Local Sports

Quakers have been Lion tamers

MINERVA -- Salem, which owns one of the Eastern Buckeye Conference's longest winning streaks over a fellow league opponent, continued its mastery of Minerva, rolling to a 12th straight win over the determined Lions in a 38-14 triumph at Dr. Robert Hines Stadium Friday night 

"We're 1-0 this week and that's the only thing I'm worried about," said Salem hcoach Ron Johnson.

The win upped the Quakers' record to 6-0 overall and  2-0 in EBC play. Salem's 12-game winning streak against the Lions is the second longest in NBC turned EBC history. It is second only to West Branch's current 15-game winning streak vs. Carrollton. 

"You can ask these kids, Salem's a really good football team," said Minerva coach Zach Slates. "They're well coached and they do all the things right and Ron's got it going down there."

Salem leads the all-time series with Minerva, 17-5.

The Quakers were led by senior quarterback Aidan Gelonese, who completed seven of 10 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown. He also had a rushing touchdown.

"Any win is hard to come by, so it feels great to get one for the team," said Gelonese. "It feels amazing (to get the scores) but we've got to get better and improve and move on to next week -- be 1-0 next week."

"We threw the ball well," said Johnson. 

The Quakers' one-two rushing punch of Brandon Kana and Zander Kinsey also played a big role in the Salem win. Kana rushed for 62 yards on eight carries in the first half and Kinsey piled up 142 yards and two touchdowns in the game.

Minerva -- which only trailed Salem 24-14 early in the fourth quarter before the Quakers' 14-point offensive explosion in the final 9:36 of the game -- is 2-4 overall and 0-3 in EBC play.

"Our kids played hard, they improved this week and they did what we were coaching them to do and they fought the entire game," said Slates. "I'm proud of our kids, I'm proud of the way they played tonight, they played physical and they flew to the ball, so I'm happy with what we did."

Because Minerva was successful eating clock with its ball-control offense in the first half, the Quakers' explosive offense only had three first-half possessions but scored on two of them and had a third six-pointer negated by a fumble in the Minerva end zone.

The Quakers scored on their second offensive possession, marching 70 yards to find the end zone on the first play of the second quarter on a 47-yard scoring aerial from Gelonese to a wide open Bairon Exline. Kicker Ronin Sutter added the PAT boot and Salem led 7-0 at the 11:52 mark of the second quarter.

Minerva's run-dominated offense churned out 120 yards on the ground in the first half but the Quakers' defense stiffened and turned the Lions away twice inside the 30.

The Quakers drove from their own 30 to find the end zone again just before half when Gelonese scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak up the middle with just 38 seconds showing before the break. Sutter added the PAT and the Quakers took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at halftime.

"Games like this frustrate you offensively because you never get the ball," said Johnson. "They (the Lions) just controlled the ball, but I think we maximized our opportunities because every time we had it we scored."

Salem led in total offense at intermission, 161-135 as Gelonese was a perfect six-for-six though the air for 91 yards and a touchdown and running back Brandon Kana had eight carries for 62 yards in the first half. Minerva running back Ethan Weaver led the Lions in the opening half with 70 yards on 15 carries.

For the game, the Quakers piled up 383 yards of offense to 238 for the Lions.

Salem's Conner White pounced on a Minerva fumble at the Lions 37 on their first drive of the second half. Two plays later, the Quakers capitalized on an 18-yard run around the left side by Zander Kinsey. Sutter added the PAT kick and Salem went up 21-0 at the 10:46 mark of the third quarter.

After a Salem fumble, Minerva took over and scored on a three-yard run by Ethan Weaver, who finished the night with 117 yards on 19 carries. Zander Kirkpatrick added the PAT and the Lions trailed 21-7 at the 1:21 mark of the third quarter.

But Salem answered with a 29-yard field goal by Sutter with 11:01 in the fourth to go up 24-7 at the 11:01 mark of the fourth.

The Lions cut it to 24-14 when Nicholas Wandle raced 18 yards to score and Kirkpatrick added the PAT with 9:36 left in the game.

But it was all Salem in the remaining time as the Quakers scored two times on a Bairon Exline 3-yard run and a Kinsey 18-yard scoring jaunt, his second rushing touchdown of the night.

"He (Kinsey) is good, he's really, really good," said Johnson. "And Brandon Kana's really, really good. Our guys have prepared so well and we have so much depth, especially at the running back position."


GAME NOTES

• The Quakers won last year's game with Minerva by a 48-17 final.

• Due to EBC schedule rotation and Howland entering the conference this season, Friday marked the second year in a row the Quakers had to play their game with Minerva on the Lions' home field.

• The Quakers return home to Sebo Stadium on Friday night when they host the Marlington Dukes (2-4 overall, 1-2 EBC) in Eastern Buckeye Conference action.

"We just have to get ready to play a whole different look next week," said Johnson. "Marlington is 180 degrees different from Minerva. We'd love to have everybody come to Sebo Stadium next week."

• Minerva will look to get back on the winning track Friday when the Lions host Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas (2-3).

"I haven't seen them (Aquinas) on film yet, so I'm looking forward to seeing that this weekend and get back at it," said Slates.


SCORING

S: 0-14-7-17--38

M: 0- 0-7- 7--14

SCORING

S--Bairon Exline, 47 pass from Adrian Gelonese (Ronin Sutter kick)

S--Adrian Gelonese, 1 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

S--Zander Kinsey, 18 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

M--Ethan Weaver, 3 run (Zander Kirkpatrick kick)

S--Ronin Sutter, 29 field goal

M--Nicholas Wandle 19 run (Zander Kirkpatrick kick)

S--Bairon Exline, 3 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

S--Zander Kinsey, 16 run (Ronin Sutter kick)

TEAM STATS

Salem

First downs: 24; Total yards: 383; Rushes-yards: 28-242; Passing: 141; Comp-Att-Int. 7-10-0; Punts 0-00; Fumbles-Lost 2-2; Penalties-Yards 2-20.

Minerva

First downs: 19, Total yards 268, Rushes-yards 44-219, Passing 49 Comp-Att-Int. 4-7-1, Punts 2-36, Fumbles-Lost 1-1, Penalties-Yards 3-30.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING--Minerva, Ethan Weaver, 21-117, Kellen Troyer 10-42, Kannon Kirkpatrick, 7-60; Salem, Brandon Kana, 8-62, Bairon Exline, 3-26, Zander Kinsey, 14-142, Adrian Gelonese 1-1.

PASSING--Minerva, Kannon Kirkpatrick, 3-7-49-0-1 ;Salem, Adrian Gelonese, 7-10-141-1-0. 

RECEIVING--Minerva, Kolton Almasy 2-35, Lane Tarbet 2-8; Salem, Bairon Exline, 5-108, Brandon Kana, 3-24.