By: Josh Jeffi
Solon was looking to notch its first victory of the season as the Comets traveled to Medina to face the Bees in their first Greater Cleveland Conference game. On the opening drive, the Comets used a heavy dose of Khalil Eichelberger to drive down the field. Eichelberger would score the games first touchdown on a six yard run to put Solon up 7-0. Medina would answer on their next offensive possession when Nathan Spatny ran the ball into the end zone from seven yards out. The game was tied at seven after one quarter.
At 9:41 in the second quarter, Medina gained the lead, 10-7, when Ryan Miller kicked a 21 yard field goal. The score would stay that way until just before the half when Eichelberger scored his second touchdown of the game. The two point conversion attempt was no good and Solon took a 13-10 lead at the half.
Medina opened the second half with the ball and attempted to go for it on fourth down but could not convert. Solon took over on the Bees 37 yard line. It only took a couple of plays when Eichelberger scored his third touchdown of the game to put the Comets up 20-10 after the extra point with 9:59 left in the third quarter. Later in the quarter, Solon’s Pat McQuaide was back to return a Medina punt. The kicked landed and bounced extremely close to McQuaide. So close that the Bees thought he touched it and recovered the ball. After some discussion, the referees ruled McQuaide did not touch the ball. The call seemed to fire up everyone on the Medina side from the fans to the players.
The score would remain 20-10 into the final quarter. At the 9:26 mark Drew Allar hit Drew Hensley from 15 yards to cut the Comet lead to 20-17
After the score, the Medina defense upped their intensity forcing Solon to punt with 8:19 left in the game. Using short to intermediate passes and a stacked formation running game, Medina was able to drive down the field to the half yard line. A false start penalty took the ball back to the six yard line. On the next play, Allar found Dorian Boyland on a nice play action fake in the end zone for the go ahead touchdown. The Bees led 24-20 with over three minutes left in the game.
Solon, behind Eichelberger and McQuaide, was able to drive down to the Medina 35 yard line. On fourth down, the Bees were able to stop McQuaide short of the first down marker sealing the victory for the Bees.
Dorian Boyland led the Bees with 65 total yards and a score. Drew Allar was 14-25 for 128 yards and two scores. Medina finishes the regular season with a 3-3 record and will host Strongsville in a Division 1 first round playoff matchup.
Khalil Eichelberger led the Comets with 32 carries and a total of 238 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns. Solon drops to 0-3 on the season and will travel play St. Ignatius (1-2) in their first round playoff game.
Below is the highlights from the game.
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