By Sean Duffy
Stow, OH- The Suburban League National Division title was on line in Week 10 as the two top teams squared off to see who came home with the division championship. The Hudson Explorers traveled south to face the Stow-Munroe Falls Bulldogs, it was a match up of two teams with two vastly different offensive schemes, and extremely tough defenses. In the end the host Bulldogs were able to hold of the high powered offense of the Explorers and stage a late game come back to earn a 22-21 victory and the National Division title.
Hudson’s QB Jaggar Pallay lead the way offensively for the Explorers, throwing for three TD Passes on the night. Pallay’s first TD pass was a 10 yd strike to Jake Varga.
Stow would respond by moving the ball incrementally down the field, with a combination of running backs Xavier Preston and Teddy Gregory. Gregory would score first for the Bulldogs with a 1 yd TD run.
Pallay would find the end zone again in first half with a 46 yd pass to Colin Pierce, to increase the Explorers lead 14-7.
Stow running back Xavier Preston would find the end zone from 26 yds out to tie the game just before half time.
Hudson jumped back out ahead after Jaggar Pallay connected with Shane Kilfoyle for a sensational 52 yd TD pass, heading into the final quarter leading 21-14.
Stow’s defense would seize the momentum after an absolutely pulverizing hit on Pallay in the end zone resulted in a safety early in the fourth. Hudson’s lead shrank to 21-16.
Stow would get the ball one final time with approximately six minutes left in the game , and used all but 49 seconds of it to put together a late game scoring drive to take a 22-21 lead, thanks to a 5 yd TD run from Teddy Gregory, his second rushing TD of the night.
The Bulldog defense was able to avoid any late game heroics from Hudson to take the victory and the Suburban League National Division Title.
Hudson finishes the year 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the Suburban League National Division, the Explorers currently sit fourth in Division II Region 5. Hudson will await the final OHSAA Rankings to determine who they will face in the first round of the playoffs.
Stow finishes the Year 8-2 and 5-1 in the Suburban League National Division, the Bulldogs currently sit 3rd in Division I Region 1. Stow will await the final OHSAA Rankings to determine who they will face in the first round of the playoffs.
So long from Stow!