Ravenna, OH- It was the battle of a pair of 2-3 teams as the Field Falcons headed into Portage Community Bank Stadium to take on the Ravenna Ravens. Field was coming off a 42-28 loss to a tough 4-1 Cloverleaf team. The Falcons other two losses this season were by 1 point to undefeated Mogadore and 5 points to Cody Coontz and the Rootstown Rovers. Ravenna was looking to bounce back after two straight losses to Cloverleaf and Streetsboro.
Field received first and wasted no time taking the ball 66 yards in 6 plays to open the game. The drive was capped off by a Drexal McAmis 37 yard touchdown run. The PAT was good giving Field a quick 7-0 lead.
Ravenna would answer right back after M'Kell Williams took the kickoff all the way back to the Falcons 26 yard line. He followed that up with two straight passes to Pavel Henderson of 4 and 22 yards. The latter went for a touchdown and the Mike Myers PAT tied the game at 7 with 7:10 to play in the first quarter.
The Ravens defense was able to hold Field to a 3 and out on the next possession forcing a punt. After two incomplete passes, Williams found Henderson for a 65 yard catch and run down to the Falcons 23 yard line. The Ravens offense would stall and settled for an impressive 38 yard Mike Myers field goal to give them a 10-7 lead.
The Ravens defense again held strong as they tackled McAmis for a 4 yard loss and forced two straight incompletions by Field quarterback Braxton Baumberger resulting in a punt. But on the 2nd play of Ravenna's possession Baumberger picked off a M'Kell Williams pass and returned it to the Falcons 49 yard line. From there a 9 play - 51 yard Falcon drive ended with another Drexal McAmis touchdown this time from 4 yards out. A successful PAT made it 14-10 Falcons with under 8 minutes to play in the 2nd quarter.
Once again Ravenna would answer on what was the craziest possession of the night. After a pass interference call against Field put the ball at midfield, Baumberger intercepted a Williams pass for the second time. This one would not stand though as Field was penalized for a roughing the passer hit wiping out the pick and giving the ball back to the Ravens. They would capitalize as running back Pavel Henderson took it in from 3 yards out for the touchdown. Henderson had 26 yards on the drive and also completed a 30 yard halfback pass to Maykai O'Neal. The PAT was missed making it a 16-14 Ravenna lead with 2:33 to play in the half.
It was Field's turn again as they looked to put up another score before the half. Braxton Baumberger took over completing two passes to Garrit Greene and also rushing for 28 yards the last of which was a 1 yard plunge into the end zone for another Falcon touchdown. PAT was converted giving Field a 21-16 lead with 42 seconds to go. Ravenna was able to move the ball 28 yards but a Ryan Hunt sack of Ravens quarterback M'Kell Williams ended the first half.
Ravenna started the second half with some positive momentum as Williams completed consecutive passes to Maykai O'Neal (9 yards) and Pavel Henderson (22 yards). Unfortunately the next play resulted in a fumble that was recovered by Field's L.J. Riley at their 47 yard line. From there the Falcons would go 53 yards in 7 plays capped off by a Baumberger 12 yard touchdown run for his second score of the game. The PAT gave Field a 28-16 lead.
Just like they did all night Ravenna once again fought right back. They engineered a 7 play - 65 yard drive behind the arm of Williams and the powerful running of Austin Marshall who ended the drive with a 14 yard touchdown run. The PAT was converted and the Ravens closed the gap to 28-23.
The Ravens defense forced a punt after a delay of game penalty on Field changed their mind about going for it on fourth down. Ravenna had a chance to regain the lead but a critical fumble by Austin Marshall was recovered by Baumberger who ran it all the way down to the Ravens 2 yard line before being knocked out of bounds. A personal foul and holding penalties moved the Falcons back, but a big 21 yard pass play from Baumberger to Tanner Roe set them up for their final score of the night. Their workhorse McAmis took the 1 yard plunge for his 3rd touchdown of the game. The PAT made it a 35-23 lead for Field.
Ravenna's last possession featured a 41 yard run by Williams into Falcon territory. Two straight incompletions on 3rd and 4th down turned the ball over to Field. From there the Falcons ran 6 straight running plays to run out the clock and secure their 35-23 win.
Drexal McAmis carried the load with 22 rushes for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns. Quarterback Braxton Baumberger completed 3 of 9 passes for 57 yards and added 82 rushing yards with 2 touchdowns. Robert Atha also chipped in 42 yards on the ground. The trio combined for 242 yards on the ground.
For Ravenna quarterback M'Kell Williams completed 12 of 23 for 209 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Do it all weapon Pavel Henderson has 28 yards rushing and a touchdown, 61 yards receiving with a touchdown and completed 1 pass for 30 yards. Maykai O'Neal had 3 receptions for 50 yards and tight end Robert Melzer chipped in with 3 catches for 54 yards.
Field Falcons coach Matt Furino gave his thoughts following the game.
Next week Ravenna travels to Coventry while Field is back home to welcome in the Streetsboro Rockets.
This game recap is brought to you by Daystar Ford in Garrettsville!