Solon escapes a scare from Euclid, 10-7

Tim Warsinskey, Plain Dealer Reporter, November 07, 2009 11:50 p.m.

Solon wasn't expecting this, from itself or from Euclid.

"This was kind of a shock," Comets center Joe Butkovic said after Solon outlasted Euclid, 10-7, in a Division I playoff game Saturday.

"I don't know if we expected them to lay down, but we didn't come out the way we should have. We were able to sneak by. We have to come out next week and play harder."

Next week is a highly anticipated rematch against Mayfield (10-1), a team Solon beat, 27-20, on Oct. 2.

Ohio State recruit Darryl Baldwin, a Solon tight end/defensive end, left the game with a left ankle injury in the second quarter and was on crutches after halftime. His status for this weekend was uncertain.

The Comets (11-0) are ranked third in the final state poll, but were the first to admit they did not play like it against a sturdy Euclid defense. Euclid outgained Solon in yards, 240-110.

"We weren't in the playoffs last year and this is a new experience for a lot of our guys," Solon coach Jim McQuaide said.

"We need to do a better job of adjusting to playoff football. Our defense has been the key to our success all year and tonight we needed them."

The Comets' offensive woes could be traced to Euclid's tenacious front seven, led by senior linebacker Andre Cliff, who capped a stellar year with four more sacks.

"We just fell short," Cliff said. "[Solon] played a good game. They made plays."

All of the scoring was in the first half, when Euclid (6-5) gave Solon the ball twice inside the Panthers' 20. Leading 3-0, Solon's Jovon Johnson blocked a Euclid punt at the 4. Solon quarterback Jake Voit threw a 4-yard TD pass to tight end Ryan Rosenberg and Kevin Hicks, who earlier kicked a 27-yard field goal, added the extra point.

Solon had a chance to expand the 10-0 lead when cornerback Cameron Stuart's 34-yard interception return put the Comets on the Euclid 14. But the Panthers stuffed three runs, one of which resulted in Baldwin's leg injury, and Hicks missed a 27-yard field goal attempt.

Seven plays later, it was a 10-7 ballgame. Cliff turned a 15-yard pass into a 53-yard gain to the 9-yard line, and Devon McGowan's 4-yard touchdown run capped the 80-yard drive.

Euclid's Mike Ruscin was short on a 36-yard field goal attempt on the Panthers' first possession of the second half.

Euclid's top receiver, Seth Morgan, was injured in the first quarter and did not return.