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Brookfield handles fault, Edgewood

ASHTABULA – Things were looking good for Edgewood early in its non-conference matchup with Brookfield.

Brookfield turned the ball over on its first play from scrimmage, with Zak Enricco recovering the fumble to give Edgewood good field position. Still, Edgewood couldn’t capitalize on Brookfield’s lone turnover of the night.

That proved to be the theme for Edgewood during its 30-7 loss at Corlew Stadium on Friday night. The home team managed to move the ball well enough at times, running for 104 yard in the first half, but Edgewood (1-5) had drives stall before it could get into the red zone.

“We’ve moved the ball well against almost everybody all year, but our problem is we don’t get it done inside the 20,” Edgewood coach Ken Parise said.

Brookfield (4-2), meanwhile, had no such issues throughout the game.

The away team got on the scoreboard with four seconds left in the first quarter when Alex Clark punch the ball in from one yard out. On Brookfield’s following possession, Xavier Bailey showcased his athleticism with back-to-back runs of 17 and 47 yards – the last of which put the away team ahead, 14-0.

Bailey had success running the ball and throwing, racking up 202 rushing yards and a touchdown in the first half. Bailey also threw for another 25 yards and a touchdown.

Bailey also chipped in on defense, intercepting a pass in Edgewood’s end zone late in the first half to keep the home team scoreless heading into th break.

“I don’t think we blocked very good,” Brookfield coach Randy Clark said. “The majority of it is because of (Bailey’s) speed. He’s pretty exciting.”

In the second half, Brookfield’s defensive line created pressure and contained the Edgewood offense, with linemen Carmen Furillo and Bailey Litz each recording a sack.

“I think we played hard defensively,” Clark said. “They (Edgewood) ran the ball hard – they did a nice job. We bend, but we don’t break. Overall we did a decent job.”

Brookfield continued to run the ball in the second half, finishing the game with 345 rushing yards.

Bailey was quick to praise the big men paving the way for him.

“It starts all up front with the big guys,” Bailey said. “I mean, we have Carmen Furillo, Jake Maretich, Trevor Pegg – all kids over 250 pounds. Those guys lead us to back-to-back 300 yard rushing games.”

In the final drive of the game Edgewood marched the ball 70 yards down the field to get on the scoreboard. Backup quarterback Aaron Pocatko came into the game and completed all three of his passes for 38 yards, and Curtis Warren capped off the drive with a six-yard touchdown reception.

Parise praised his players for putting together such a drive.

“That second unit was hungry, and they went out there and got after it,” he said. “There was some real nice bright spots there. They moved the ball right down the field 70 yards, really happy with that.”

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