Jerrod Ronyak throws for 325 yards, TD to lead Lake Catholic past Ashland in Division II regional

Tim Rogers / Plain Dealer Reporter, November 21, 2009 7:08 a.m.

Lake Catholic's Marty Gibbons, center, celebrates his first-half interception with teammates Adam Urbania, left, and Andrej Vogel. - (Thomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer)

Cougars receiver Zach Cvelbar makes the catch despite close coverage by the Arrows' Michael Bixler, setting up Lake Catholic's first touchdown. - (Thomas Ondrey / The Plain Dealer)

Lake Catholic's Jerrod Ronyak and Ashland's Marcus Fuller put on a passing display not seen in these parts in years on Friday, lighting up InfoCision Field at Green Memorial Stadium with more big plays than can be found on Broadway.

In the end, it was Ronyak and Lake Catholic shining the brightest with a 45-42 victory in a Division II regional championship football game. The victory sends the Cougars (12-1) to next week's state semifinals against Maple Heights at a site to be determined. Ashland's season ends at 11-2.

After an entertaining first half ended in a 14-14 tie, the teams combined to score 59 points over the final 24 minutes.

Lake Catholic, seeking a fourth state title, was not able to celebrate until receiver Zach Cvelbar made a diving catch of a Ronyak pass for a first down at the Ashland 31-yard line with 51 seconds left.

There were nine lead changes, six in a wild third quarter. Lake Catholic had 544 yards to Ashland's 416.

Ronyak entered having thrown for 2,023 yards and run for 525, and the 6-3, 205-pound senior didn't disappoint. He completed 15 of 26 passes for 325 yards and one touchdown. Ronyak also scored four times on the ground, compiling 92 yards on 19 carries.

His biggest targets were Tommy Michals (seven receptions for 142 yards and one touchdown) and Zach Cvelbar, who caught five passes for 128 yards. While Cvelbar did not score, he caught several key passes that sustained several of Lake Catholic's six scoring drives.

"This is amazing with a group of guys who are all my brothers," said Ronyak. "I feel like I'm playing my best football of my life, and we're playing our best football as a team."

Fuller, a 6-0, 195-pound junior, came into the game having thrown for 2,823 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also delivered, completing 17 of 26 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 15 carries for 60 yards and one score.

Lake Catholic's decisive scoring drive came midway through the fourth quarter after the Cougars' defense, led by Marty Gibbons, Andrew Forrai and Luciano DeSensi, forced a rare Ashland punt -- there were five total punts in the game -- with 8:19 to play and holding a 38-35 lead.

The Cougars got the ball at the Ashland 49. With substitute Chris White giving Matt Fee a breather and providing some key runs, the Cougars scored in seven plays. White gained 17 yards on three carries, and Ronyak chalked up 16, bobbling the ball as he maneuvered between left end and tackle. Ronyak also completed a 14-yard pass to Michals before going the final 2 yards to give his team a 10-point lead.

Ashland retaliated when Fuller threw a 42-yard scoring pass to Chris Thomas with 4:02 to go, but the Cougars were able to run out the clock.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: trogers@plaind.com, 216-999-5169