Tarblooders make history on way to state final

Bob Fortuna, The Plain Dealer, November 29, 2009 6:33 a.m.

Glenville junior quarterback Cardale Jones passed for 199 yards and ran for 150 in the Tarblooders’ 31-17 Division I semifinal win over Massillon on Saturday night in Akron. - (Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer)

Glenville's quick-strike offense, struck again but this time the stakes were much higher.

Saturday night's 31-17 Division I state semifinal victory over Massillon in front of a crowd of 10,248 at the University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium will allow the Tarblooders to go even deeper into the record books.

The Tarblooders (13-1), ranked No. 6 in the final state poll, will play ninth-ranked Hilliard Davidson (12-1) in the state final at 7 p.m. Saturday at Canton's Fawcett Stadium, making them the first Cleveland public school to reach the final of the football playoffs.

"Glenville played a good game," Massillon coach Jason Hall said. "They stayed under control and kept their poise even when we got back into the game.""

The unranked Tigers (10-4) tied the game at 17-17 on the opening possession of the second half, covering 74 yards in a 13-play drive that was aided by two Glenville penalties.

Glenville was cited for offsides seven plays later when Jeremy Geier was set to attempt a 22-yard field goal, giving the Tigers a first-and-goal on the Tarblooders' 6-yard line.

Massillon capitalized when Jake Reiman scored off right tackle from the 3 on a third-down call.

"We have to continue to work on discipline," Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. said.

"It's hard to concentrate sometimes because we have to remember they're only kids.

"We just stayed faithful and got it done."

With 8:59 remaining in the game, Glenville quarterback Cardale Jones found Shane Wynn for a 71-yard touchdown strike, finishing off a two-play drive which took just 59 seconds. Christian Bryant's extra point put the Tarblooders ahead, 24-17.

"It was just a regular out pattern but they came down," said Wynn. "Cardale just pointed up, threw the ball and I made a big play."

Two devastating tackles by senior linebacker Rodnell Pierce -- one for no gain on Reiman and the other for a 1-yard loss on a Robert Partridge pass to Justin Olack -- fueled the Tarblooders.

"I knew what they were doing," said Pierce. "I just read the quarterback. I heard what he was saying and made my adjustments off what he was saying." Pierce's stops set up a Massillon punt, and Glenville took over at its 49-yard line.

Sparked by a 19-yard Jones-to-Evonte Dunn completion, Glenville went 51 yards in five plays with the clincher being Jones' 26-yard touchdown run.

Jones finished with 9 completions in 20 attempts for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and completed passes to seven different receivers.

Jones also rushed for 150 yards and a touchdown.

Glenville held a 17-10 lead at intermission but it could have been more.

The Tarblooders, aided by Jones' 22-yard run and his 18-yard pass to Shane Bell II, marched to Massillon's 11-yard line with 11 seconds left in the half.

However, they had to settle for Bryant's 28-yard field goal when defensive back Aaron White's hit on Nicholas Davis forced Davis to drop a second-down pass with what would have been an 11-yard touchdown. Josh Remark then batted away Jones' ensuing pass into the end zone, which was intended for Anderson.

Listen to audio of this game from OhioHSsports.com 

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665