Mustangs romp in Class C quarterfinal

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 28 October 2022 at 10:10 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Amari Soule breaks into the clear for a big gain during the Mustangs 48-7 Section VI Class C quarterfinal win over Eden at Vets Park this evening.

Exploding for touchdowns on all seven first half posessions, top seeded Medina opened defense of its Section VI Class C title with a 48-7 quarterfinal round romp over No. 8 Eden at Vets Park this evening.

The Mustangs blitzed out to a 48-7 first half lead as Noah Skinner scored 4 touchdowns and Aiden Pitts, Brody Fry and Kaedon Cleveland each had 1.

The defense set up three of those scores on interceptions by Amari Soule and Noah Cudzilo and a fumble recovery by Logan Gray, each of which gave the Mustangs offense great field position in Eden territory.

It took Medina just 45 seconds to get on the scoreboard as Skinner scored on an 11 yard run and Cole Callard tacked on the first of his six extra point kicks. A big 44 yard run by Skinner set up the score.

Turnovers by the defense, first on the fumble recovery by Gray at the Eden 33 and then on the interception by Cudzilo at the Raiders 38 set up the next two scores.

The offense was quick to capitalize both times, first on a 2 yard touchdown run by Pitts and then on an 11 yard TD carry by Fry upping the lead to 20-0. Runs of 29 by Soule and 13 by Pitts highlighted the first drive which was briefly slowed by a penalty.

Eden did cut the deficit to 20-7 on an 82 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Sweet to Carson Teijeira but the Raiders could not find the endzone again.

Medina got that one back just three plays after the ensuing kickoff on an 8 yard touchdown run by Skinner to make it 27-7 at the end of the opening quarter. Soule had a big 46 yard run to key that short drive.

Keeping the momentum, Medina scored on all three second quarter possessions on touchdown runs by Skinner of 10 and 67 yards and by Cleveland of 43 yards to make it 48-7 at the half.

An interception by Soule on the first play of the quarter set up the first scoring drive which was highlighted by a 28 yard pass completion from Pitts to Cleveland.

The scoreless second half was played with a running clock.

Improving to 8-1, Medina will now host No. 5 Fredonia in the semifinals next Friday. It will be a rematch of last year’s Class C title game won by the Mustangs in a snowstorm at Highmark Stadium. Fredonia defeated No. 4 Depew 43-22 this evening to improve to 8-1.

Eden finishes the season at 4-5.