Mustangs romp to repeat as C North champs

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 18 October 2021 at 9:34 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Jarin Rhim heads for the endzone to complete quarterback Xander Payne’s school record 19th TD aerial of the season as Alex Wix tries for the tackle. The action took place during the Mustangs C North title clinching win over the Tigers this evening at Vets Park.

Roaring out to a commanding 30-0 first quarter lead, Medina went on to defeat Akron 54-0 at Vets Park this evening to capture a second straight C North Division championship with a 5-0 record.

Two interceptions and a pair of recoveries of botched Akron kickoff return attempts set up the Mustangs four opening quarter touchdowns.

A pass interception by Greg Thompson on Akron’s first play from scrimmage set up an 8 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Xander Payne to Jarin Rhim and the Mustangs were off and rolling.

Payne also had a 17 yard pass completion to Rhim and an 11 yard run on the drive which also included a 14 yard run by Iverson Poole.

Medina got the ball right back when Thompson recovered Akron’s botched kickoff return attempt at the Tigers 34 yard line.

The Mustangs offense capitalized on a 5 yard touchdown run by Payne who also added the two-point conversion carry for a 14-0 lead.

Medina’s Cayden Lilleby recovers a botched Akron kickoff return attempt during the Mustangs explosive 30 point first quarter.

A 19 yard run by Poole and a 15 yard pass completion from Payne to Hayden Woodroe highlighted the drive.

Again Medina got the ball right back as Cayden Lilleby recovered the ball when Akron again botched the kickoff return attempt.

Two plays later Poole broke loose for a 28 yard touchdown run and Robert Arnold tacked on the two-point conversion to make it 22-0.

The Mustangs defense came up big again just three plays after the ensuing kickoff as Poole intercepted the ball at the Akron 33.

This time it took just three plays for the Mustangs offensive unit to capitalize as Payne hooked up with Rhim for a 10 yard touchdown pass. The TD aerial was Payne’s school record 19th of the season breaking the old mark of 18 set by Levi Pace during the 2008 season.

Arnold again tacked on the two-point conversion upping the lead to 30-0.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern.

First a blocked punt by Noah Skinner at the Akron 8 set up an 8 yard touchdown run by Skinner and a two-point conversion carry by Arnold for a 38-0 lead just 10 seconds into the quarter.

Then a pass interception by Rhim near midfield set the stage for a 10 yard touchdown run by Skinner and a two-point conversion by Arnold upping the the lead to 46-0 at the half.

Payne had a 16 yard pass completion to Poole and Lilleby a 12 yard run to highlight the drive.

The Mustangs final score came on a 34 yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion carry by Arnold three minutes into the third quarter for a 54-0 lead.

The entire second half was played with a running clock.

In addition to registering their third shutout in five division games, the Medina defensive unit did not allow a first down.

Now at 7-0 overall, Medina will close out the regular season by hosting rival Albion in an interdivisional contest at 7 p.m. Friday.

Runner-up Akron, which is now 3-1 in division play, will close out its C North schedule at home on Friday against Cleveland Hill.