Nordonia Defense Holds the Bees to 102 Total Yards as the Knights Improve to 8-1
Medina scored 44 seconds into Friday night’s game. Nordonia then scored the next 38 points on a cold, rainy night in Macedonia.
The Knights beat Medina 38-13 on Oct. 16 at Boliantz Stadium for their fifth straight win. Nordonia improved to 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the Suburban League National Conference. The Knights finished the regular season 5-0 at home.
Nordonia outgained Medina 467 yards to 102 and had 25 first downs to Medina’s four. The Bees finished with minus 14 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Knights Answer After Medina Strikes First
Adam Barr hit Collin Gonzalez for a 68 yard touchdown pass to open the scoring. CJ Mayes tied the game at 9:55 of the first quarter on a 2 yard run. He added a 4 yard touchdown run as the quarter ended, and Nordonia led 14-7.
Steven Fakult found Dominick Jackson for a 9 yard score with 1:14 left in the half. Jackson Neal made a 21 yard field goal on the final play of the half. The Knights took a 24-7 lead into the break.
Shawn Zivkovich scored on a 6 yard run late in the third quarter. Fakult connected with Collin Atha from 8 yards out midway through the fourth to make it 38-7. Medina added a touchdown with 24 seconds left.
Fakult Spreads the Ball Around
Fakult completed 19 of 23 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns. His longest completion was a 49 yarder to Jackson. He was intercepted twice. Eight different Knights caught at least one pass.
Atha led all receivers with six catches for 95 yards and a touchdown, including a 46 yard grab. Jackson caught four passes for 63 yards and a score. Grant Kaminski added two catches for 25 yards. Braden Myers had three receptions for 11 yards.
Ground Game Piles Up 248 Yards
Nordonia ran the ball 45 times for 248 yards, an average of 5.5 yards per carry. Mayes led the way with 103 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Zivkovich ran eight times for 64 yards and a score, with a long of 20. Myers added 38 yards on seven carries, and Fakult ran three times for 18 yards.
Defense Lives in the Backfield
The Nordonia defense recorded seven sacks. Karsen Fisher led the group with 2.5 sacks and a tackle for loss. Luke Roth had two sacks, Dominic Shiavone had 1.5 and Brady Goscinski had one.
Medina quarterbacks completed 9 of 25 passes for 116 yards. Outside of the opening touchdown, Barr went 7 of 18 for 35 yards. A week after he ran for 100 yards against North Royalton, Barr finished with minus 38 rushing yards on nine attempts.
Brayden Tufts intercepted Kaden Patrick. Jamiere Davis and Adam Ralls each broke up a pass. Trent Foster, Kaminski and Brock Barwidi each had a tackle for loss, and Foster’s went for 11 yards.
Turnovers and Penalties
The final margin could have been wider. Nordonia turned the ball over five times, on two interceptions and three lost fumbles. The Knights were also flagged 17 times for 105 yards.
Neal missed a 25 yard field goal in the third quarter but made all five extra points. Medina had one turnover and eight penalties for 50 yards.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
- 11:16: Barr to Gonzalez, 68 yard pass. Kick good. Nordonia 0, Medina 7.
- 9:55: Mayes, 2 yard run. Kick good. Nordonia 7, Medina 7.
- 0:00: Mayes, 4 yard run. Kick good. Nordonia 14, Medina 7.
Second Quarter
- 1:14: Fakult to Jackson, 9 yard pass. Kick good. Nordonia 21, Medina 7.
- 0:00: Neal, 21 yard field goal. Nordonia 24, Medina 7.
Third Quarter
- 3:19: Zivkovich, 6 yard run. Kick good. Nordonia 31, Medina 7.
Fourth Quarter
- 7:08: Fakult to Atha, 8 yard pass. Kick good. Nordonia 38, Medina 7.
- 0:24: Patrick, 13 yard pass. Kick no good. Nordonia 38, Medina 13.
Looking Ahead
Nordonia closes the regular season on Friday, Oct. 23, at Wadsworth. Kickoff is 7 p.m. The Knights are 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the Suburban League National Conference.
Wadsworth has the same records. The Grizzlies lost for the first time Friday, falling 29-28 at Highland. Highland is also the only team to beat Nordonia, winning 23-21 on Sept. 11.
Wadsworth is 3-0 at home and has allowed 111 points in nine games. Both teams have played Medina, Hudson, North Royalton, Stow-Munroe Falls and Solon. Wadsworth beat Hudson 24-22, while Nordonia beat the Explorers 23-9.
FAQs
1. What was the score of the Nordonia vs. Medina football game?
Nordonia beat Medina 38-13 on Friday, Oct. 16, at Boliantz Stadium in Macedonia.
2. What is Nordonia’s football record?
Nordonia is 8-1 overall and 5-1 in the Suburban League National Conference. The Knights have won five straight games and went 5-0 at home in the regular season.
3. Who were Nordonia’s top performers against Medina?
Steven Fakult threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns. CJ Mayes ran for 103 yards and two scores, and Collin Atha caught six passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. Karsen Fisher led the defense with 2.5 sacks.
4. How did Nordonia’s defense play against Medina?
The Knights held Medina to 102 total yards, four first downs and minus 14 rushing yards. Nordonia had seven sacks and one interception.
5. When does Nordonia play Wadsworth?
Nordonia plays at Wadsworth on Friday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. in the regular season finale. Both teams are 8-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play.
