Rematch vs. Redskins
JFK gets chance to avenge 2017 playoff loss
The Division VII Region 25 championship game is set. John F. Kennedy will face the team that put them out in the first round of the playoffs last year, Cuyahoga Heights.
The goal this year is to flip the scoreboard in the other direction.
“It’s taking the same approach that we take every week,” Kennedy coach Jeff Bayuk said. “Studying film, and going over information we gather from our scouting. It is a different team than it was last year at JFK and at Cuyahoga Heights. We are just studying what we have done the last few weeks, and trying to get ready and build a gameplan.”
The Eagles (7-5) meet the Redskins (10-2) Saturday at Nordonia High School at 7 p.m. to decide the Division VII, Region 25 title. Cuyahoga Heights was state runner-up last year in Division VII.
The Redskins, whose losses were to Brookfield in week 2 and Kirtland in week 6, have won six in a row. The Eagles, who started 1-4, have won six of their last seven, including playoff wins over Windham and Ashland Mapleton, 42-34, last weekend.
Turnovers on special teams helped Kennedy garner momentum in that victory. A turnover on a squib kick and another on a kickoff by Mapleton, were both recovered by Kennedy, and gave the Eagles the chance to really take the lead, and hold on to it.
“I think it changed the momentum,” Bayuk said. “We still had to execute once we got the turnovers. I thought our kids did a really good job with that. It definitely was a momentum-changer coming out at halftime getting that turnover right away.”
The victory over Mapleton was a hard-fought battle, but now another challenge comes by way of a familiar foe, Cuyhoga Heights. The Redskins are paced by a multi-look option offense that poses problems when adding their passing attack into the equation. Cuyahoga Heights averages 31 points per game.
“They run a lot of midline option,” Bayuk said. “They are very good at it. I think their quarterback is very adept at running the midline and giving you fits. He knows what he is reading, and as you know, if you are not ready to defend the option, it can make you look real bad, real quick.”
“They will go from an unbalanced midline, and go to a spread, running the midline, and then they will go empty, and start throwing it around,” Bayuk said. “It is a very capable group of receivers, and they are varied on offense.”
The Eagles will look to have the same results that they had last week against Mapleton. Kennedy only gave up 27 yards rushing against the Mountie.
“We are just going to try to cause some havoc at the midline,” Bayuk said. “Their offensive line is very good, and we are going to have to be gap sound, and carry out our responsibilities. The option forces you to be very disciplined in your gap control, and that will be a point of emphasis this week at practice.
Kennedy cannot settle for what they have accomplished thus far. The focus needs to be on this weekend’s opponent, and moving forward to overcome No. 1 seed Cuyahoga Heights in the second showdown.
“Our expectation is to play better than we played last week, that is always our expectation,” Bayuk said. “Our kids have been doing a good job of that.
“Everybody knows we are now at week 13, and teams get better and better as you go. We are going to have to play close to perfect to continue to week 14.”
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