Ravenna, OH- It was a great weather night for football at Portage Community Bank Stadium as the Ravenna Ravens (0-4) welcomed in the Streetsboro Rockets (3-1) for a Metro Athletic Conference Showdown. Ravenna was looking to notch their first win of the season while the Rockets looked to bounce back from a tough loss against unbeaten Norton.
The Rockets started at the 30 yard line and got off to a fast start. On the third play from scrimmage, RB Kylan Rue burst up the middle for a 48 yard touchdown run. The PAT was good and just over a minute into the game the Rockets led 7-0.
Ravenna would strike right back. A trick play on the first play from scrimmage saw Bobby Melzer swing a screen to C.J. Ross who then found Melzer down field for a 46 yard pickup down to the Rockets 4 yard line. From there Austin Marshall took it in for the touchdown. The PAT tied the game at 7-7.
It would only take the Rockets four plays to score on their next possession. After two big plays from Preston Hopperton, a 20 yard reception and a 31 yard run, Cohen Klimak scored on a nifty 13 yard run two plays later. Another successful PAT gave Streetsboro a 14-7 lead with 8:53 to play 1st quarter.
The Rocket defense flexed their muscles on the next Ravens possession holding them to one yard and a quick 3 and out. The Rockets would start at their own 17 yard line after a Ravenna punt. They put together their longest scoring drive of the half going 83 yards in 8 plays that culminated with a Hopperton 3 yard touchdown plunge. The PAT made it a 21-7 Rockets lead with 4:41 to play 1st quarter.
The Ravens would move the ball into Rockets territory on their next drive as C.J. Ross connected on three straight completions. But faced with a 4th & 5, Ross tossed a screen pass to Austin Marshall who was dropped for no gain and a turnover on downs.
The Rockets would strike quick again as Kylan Rue ran it in from 29 yards out on the fourth play of the drive for his 2nd score of the half. The PAT gave the Rockets a 28-7 lead with 10:14 to play in the half.
After another Ravens 3 and out, Cohen Klimak hit Hopperton on a 42 yard scoring play for another quick score on the 2nd play of the drive. The PAT pushed it out to a four touchdown lead for Streetsboro at 35-7.
Ravenna was forced to punt for the third time on the night giving the lethal Rockets offense one more shot before the half from their own 14 yard line. It was a shot that they nailed in only three plays. After and incomplete pass, Klimak hit Hopperton with a short pass that he took 83 yards all the way down to the Ravens 3 yard line. He would punch it in on the next play for his 3rd touchdown of the half. The PAT gave us our halftime score of 42-7 in favor of the Rockets. Hopperton put up 253 total yards in the first two quarters.
Ravenna opened up the second half with the stingy Rockets defense forcing a turnover on downs in four plays. Streetsboro took over with their second team unit starting the second half up by 35 points and a running clock. On the 6th play of the drive, senior RB Brent Ranaldson scored on a 46 yard run. Another successful PAT put the score at 49-7 with just over four and a half minutes to play 3rd quarter.
Ranaldson would tack on a second touchdown run late in the fourth quarter as the Rockets ran away with this one 56-7.
It was a huge offensive night for the Rockets as they amassed 362 yards on the ground and 519 total yards for the game. The trio of Preston Hopperton, Cohen Klimak and Kylan Rue combined for 268 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns, all in the first half.
Rockets coach Pete Thompaon talks with his team after the win
The Rockets (4-1) will host Cloverleaf next Friday while the Ravens (0-5) will travel to Field High School for a date with the Falcons.
Unofficial stat leaders:
Streetsboro:
Preston Hopperton: 8 rush, 96 yards, 2 TD - 4 rec, 157 yards, TD
Cohen Klimak: 4/6, 157 yards, TD - 7 rush, 79 yards, TD
Kylan Rue: 3 rush, 93 yards, 2 TD
Brent Ranaldson: 5 rush, 66 yards, 2 TD
Ravenna:
Austin Marshall: 20 rush, 87 yards
C.J. Ross: 8/14, 91 yards, INT
Bobby Melzer: 4 rec, 67 yards
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