cardona for a gain of 35. Evan Glontz gained 9 on the next catch. Kaltenbach would find his way into the end zone on a QB keep. A Kucharson extra-point made it 21-14 Riverside.
Maloney hooked up with Ethan Ross for a gain of 21, and then he picked up 11. Another solid gain as Maloney found Connor Hackle for a gain of 14. With the ball at the Bomber 6, Mikey Maloney would go up the right side for the score. At the half Riverside led 28-14.
Both teams opened up with 3 and outs. Maloney would fumble to start their 2nd possession, recovered by Ashton Kolenic. Off the fumble Sean Patrick hits pay dirt from 14 yards out to cut the Kenston deficit down to 28-21.
With the ball at their own 23, Jason Mackey cut right takes off and scores from 77 yards out. Riverside now held a 35-21 lead.
The next Bomber drive would be aided by a pair of Beaver offsides penalties, but a fumble from Kaltenbach resulting in a 9 yard loss stalled out the drive. A great punt pins the Beavers at their own 1. The Bomber defense holds strong, forcing a punt as they begin from their own 34 yard line. A couple of QB keepers from Kaltenbach and a 4-yard run from Cohen Clark the Bombers had it all the way to the Riverside 14 as the 3rd quarter comes to an end with the Beavers leading 35-21.
Just a handful of plays into the final frame Sean Patrick scores, his 3rd score of the night.
With the lead now 35-28 for Riverside's Maloney looked to add on. Tymir Cardona would come up with a big-time one handed interception to give Kenston the ball from their own 15.
Their drive would stall as they punt back to the Beavers. A gain of 19 yards from Maloney as the Bombers called timeout with 3:46 left in the 4th. With 3:33 left Riverside turned it over on downs. The Bombers would go all the way down the field behind the legs and arm of Kaltenbach. He also connected with Patrick, Brandon Bell and Tymir Cardona. Dylan Krupp's reception set Kenston up with 1st & goal from their own 5. The next play would be the biggest. Sean Patrick made the catch, ran for the pylon and jumping into the end zone for the score, the Beavers now leading 35-34.
Decision time for Coach Grubich, as he opted for the 2-point converstion. Kaltenbach gave the handoff to Patrick who went up the gut to put Kenston in front for good.
Kenston has defeated the Chardon Hilltoppers and Riverside Beavers along with the Mayfield Wildcats to move to 3-0 in WRC play and will deal with the Willoughby South Rebels (Week 9) and Eastlake North Rangers (Week 10).
KENSTON BOMBERS STATS COURTESY OF CHRIS BERGER-
Lucas Kaltenbach: 15/25 passing - 116 yards - TD / 18 rushes - 53 yards - TD
Sean Patrick: 29 rushes - 130 yards - 3TD / 3 receptions - 20 yards - TD + 2PT CONV FTW
Tymir Cardona: 7 receptions - 70 yards / INT
Dylan Krupp: 3 receptions - 22 yards
Grady Kucharson: 4-4 PAT
RIVERSIDE BEAVERS STATS COURTESY OF NATHANIEL FREEMAN-
Mikey Maloney: 13-19 passing - 254 yards - 2TD to 1INT / 13 rushes - 122 yards - 2TD
Jason Mackey: 13 rushes - 139 yards - TD
Brady McKnight: 2 receptions - 112 yards - 2TD
Dez Kirks: 1 reception for 52 yards
Ethan Ross: 3 receptions - 45 yards
Connor Hackle: 2 receptions - 25 yards
Brandon Tichy: 4 receptions - 20 yards
Leo D'Astolfo: 5-5 PAT