Long Trip, Long Night for Rangers

The 56-7 Midview win made this Middie smile. 

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Lakewood traveled to Grafton on Friday to take on Midview High School. The Middies entered the game with a 6-1 record and chance to clinch a playoff spot. They accomplished their mission, defeating the Rangers 56-7 on a chilly  autumn evening.

                Midview quickly took control of the game, scoring on their first two offensive possessions. The Middies led 14-0 late in the first quarter, but the Rangers were driving. Then Midview linebacker Alec Forrer intercepted a Ranger pass and ran it back 51 yards for a touchdown. Lakewood trailed 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. The Midview offense marched for another touchdown early in the second quarter to make it 28-0.

That’s when Lakewood put together its best drive of the game, going 76 yards on ten plays to cut the lead to 28-7. The  drive included two clutch fourth-down conversions. Quarterback Austin Mahar ran for a first down on a fourth-and-one play at Lakewood’s 33 yard line. Later, Sean Wiggins caught a Mahar 15 yard Mahar pass to convert on a fourth and twelve. The scoring play was a six yard touchdown run by Mahar.

Midview stretched the lead to 42-7 early in the third quarter, setting the  OHSAA “running clock” rule into motion.  The game ended 56-7, with the Middies clinching a playoff berth at 7-1. Lakewood fell to 0-8, and faces North Ridgeville at First Federal Stadium next Friday.

The North Ridgeville game will be Senior Day, the final home game of the year. Senior cheerleaders, band members, and athletes from fall sports will be recognized before the 7pm kickoff.   In his post-game comments, Ranger Head Coach Mike Ribar told his team to approach the upcoming game as if it were a playoff game. North Ridgeville enters the game with a 2-6 record, losing 52-37 to Westlake this week.