Chagrin Falls beats rival Kenston on homecoming

Brian Lavrich/Sun News, September 29, 2009 11:56 a.m.

However, Chagrin Falls got going after that and held on in the end to win, 20-13, on homecoming Friday night at Harris Stadium at Chagrin Falls High School.

Chagrin Falls coach Mark Iammarino wasn't happy with the overall performance of the Tigers, but he can't be displeased with beating a quality opponent like Kenston.

"Our defense did a great job after that first series," Iammarino said. "We made the adjustments that were necessary.

"But we have to be better."

But Iammarino was happy with the homecoming crowd that included Chagrin Falls graduates Bob Dahl and Sean McHugh. Dahl played several years in the NFL, including with the Cleveland Browns while McHugh plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He earned a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers last season.

"I loved the crowd," Iammarino said. "We got great fan support. It was a great week."

With the win, Chagrin Falls upped its record to 5-0 and 2-0 in the Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division. Kenston dropped to 3-2, 1-1. The Tigers play at 7 p.m. Friday at Wickliffe (1-4) while the Bombers play Orange (1-4) at 7 p.m. at Bomber Stadium. It marks homecoming for Kenston.

Kenston methodically marched 71 yards in 13 plays, taking the first 4 minutes, 32 seconds off the clock as quarterback Kyle Weninger scored on a 5-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead. However, after that first drive, the Bombers gained just 98 total yards of offense. Weninger completed his first two passes on that drive, but finished just 7 of 20 passing for 47 yards with two interceptions. He also rushed for 43 yards on eight attempts.

Kenston coach Roger Vasey said it's no surprise Chagrin Falls is undefeated.

"They're a very good football team," Vasey said. "They're talking about a state championship (in Chagrin Falls).

"But we're close. We're still young in many ways."

Still, Kenston controlled the first quarter and had another drive stall at the Chagrin Falls 31 on a fourth-down play. The Bombers had seven first downs in the first quarter to none for Chagrin Falls. The Bombers ran 36 plays to just 15 for the Tigers in the first quarter.

However, in the next three quarters, the Tigers gained 11 first downs to just four for Kenston. The Bombers had just two first downs in the second half and both came on their final drive of the game.

"We worked hard all week," Vasey said. "It came down to execution. We ran the ball very well and that's what we planned to do. We got our quarterback out on the edge."

Vasey said he wanted to get Weninger out of the pocket and away from the vaunted Tiger pass rush.

"They're very solid up the middle defensively with (Scott) Campbell, (David)Powers and (Chris) Gorman," Vasey said. "We had to move the pocket and get our quarterback out on the edge."

It took Chagrin Falls until late in the second quarter before it finally got going offensively.

Gorman broke free for a 27-yard run that powered a drive that ended with Bobby Winkelman scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:22 left in the first quarter. Gorman's run with 6:37 left in the first half marked the first first down for the Tigers of the game. Winkelman's run capped a seven-play, 76-yard drive as the game was tied at 7 at halftime. Gorman led all rushers with exactly 100 yards on 19 attempts.

The Tigers got the ball to start the second half and went back to work as they drove 57 yards in 10 plays to set up a 30-yard field goal by Gorman for a 10-7 lead with 7:46 left in the third quarter.

Chagrin Falls finally put the game away in the fourth quarter. The Tigers kicking game kept pushing Kenston further and further back into its own end while supplying the Tigers with great field position.

Eventually Chagrin Falls took over at the Kenston 44 and the Tigers covered that ground in eight plays with Powers catching a 15-yard touchdown pass from Chris Trinetti for a 17-7 lead with 8:38 left to play.

Trinetti completed 6 of 10 passes for 76 yards and the one touchdown. Powers led Chagrin Falls with three catches for 56 yards.

Both coaches commented on how the Tigers' special teams were key in the field position fight.

"I have to say our kickoffs were great and we made our PATs and field goals," Iammarino said. "That was the highlight of tonight."

Just three plays after Chagrin took the 17-7 lead, Marc Geraci intercepted Weninger and set up Chagrin Falls at the Kenston 7. But the Bomber defense held and the Tigers had to settle for a 37-yard field goal by Gorman for a 20-7 lead with 6:08 left in the game.

But Kenston wasn't done yet. The Bombers took over at the Chagrin Falls 28 after a bad snap to the Tigers' punter with 2:52 left to play.

Pat Porter broke into the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown run, but there was just 45 seconds left to play. The extra point was blocked as it was now 20-13. Porter was held to just 49 yards rushing on 20 attempts.

Geraci recovered the onside kick and the Tigers held on for the victory.

Kenston's Jimmy Tomcufcik rushed 9 times for 33 yards while teammate Justin Brownlow caught four passes for 31 yards.

Andrew Vento had an interception for Chagrin Falls.