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Bezeredi recovered and ready for Penn-Ohio game

SALEM — After seeing his track season abruptly cut short due to a broken foot, Salem multipurpose-threat Cooper Bezeredi had one clear goal in mind.

“I knew I wanted to come back and play in the Penn-Ohio game,” Bezeredi said. “Playing one more high school game with a bunch of the other players in the area and some of my teammates is very special. It’s something I wanted to experience.”

The Ohio team hopes Bezeredi has recovered the speed he showed on the gridiron for the Quakers in the fall when they line up against Pennsylvania in the 38th annual Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic at 7 p.m. Thursday at Geneva College.

“My foot feels a lot better, it’s 100 percent now,” Bezeredi said. “I had surgery and a titanium screw inserted so I would be able to come back for this game.”

Bezeredi was set to try for a second straight trip to the state track meet with Salem’s 1600-meter relay team before his broken foot relegated him to the sidelines.

“It happened while I was playing basketball in the gym, just being dumb,” Bezeredi said.

Bezeredi was forced to watch as the 1600-relay team race to a Division II state runner-up finish without him.

“That was really tough for me to watch them go to state and not be able to compete,” he said. “Coming into the season, I was really looking forward to the chance to try and get back there.”

Bezeredi was a standout player on both sides of the ball for Salem this season on his way to first-team All-Area honors.

At safety, he racked up 91 tackles with five for losses, three interceptions and one forced fumble. He was just as valuable on offense, running for a team-high 859 yards and 12 touchdowns on 157 carries (5.5). He was also the second-leading receiver with 34 catches for 356 yards (10.5) and one touchdown and led the team by scoring 90 points. Bezeredi finished his run as a three-year starter with more than 5,000 all-purpose yards.

For him, the memory that sticks out the most was his performance against Steubenville in the second round of the 2015 Division IV playoffs. The Quakers — who enjoyed one of their most successful seasons in school history — fell 46-7 to a juggernaut Steubenville team, but Bezeredi was all over the field, recording over 20 tackles and intercepting two passes.

“That game, and that season, are some of the biggest memories I’ll take with me for sure.”

After the Penn-Ohio game, Bezeredi will be off to the University of Findlay will he plans to major in nursing and continue his football career.

“It’s a program that is on the way up for sure,” Bezeredi said. “They have a lot of good recruits coming in and some great new facilities. I’m excited to get there,”

For now, though, he is thankful to take the field in one more high school game.

“I had a tough rehab, but it was definitely worthwhile to come back and play in this game,” Bezeredi said.

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