Macedonia, Ohio — Nordonia High School
It’s been a busy stretch for Nordonia athletics, and the headline is a thriller on the football field. Here’s a look back at everything the Knights have been up to from August 29 through September 5.
Football Survives a Shootout Against Villa Angela-St. Joseph
Nordonia opened the season with a wild 41-39 win over Villa Angela-St. Joseph at home on September 4, and it came down to the final possession. The Knights came out firing, jumping ahead 21-6 in the first quarter behind a quick-strike passing attack and a huge defensive play — linebacker Schiavone scooped up a fumble and raced 30 yards for a touchdown to help stake Nordonia to an early two-score cushion.
Quarterback Steven Fakult was terrific through the air all night, finishing 17-of-25 for 284 yards and four touchdown passes. He spread the ball around, connecting with Jackson for a team-high 149 yards and a touchdown — including a 70-yard bomb — while also finding Mayes, Barwidi, and Davis for scores. Davis’s touchdown came on a 46-yard connection. On the ground, Mayes led the way with 53 yards and a rushing touchdown of his own.
Villa Angela-St. Joseph didn’t go away quietly. Behind a heavy dose of their run game — Taylor rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns, and Wright added 149 yards on the ground — the visitors clawed back into it, chipping away at Nordonia’s lead through the third and fourth quarters. VASJ actually out-gained Nordonia on the night, 443 total yards to 351, and racked up 61 rushing attempts to Nordonia’s 32. But every time VASJ crept close, Nordonia had an answer, and a late defensive stand preserved the two-point win.
Defensively, Barwidi was everywhere for the Knights, piling up 22 total tackles (15 solo) to lead all players. Foster added 11 tackles, and Fisher chipped in a sack. It was a game that tested Nordonia’s discipline, too — the Knights were flagged 21 times for 127 yards — but they found enough big plays to hold on. Nordonia improved to 3-0 on the young season.
Girls Volleyball Riding Momentum
The Lady Knights have had an up-and-down but ultimately promising stretch. After dropping a tough five-set battle to Austintown-Fitch to open the week (3-2), the varsity squad bounced back with wins over Mayfield (3-1) and Copley (3-1), showing they can grind out four-set matches against solid competition. The JV and freshman squads have had a mixed bag as well, splitting results against those same three opponents.
Girls Soccer Stays Unbeaten
It’s been a strong week for girls varsity soccer. The Knights opened with a 6-2 win over Warren G. Harding, followed that with a 3-2 win over Kenston, and then battled North Canton Hoover to a scoreless draw. The JV squad has been just as impressive, including an 8-0 rout of St. Vincent-St. Mary. Check out the Doug Beigie photo gallery here – it was senior night.
Boys Soccer Looking to Turn the Corner
It’s been a tougher go for the boys side, who dropped a 2-0 decision to Kenston. The JV team lost as well, falling 3-0 to the same Kenston squad. The Knights will look to regroup as the season progresses.
Cross Country Building Toward the Postseason
Both the boys and girls cross country teams have been tested against big invitational fields early in the year. The boys finished 20th out of 48 teams at the Riverside HOKA Kickoff Classic and 20th of 23 at the Avon Lake Invitational, while the girls were 29th of 43 at Riverside and 8th of 12 at Avon Lake. Coaches will use these early meets to build fitness and experience ahead of league and postseason races.
Golf Wraps Up the Suburban League Tournament
The girls golf team turned in a solid showing at the Suburban League Tournament, finishing 5th of 8 teams, while the boys finished 8th. The boys bounced back in dual competition with a win over Cuyahoga Falls, and the girls JV squad topped Medina as well.
Tennis Facing Tough Competition
It’s been a challenging stretch for both the varsity and JV tennis squads, who dropped matches to Bay (4-1) and Copley (5-0). The team will look to regroup as they continue through their schedule.
Underclassmen Football Building for the Future
Nordonia’s freshman and JV football teams had a tough week against Villa Angela-St. Joseph’s program, with the freshmen falling 42-0 and the JV squad losing a close one, 30-26. Earlier in the week, the JV team topped Akron East, 26-0, showing the group has talent to build on as they develop.
All results reflect games played between August 29 and September 5.
FAQs
1. What was the final score of the Nordonia versus VASJ football game?
Nordonia won 41-39.
2. How many touchdown passes did Steven Fakult throw?
Fakult threw four touchdown passes, finishing 17-of-25 for 284 yards.
3. Is Nordonia girls soccer still unbeaten?
Yes, the Knights went 2-0-1 over the week, including a scoreless draw with North Canton Hoover.
4. How did Nordonia boys soccer fare against Kenston?
Boys soccer lost 2-0, and the JV squad fell 3-0 to Kenston as well.
5. Where did Nordonia golf finish at the Suburban League Tournament?
The girls finished 5th of 8 teams, and the boys finished 8th.
