Late TD lifts Solon over Mentor, 21-17

Brian Lavrich/Sun News, September 11, 2009 11:24 p.m.

SOLON - After losing two Mentor five times over the past three years, including the playoffs, Solon's 21-17 victory over the Cardinals must feel sweet.

The Comets jumped out to a 14-3 lead, but had to really in the fourth quarter as Kyle Hammonds scored the winning touchdown with 5 minutes, 18 seconds left in the game.

The victory keeps Solon undefeated at 3-0 and marks Mentor's (2-1) first loss of the season.

Hammonds had a workman-like effort with 32 rushes for 97 yars and two touchdowns. He also had a 6-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to give Solon a 7-0 lead.

The Comets went up 14-3 when Jake Voigt threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to David Gibson and they took that lead into halftime.

Mike Korecz scored on a 6-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to pull the Cardinals within 14-10. Then, he scored on a 1-yard run with 6:50 left to play to give Mentor the only lead it enjoyed against Solon, 17-14. Korecz rushed 20 times for 91 yards.

It took Solon just 1:32 to answer as Voigt hit Tres Barksdale with a 48-yard pass on the first play of the next possession to set up Hammonds' winning touchdown. Barksdale finished with five catches for 75 yards.