Madison mauls Chardon

KARL PEARSON
Star Beacon

October 06, 2007 03:55 am

— MADISON TOWNSHIP — Putting it all on the line is what it was all about for the Madison football team Friday night.
In a meeting with Premier Athletic Conference rival Chardon, it usually comes down to the play in the trenches. It did this time at Blue Streak Memorial Stadium and it pretty much all went the Blue Streaks’ way in an impressive 38-6 victory over the Hilltoppers.
Nobody was more pleased about it then senior running back Nick Yeager, who used the huge holes Madison’s offensive line created to ring up 210 yards rushing on 33 carries and score four touchdowns.
“I thought it was going to be one of those 21-14 games, but (quarterback) J.D. (Ingalls) loosened them up early with the passing game and then it was time for our offensive line to dominate,” he said. “There were holes out there any running back could have run through and had a big night.
“I have to thank all the guys on the offensive line — Kyle Glass, Kevin Hendricks, Mike Roberts, Alan Brotzman and Frank Wrobleski — for what they did. (Tight end) Nic (DiLillo) was a big part of it, too.”
The linemen were just doing their job, the 6-foot-3, 310-pound Hendricks said.
“Our coaches gave us a good game plan and we executed it perfectly,” he said. “We take a lot of pride in our running and passing game. It’s great to be able to give one of your running backs a 200-yard night.”
Ingalls did his part, too, throwing for 128 yards on 11-of-17 passing, including six covering 67 yards to DiLillo.
“We saw their coverages were off of him and the quick routes were there, so we did all we could to get him the ball,” the senior left-hander said. “I think that opened up the running game for (Yeager).
“This is the first game our offense has hit on all cylinders. Our line was great. The only sack I had, I held the ball too long, so I guess that one’s on me.”
The best part for the Blue Streaks (5-2, 2-0) was the milestone the win was against Chardon (4-3, 1-1).
“That’s the first win we’ve had against Chardon since we’ve been in high school,” Yeager said was a huge smile.
Coach Tim Willis was not only proud of the play of his offensive line, but his defensive front seven of Tom White, John Gluvna and Bobby Woods up front and linebackers Ty Law, Hunter Legeza, Mitch Krotz and Nick Mayer. It limited Chardon’s vaunted running attack to just 155 yards, gave up just two first downs in the first half and didn’t let the Hilltoppers score until midway through the fourth quarter with Madison already holding a 31-0 lead.
“I thought our offensive line did a great job, but I thought our defense did a great job. I couldn’t be more proud of all those kids.
“We knew we had to win this game is we had any hope of making the playoffs. The kids believed in themselves. This was a special win for us and a big confidence booster for us.”
Chardon coach Jim DiPofi applauded the Blue Streaks’ play up front in particular.
“They went through our line like it was Swiss cheese,” he said. “Yeager’s a good running back and they have a good line.”
He also said the Hilltoppers made their share of mistakes.
“I didn’t think we played particularly well,” DiPofi said. “But give Madison credit.”
Madison scored on its third possession, traveling 58 yards in four plays to a five-yard scoring run by Mitch Krotz. But Chardon got things going in the second quarter, driving from its 20 to the Madison 18.
But the Hilltoppers were forced into a fourth-and-two situation and pushed themselves back more with an illegal procedure penalty. Woods deflected a Chad Davis pass to give the ball back to Madison.
On its ensuing possession, Madison appeared to turn the ball over on an interception, but a delayed interference call gave the Blue Streaks a first down and allowed them to continue a drive to Eric Gavorski’s 36-yard field goal.
After that, the Madison running game really took over. The Blue Streaks drove 53 yards in eight plays to Yeager’s first score, a one-yard plunge. He kept the score at 17-0 at halftime by intercepting a Davis pass.
“After we went up 17-0, we just tried to keep running the ball and running out the clock,” Willis said.
Yeager did much of that, scoring again on another one-yard run in the third quarter, ran in from 13 yards out on the second play of the fourth quarter and closed out the scoring on a six-yard run with 2:18 left after the Blue Streaks pulled off a 40-yard fake punt pass from Krotz to Paul Gain.

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