by Rob Barrone

Correspondent

Medina — Playing keep away can be fun. It can be fun for the ones doing the keeping. In its 2010 season opener at Medina’s Kenneth Dukes Stadium, the Hudson football squad found out how little fun that kids’ game can be when you’re the victim.

The Bees utilized a ball-control offense to keep the ball away from the Explorers in their 13-7 win Aug. 27.

Medina (1-0) outgained Hudson 123 to minus 1 — all on the ground — in the first quarter. While the time of possession (9 minutes, 52 seconds), plays from scrimmage (22-3) and the yardage in that initial period all heavily favored the Bees.

The contest was still scoreless when the two teams swapped ends of the field to begin the second quarter. The tone had been set and the Battling Bees went on to end the night with 269 yards in offense (in 62 plays) to Hudson’s 31 plays and 149 yards and 16 first downs to the Explorers’ seven.

“We knew they were going to line up and grind it out and smash-mouth it with us,” Hudson head coach Tom Narducci said. 

“We felt coming in that they were going to be one of the better teams that we will play this year. This was a great win for them.”

The main reason the Explorers (0-1) stayed in the game was their defense.

 A game opening 11-play, 46-yard drive ended on downs as Hudson’s defense stiffened at its own 36-yard line.

The Bees received two gift turnovers as the Explorers misplayed a punt and a kickoff that were both recovered by the kicking team, but Hudson’s defense didn’t fold.

The Explorers refused to yield points after the muffed punt in the second quarter and didn’t allow a first down (holding the Bees to a filed goal) after the dropped kickoff in the third period.

“I couldn’t be happier with the way our defense played overall,” Narducci said. “Getting out of the third quarter just giving up six points was a great feat by our defense. We could have been down 21-7, but we were still there fighting to win. Thirteen points is where we wanted them.”

The keep-away first quarter ended with Medina knocking on the door with a second and goal at the Hudson 7. On third and goal, senior running back Jason Suggs (a game-high 127 yards on 30 carries) capped a 13-play, 84-yard march by taking a pitch around the left end the final five yards.

With 11:16 left in the half, Medina finally broke the scoreless tie and quarterback/punter/placekicker Justin Letts tacked on the extra point with a line drive just overt he crossbar for a 7-0 lead.

The Explorers offense finally got its second touch but was backed to its own 7 after a misplayed kickoff.

On the first play, sophomore Ben Gedeon gave the Hudson fans a taste of what they hope is to come when the running back/quarterback moved over to take the shotgun snap and then raced 37 yards for a first down.

Unfortunately, the Explorers eventually punted and Medina continued to control the clock.

Hudson’s defense answered the call again and the offense eventually tied the game with 2:05 left in the half.

On third and 15, junior quarterback David Nelson lofted a perfect strike to Joey Studer coming out of the backfield. The senior caught the ball over his shoulder in stride near the Medina 25, slipped a shoestring tackle attempt at the 20 and raced through the rest of the Bees’ secondary untouched for a 47-yard touchdown. Mike Ulmer’s conversion knotted the score at 7-7.

“The guys from Medina even said afterward that they knew it was coming but couldn’t stop it,” Narducci said. “It was a good throw and great catch by Joey.”

Unfortunately, the Explorers’ momentum didn’t last.

After a three-and-out, Medina got the ball at Hudson’s 44. 

After two first downs, the Bees’ drive stalled and Letts easily blasted a 33-yard field goal through the uprights for a 10-7 lead with 7:41 left in the third quarter.

Letts’ ensuing kick was high and short. The ball didn’t hit the ground first but a diving attempt to corral it was muffed and Medina recovered at the Explorers’ 16.

Four plays later, Letts kicked a 34-yard field goal for a 13-7 lead at the 5:08 mark.

“We were in this game until the very end,” Narducci said. “We needed another first down or another stop. There were a lot of what ifs that we needed to get done and it just didn’t happen.”

Nelson completed all seven of his passes for 93 yards. His favorite target was Studer, who caught three passes for 62 yards.

The Explorers are scheduled to visit Uniontown Lake Sept. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-686-3914