Mustangs romp to win over Tigers

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 9 April 2021 at 10:58 pm

Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Medina’s Brian Fry makes an interception of a pass intended for Akron’s Jake Mazza during the Mustangs win over the host Tigers this evening. Also shown for the Mustangs are Tyler Chinn (1) and Iverson Poole (2).

Scoring in every quarter, Medina rolled to a 36-7 victory over host Akron this evening to improve to 2-0 in C North Division competition.

Quarterback Xander Payne spearheaded the Medina attack as he threw for four touchdowns and ran for another. Brian Fry and Tyler Chinn each caught a pair of those TD aerials.

Interceptions by Fry and Iverson Pole and a sack by Dominic Larabee highlighted the effort by the Mustangs defense unit which blanked the Tigers for the first three and a half quarters.

Medina’s Tyler Chinn escapes a tackle attempt by Akron’s Adam Mietz to score a touchdown.

Medina grabbed an 8-0 lead on a 12 yard Payne to Fry touchdown pass and a two-point conversion pass from Payne to Chinn with 2:27 to go in the first quarter.

A short Akron punt set up that 30 yard scoring drive which was highlighted by a 27 yard Payne to Jarin Rhim pass completion.

The Mustangs then broke the game open by scoring twice in the final five minutes of the second quarter to take a 20-0 lead at the half.

Payne passed 8 yards to Fry for the first TD and 7 yards to Chinn for the second.

Fry, who had five carries for 42 yards and two receptions for 18 to key the first drive, had an interception at the Akron 40 to set up the second. He caught passes from Payne of 15 and 13 yards to highlight that short scoring drive.

The Mustangs increased the lead to 28-0 midway through the third quarter on a 48 yard Payne to Chinn touchdown pass and a Payne to Joe Cecchini two-point conversion toss.

Payne rounded out the Medina scoring with a 2 yard TD run on the second play of the final period. Iverson Poole, who set up the opportunity with an interception, added the two-point conversion run to make it 36-0.

Akron, which is now 1-1, scored on a 2 yard TD run by Aidan Smith with just 5:34 remaining as Josh Mazza added the ezra point kick.

Medina next hosts Cleveland Hill at 7 p.m. next Friday while Akron will host Tonawanda.