×

Knights ride tide to beat ’Cats

MUDDY MESS — Toronto’s Thomas Fordham is entangled with Edison’s Mason Balzano during the first quarter of Friday’s 47-22 Red Knights victory at Clarke Hinkle Field. (Mike Mathison)

TORONTO — A turnover turned the tide for the Toronto football team against rival Edison on Friday at Clarke Hinkle Stadium.

In the waning seconds of the first half, the Red Knights’ Joe O’Brien picked off an Edison pass and busted down the field for a 96-yard touchdown return.

“It was a big one,” said Toronto head coach Eric Meek. “I saw Joey going and he zig-zagged at the end of the run with a couple of their guys chasing him. Thank God he did, because there was no time left and he got in the end zone.”

Later, a dominant second half equated to a 47-22 victory by Toronto on Senior Night.

“Beating our three geographical rivals (Wellsville, Catholic Central and Edison) for the second-straight year is big,” Meek said. “I’m proud for my seniors to win this one, against a big rival, in their last game in this stadium. Overall, it was a great win.”

O’Brien’s interception return lifted the Red Knights to a 21-7 lead just before half. Prior to to the pick, the Wildcats were driving to the end zone on a possession that started at their own 25-yard line. It took two minutes for Edison to drive deep into Toronto territory, and, the score could have easily been tied at halftime if not for the defensive stand.

“We put together a good half of football this evening, with the exception of the momentum they gained off of the pick-6 right before halftime,” said Edison head coach Derrick Stickles. “It’s difficult to win football games when you can’t put together four quarters.”

The Red Knights (7-2) scored on four of their five second half drives. It took just four plays for the hosts to get on the board in the third quarter as Jake Keenan’s long kick off return set them up at the Edison 26-yard line. Nate Karaffa ran in from six yards out to give Toronto a 28-7 advantage.

Karaffa helped find the end zone again on the next drive, this time on a 21-yard touchdown pass to Keenan to give the Red Knights a 34-7 lead at the 6:24 mark of the third quarter.

Max Tice added a five-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and, at with just over four minutes left in regulation, Danny Zdinak scored his third touchdown of the night on a five-yard run.

Zdinak’s first two touchdowns came in the second quarter on runs of 6 and 40 yards.

“We really turned it up in the second half,” Meek said. “We played much better football.”

After a scoreless first quarter, Toronto got on the board first, exactly two minutes into the start of the second quarter. The Wildcats (3-6) answered on their next drive when Joey Nave hit Chris Kosegi for a 17-yard passing score. Edison’s other two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter as Nave hooked up with Seth Cade from 21 yards out and Kaleb Waggoner capped the scoring on a 53-yard run with 2:17 remaining in regulation.

“It’s an inability to put together four quarters of football,” Stickles said. “That’s the story of the entire season. We’ve been able to put a good quarter together, here, and a good quarter together, there. We just haven’t been able to really pull it all together for a full game.”

To go with the interception return, O’Brien also recovered an Edison fumble, after teammate Thomas Fordham stripped the ball carrier in the third quarter. For Edison, River Pappas picked off a pass in the first quarter.

The Red Knights piled up 350 yards of total offense, led by 151 rushing yards from Max Tice. Karaffa was efficient through the air, going 6 of 9 for 100 passing yards. Keenan was the top target with three catches for 70 yards.

Also on the ground, Zdinak finished with 70 yards on eight carries.

The Wildcats put up 260 yards of total offense. Cade led the attack with 110 rushing yards on 110 carries. Waggoner added 65 yards on four carries in the fourth quarter.

Nave was 5 of 9 passing for 67 yards. Cade caught two passes for 41 yards.

In an unfortunate scene late in the fourth quarter, Edison’s Dakota Clifton was injured on a kick off return. He was carted off on a stretcher and taken to Weirton Medical Center. This is the second time this season Clifton has suffered a heinous injury on the field.

“It’s a shame,” Stickles said. “That’s part of this game, unfortunately. But for it to happen to a kid twice in one year, it breaks my heart. I hate to see him and his family have to go through this again.”

The Wildcats will remain on the road to play Indian Creek next week. Toronto also ends the regular season on the road, travelling to Toronto.

According to joeeitel.com, the Red Knights are ranked No. 5 in Division VII, Region 25.

“Things are going to look pretty good now,” Meek said of the playoff standings.

If the standings remain the same after next week, Toronto would play at Mollenkopf Stadium, the home of Warren John F. Kennedy, in Week 11.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today