STREETSBORO, OH- Streetsboro Rockets Stadium was the site for the Division 4 / Region 13 Regional Quarterfinal matchup between the #3 Streetsboro Rockets (11-0) and #6 Northwest Indians (9-2). The Rockets were coming off of a 42-21 opening round win over Mooney while Northwest topped Orange 36-30.
The Rockets won the toss, but things would not go well to start. After letting the opening kickoff go out of bounds at the 7 yard line, they committed back to back false start penalties that moved them back to the 1 yard line. Cohen Klimak would get them out of trouble with a 20 yard run picking up the first down. The very next play Marcus Council nearly took it the distance on a big 56 yard run down to the Indians 18 yard line. Three plays later Klimak dove in from a yard out for the score. The PAT was missed giving Streetsboro a 6-0 lead less than two minutes into the game.
Northwest would move the ball into Rocket territory on their first possession. Senior running back Parker Kraft, coming off of a school record 430 yard performance last week, picked up gains of 16 and 14 yards to get the Indians moving. They would convert a 4th & 5 on a Chase Badger 8 yard completion to Carson Nickey. A few plays later they were faced with another 4th down situation. The Rockets defense held them to an incomplete pass turning it over on downs at the Streetsboro 10 yard line.
From there the Rockets would go 90 yards in only four plays capped off by a Cohen Klimak 47 yard touchdown run. The PAT made it a 13-0 Rockets lead with 3:29 to play 1st quarter.
The Rockets defense came up big again on the next Indians possession holding Kraft a yard short on 4th & 2 at midfield. Streetsboro would capitalize once again on the Indians failed 4th down conversion. This time it was a five plus minute drive that took us through the end of the first quarter. With 7:14 to play on the first half, Manny Gibson scored from 12 yards out. The PAT made it a 20-0 game.
That would be the score going into halftime. A big first half for Council and Klimak who both surpassed 100 yards rushing.
The second half would start with another 4th down stop by the Rockets defense. This one came on a 4th & 3 in Northwest territory and ended with a Badger incomplete pass. As they did twice in the first half, the Rockets would take full advantage scoring 5 plays later on a Janiere Cook 17 yard touchdown run. The touchdown was setup by a big 4th & 8 conversion by Klimak who it Jackson Gula over the middle for a 22 yard pass play.
The PAT made it 27-0 with 8:04 to play 3rd quarter.
The common theme in this one for Northwest was turning the ball over on downs after failed 4th down conversions. Yet another one would take place on their next drive. They drove into Rocket territory down to the 15 yard line before facing a 4th & 2. Another incomplete pass on 4th down turned it back over to Streetsboro. Once again the Rockets ensuing drive would end in another score. They would drive down to the Indians 4 yard line before the 3rd quarter clock hit zero with them holding the 27-0 lead. Two plays later Klimak punched it in from a yard out for his 3rd touchdown of the game. The PAT made it a 34-0 game with 10:45 to play and started the running clock.
Northwest was finally able to get on the board on a Chase Badger screen pass to Kraft who took it in for a 29 yard score. PAT made it a 34-7 game with 5:00 to play. From there the Rockets would run out the clock for the 34-7 win.
Cohen Klimak (148 yards and 3 TD) and Marcus Council (115 yards) led the offensive attack for the Rockets. The defense held the Indians on five fourth down situations, scoring touchdowns after four of them.
Streetsboro will now take on the #2 seed Perry Pirates with the location TBA.
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