MACEDONIA – The Nordonia Knights proved their Week 1 dominance was no fluke, rolling to a convincing 39-7 victory over Akron East Friday night at Boliantz Stadium. The victory improved the Knights to 2-0 and showcased a more balanced offensive attack than their season-opening shutout.
After blanking St. Vincent-St. Mary 42-0 in Week 1, Nordonia faced their first real test against an Akron East squad that managed to find the end zone late in the fourth quarter, preventing another shutout but doing little to slow the Knights’ momentum.
Explosive Passing Game Takes Center Stage
While Nordonia’s ground game dominated headlines in Week 1 with 255 rushing yards, Friday night belonged to the aerial attack. Junior quarterback Fakult was effective through the air, completing 6 of 10 passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns – an impressive 16.5 yards per completion that kept the Akron East defense off balance.
The night’s most spectacular play came when Fakult connected with Jackson on a 71-yard touchdown strike at the 12:02 mark of the second quarter, extending Nordonia’s lead to 29-0. Jackson’s ability to get behind the defense and make the catch showcased the deep threat capability that makes this Knights offense so dangerous.
Kaminski emerged as another reliable target, hauling in two passes for 29 yards, including a touchdown reception that helped build the early advantage.
Ground Game Remains Effective
Despite the emphasis on passing, Nordonia’s rushing attack continued to control the line of scrimmage. The Knights accumulated 118 yards on 28 carries, with nine different players touching the football – a depth that could prove crucial as the season progresses.
C. Smith led the ground attack with 34 yards on three carries, while Myers provided the exclamation point with a 13-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Fakult contributed both on the ground and through the air, punching in a 1-yard touchdown run to open the scoring.
The balanced rushing attack, featuring contributions from Whapham (27 yards), Smith (34 yards), and others, kept East’s defense honest and set up the big passing plays.
Defense Forces Pressure, Limits Big Plays
Nordonia’s defense continued their early-season dominance, holding Akron East to just 50 total yards while applying consistent pressure. The unit forced the Dragons into difficult third-down situations throughout the game, though they were unable to generate the turnover margin that defined their Week 1 shutout.
The Dragons’ lone scoring drive came late in the fourth quarter when Felding connected with Wharton on a 9-yard touchdown pass, preventing the shutout but coming far too late to impact the outcome.
The Knights’ defensive depth was evident as they limited Akron East’s leading rusher Cherry to just 78 yards, forcing the Dragons into predictable passing situations.
Special Teams Continue Excellence
Kicker Edgehouse remained perfect on the season, converting four extra points and adding a 44-yard field goal in the second quarter that demonstrated both accuracy and range. His consistent leg has become a weapon that opposing teams must account for in their game planning.
The special teams unit also contributed to scoring when Kaminski recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, showing the opportunistic nature that has defined this Knights team through two games.
Building Momentum
Friday night’s victory represented important progress for several reasons. First, it demonstrated that the Week 1 performance against St. Vincent-St. Mary wasn’t an aberration. Second, it showed the Knights can win in multiple ways – through both ground control and explosive passing plays.
The balanced offensive attack makes Nordonia significantly more difficult to defend. When Fakult can hurt opponents both with his legs and his arm, and when the Knights can run the ball with eight different players, defensive coordinators face impossible choices.
Perhaps most importantly, the Knights showed they can maintain intensity and execution even when facing less resistance. Scoring 39 points while allowing just seven demonstrates a program that continues to execute regardless of the scoreboard.
Test Results Are In
After two games, several trends have emerged that suggest this Knights team is built for sustained success:
Offensive Balance: 255 rushing yards in Week 1, followed by 165 passing yards and two aerial touchdowns in Week 2, shows an attack that can adapt to any defensive strategy.
Depth: Fourteen different players have carried the ball through two games, while multiple receivers have emerged as legitimate threats.
Consistency: Two consecutive games with 39+ points and dominant defensive performances indicate systematic excellence rather than fortunate matchups.
The Road Gets Tougher
While the Knights should feel confident about their 2-0 start, their most significant test awaits next week at Mayfield. The Wildcats have also started 2-0, opening their season with a 20-3 victory over Elyria before defeating Elyria Catholic 28-13 in Week 2. This means both teams will enter their September 5th matchup undefeated, with playoff positioning and regional credibility on the line.
Mayfield will have studied both Knights victories and will present a much more physical, experienced challenge than either St. Vincent-St. Mary or Akron East. What makes this matchup even more daunting is that Nordonia will have to travel to Wildcat Park, where Mayfield enjoys the advantage of their home crowd and familiar surroundings. The question becomes whether Nordonia can maintain this level of balanced execution on the road against an equally undefeated opponent that won’t be intimidated by early scores.
For a program with playoff aspirations and the talent to compete with anyone in Division II, Region 5, next week’s road test at undefeated Mayfield will provide the first real measuring stick of where these Knights truly stand.
Looking Forward
This Knights team continues to demonstrate the characteristics of a program ready for a deep postseason run. The combination of Fakult’s dual-threat ability, a deep and balanced rushing attack, receivers who can make explosive plays, and a defense that consistently creates favorable field position represents a formula that has historically translated to playoff success.
The Northeast Ohio football landscape has been put on notice – Nordonia appears to have all the pieces in place for something special this season. The question is no longer whether they can compete, but how far this balanced attack can carry them when the stakes reach their highest.
Final Score: Nordonia 39, Cleveland East 7
Next up: Nordonia travels to Mayfield on September 5th in what promises to be their toughest test yet, while Akron East (1-1) returns home looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season.
