The National Anthem performed by the Twinsburg Tiger Marching Band
The Twinsburg Tigers take the field ahead of their Week 5 showdown with Hudson
Twinsburg, OH- The Twinsburg Tigers (2-2) welcomed conference rival and neighboring Hudson to town for a special Thursday night kickoff. The Explorers (3-1) welcomed back stud running back Ian Ludewig after he went down in their week 3 game and had to sit out last week.
In the first quarter, the Explorers offense was attacking, however, the Tigers defense stymied them in the red zone causing a turnover on downs. On their ensuing possession, it was Ludewig finding the end zone for the Explorers from 3 yards out. That would be the only scoring for the first frame as both teams tried to impose their will on the ground attack.
Hudson's Ian Ludewig (8) rumbles in for the game's first score.
The Tigers would answer in the 2nd quarter as Tigers QB Joey Polluck would find WR Jaden Dye streaking down the right sideline on his way to an 87-yard catch and run to pay dirt, knotting the game at 7 with 2:27 left in the opening half.
On the Explorers next drive, QB Peyton Neher found WR Trey Sharp, who had got behind the Tiger secondary as Neher rolled out to his right and caught the ball near the 20 before turning on the jets to the endzone for a 40-yard touchdown. A missed PAT made the score 13-7, which would be the score at the break.
Hudson would get the scoring started in the 2nd half as kicker Brad Masiella connected on a 33-yard field goal attempt, making the score 16-7 in favor of the Explorers. Following the kickoff, Tigers coach Charles Saulter would dig into his bag of trick plays to catch the Explorers off-guard. On a bubble screen turned WR pass, CJ Lyden would connect with Dye, who would rack up the Yards After Catch on the 61-yard score. Following a successful PAT, the Tigers had shrunk the Explorers lead to 16-14 with 4:17 left in the 3rd quarter.
Pinned deep in their own territory, the Tigers were forced to punt it away back to the Explorers, unfortunately, a high snap would sail over the punter's head and be recovered near the goal line by the Explorers. They would turn to their trusted running back again, this time, Ludewig would power home from a yard out to extend the Hudson lead to 23-14 with 0:46 left on the 3rd quarter clock.
To the 4th we would go, with Twinsburg looking to keep within striking distance of their rivals to the south. This time, Joey Polluck would call his own number as he scampered in from 10 yards out to cut the Explorer lead to two following a successful extra point off the foot of Tyler Seegart.
With 4:57 left in regulation and clinging to a 2-point advantage, the Hudson Explorers offense would take the field. A meticulous, 9-play, 80-yard drive that would bleed 4:17 of that 4:57 from the game clock followed. For the third time on the evening, it was Ian Ludewig pushing the Explorers past the goal line, this time to the tune of 11 yards for the game-sealing score.
A desperation heave by Polluck was picked off by the Explorers to put the final nail in the coffin of this duel. The Explorers (4-1) return home next week as they welcome Wadsworth, while the Tigers (2-3) remain at Tiger Stadium for their week 6 tilt with Nordonia.
Stat Leaders:
Hudson
Peyton Neher 12-15 159 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception
Ian Ludewig 31 attempts, 116 yards, 3 touchdowns
Trey Sharp 5 receptions, 97 yards, 1 touchdown
Twinsburg
Joey Polluck 23-32 269 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception (1 Rush TD)
Aiden Stuczynski 10 attempts, 21 yards
Jaden Dye 7 receptions, 197 yards, 2 touchdowns