Brimfield, OH- The Field Falcons welcomed in the Streetsboro Rockets and their high powered offense on Friday night at Falcons Stadium. Both teams came in at 3-3 looking to get over the .500 mark with three more regular season games to play. The Falcons were coming off an impressive 35-23 win at Ravenna while the Rockets suffered a tough 42-27 loss to a very solid Cloverleaf squad.
Before the game both teams stood in a line across midfield and held a 47 second moment of silence to remember 11-year old Field youth football player Donald Robinson III who tragically lost his life in an automobile accident last Friday (9/26). Robinson wore the jersey number 47.
Streetsboro received the opening kickoff which went out of bounds at the 5 yard line giving the Rockets good field position at the 35 yard line. From there they took it 65 yards in 9 plays that ended with QB Colby Benjamin running it in from 23 yards out. The PAT was good and the Rockets took a quick 7-0 lead.
The Falcons looked ready to respond on their first possession. After a good kick return had them starting at their 43 yard line, Field drove down to the 5 yard line but faced a 4th and 2. Unfortunately they were unable to convert as QB Braxton Baumberger's incomplete pass turned the ball back over to the Rockets.
The Falcons defense would hold Streetsboro on their next possession and force a punt after a big sack of Benjamin by the Falcons L.J. Riley. Unfortunately for Field their offense would sputter after three straight incompletions by Baumberger, the last of which was on 4th down, turned it over on downs again.
This time the Rockets would take advantage as on the third play of the drive RB Preston Hopperton busted loose for a 51 yard touchdown run with 19 seconds left in the first quarter. The successful PAT made it a 14-0 Rockets lead.
Field's next possession was hampered by a holding penalty and then a 6 yard loss on a sack of Baumberger by the Rockets defense. They would be forced to punt it away. But the Falcons defense came up big holding the Rockets on a 4th and 17 and getting the ball back on downs at their 30 yard line. Unfortunately for the Falcons their offense stalled again and they had to punt the ball away with 2:25 left in the first half.
The next possession for Streetsboro was a costly one as star RB Preston Hopperton appeared to suffer a right ankle injury. He was able to gingerly walk off under his own power but would not return the rest of the game. Their drive fizzled shortly after and they were forced to punt. Field ran one run play to Drexal McAmis and the clock hit zero. Streetsboro held a 14-0 halftime lead over the Falcons.
Field cam out strong to start the second half highlighted by a Braxton Baumberger 49 yard run and capped off by a Baumberger 1 yard plunge into the end zone for the Falcons first score of the game. The successful PAT trimmed the Falcons deficit to 14-7.
Streetsboro was able to answer back on their next drive took them into Falcons territory but two penalties and a sack by the Falcons defense helped keep the Rockets out of the end zone. They steeled for a Dominic Incorvati 25-yard field goal that put them up 17-7.
After a Falcons 3 and out the Rockets would strike again. The 3rd play of the possession ended with a Colby Benjamin 25 yard touchdown run. The PAT was good and Streetsboro increased their lead to 24-7.
Field was not going away as it took them only one play on their next series to score. Drexal McAmis took the handoff and broke off an impressive tackle breaking 67 yard touchdown run with 1:22 to play in the third quarter. Field converted the PAT bringing them to within 10 of the Rockets at 24-14.
Streetsboro would once again answer the bell on their next possession after Kylan Rue took the kickoff all the way to the Falcons 35 yard line. Unfortunately for the Rockets the third quarter ended after a 9 yard run by Rue who was injured on the play. Enter Rockets standout wrestler Donavan Paes who took the handoff to open the 4th quarter and sprinted 20 yards into the end zone for the touchdown. The PAT was good making it 31-14 in favor of the Rockets. It appeared they were taking control of the game. But Field had other ideas.
The Falcons moved quick on their next possession going 70 yards in 6 plays highlighted by 63 rushing yards on 3 carries from McAmis. The end result was yet another 1 yard plunge by Baumberger for his 2nd rushing touchdown of the game. PAT was good and Field pulled to within 10 at 31-21.
The pumped of Falcons defense held Streetsboro to a 3 and out aided by a holding penalty and a sack. Field again wasted no time as they went 6 plays in under two minutes. From the Rockets 49 yard line Baumberger hit McAmis for a 32 yard passing play before finding Tanner Roe on a slant over the middle for a 17 yard touchdown pass. The PAT was partially blocked and fell short putting the score at 31-27 with the Rockets now holding a slim 4 point lead with just under 5 minutes to play.
The Field defense again came up with a huge 3 and out forcing another Rockets punt. It was a very short punt that gave Field possession at the Rockets 45 yard line. They only needed four plays before Baumberger scored his 3rd rushing touchdown of the game. This one was from 8 yards out and a successful PAT gave the Falcons their first lead of the game at 34-31 with 1:40 to play in the game. 20 unanswered point for the Falcons in the second half.
This time Streetsboro had an answer after allowing those 20 second half points. On 2nd and 10 with only 46 seconds on the clock Colby Benjamin was able to find a wide open Cohen Klimak down the sideline for a 53 yard touchdown pass stuffing the momentum the Falcons had been riding in the 4th quarter. The successful PAT put Streetsboro back in the lead at 38-34 with only 25 seconds remaining in the game.
The Falcons had one last opportunity and quickly moved into Rockets territory with Baumberger completions to Garit Greene (12 yards) and McAmis (10 yards). But a sack of Baumberger and a 5-yard illegal substitution penalty moved Field back 9 yards. Baumberger was able to complete one more pass to Greene for 11 yards. But on the final play of the game which what looked to be a long pass to the end zone, the Rockets defense pressure Baumberger out of the pocket and he threw and incomplete pass under pressure well short of the end zone to end the game. Streetsboro held off the furious Field comeback and secured the 38-34 win.
The Rockets move to 4-3 on the season and will host Woodridge next Friday. The Falcons fall to 3-4 as they look to rebound at Coventry in week 8.
Unofficial stats:
Rockets:
Colby Benjamin: 5/11, 88 yards, TD / 51 rush yards, TD
Preston Hopperton: 5 rush, 88 yards, TD / 2 receptions, 28 yards
Kylan Rue: 10 rush, 93 yards
Cohen Klimak: 2 rec, 62 yards, TD
Falcons:
Braxton Baumberger: 10/24, 123 yards, TD / 104 rush yards, 3 TD
Drexal McAmis: 16 rush, 178 yards, TD / 3 receptions, 60 yards
Garit Greene: 3 receptions, 27 yards
This game recap is brought to you by Daystar Ford in Garrettsville!