Beaver Local over powers Crestview
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Beaver Local’s Drake McCloud (left) and Richie Wyse tackle Crestview quarterback Braydon Meier on Friday. (Photo by Ron Firth)
Beaver Local defenders Nicak Marra (left) and Liam Jordan gang up on Crestview’s Hayden Davis on Friday. (Photo by Ron Firth)
CALCUTTA -- Beaver Local’s Reid Schwerha made the most of his first start at quarterback in a 35-14 win over Crestview on Friday night.
The sophomore completed 13 of 16 passes for 336 yards and five touchdowns in the runaway win. It was the first win in school history for Beaver Local over Crestview in seven tries. It also broke an 11-game regular season winning streak for Crestview.
“I really thought it would come down to a one-score game in the fourth quarter,” McKenzie said. “I just didn’t know who we were. I know we are talented but we are inexperienced. We had one starter back on offense. You just don’t know what is going to happen.”
Beaver Local coach Mike McKenzie said he believed the five touchdown passes tied a school record. Junior wide receiver showed off his speed with three touchdown catches for 199 yards. McKenzie said he also believes that tied a school record.
“Jack is just a guy who has really, really taken it to another level,” McKenzie said. “He’s one of our strongest kids. I was happy for him.”
Nocella’s touchdowns came from 71, 93 and 36 yards. Nolan Irving scored Beaver Local’s first touchdown on a 41-yard strike in the first quarter. Zavien Riley also got in on the act with a 15-yard touchdown.
Schwerha said he thought he was going to start on Thursday, but he said he never officially got the word.
“We had a walk-through on Thursday and I just kind of went from there,” Schwerha said.
McKenzie said Schwerha and Richie Wyse had split reps during the first scrimmage but Wyse had some shoulder discomfort so Schwerha starting getting more of the work with the starters.
“We knew this week he was going to start,” McKenzie said.
“I was nervous at first but that first touchdown really set the scene for me,” Schwerha said.
Crestview showed a little life in a two-minute drill at the end of the first half which results in a Trevor McElhaney 5-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7 at half.
With the offense struggling throughout, Crestview needed to keep the game close to have a chance. That was ended when Nocella went 93 yards on the second play from scrimmage in the second half.
“We didn’t play real well,” Crestview coach Dom Perry said. “Beaver Local is pretty good and we weren’t prepared and that’s on me.”
Beaver Local will look for another first win over an opponent when it heads to Western Beaver in Pennsylvania next Friday. Beaver Local is 0-2 all-time against Western Beaver with the previous meetings in 1994 and 1995.
Crestview will host Lakeview next Friday.
CR: 0-7-0-7 -- 14
BL: 7-7-21-0 -- 35
SCORING
BL -- Nolan Irving 41 pass from Reid Schwerha (J.T. Milhoan kick)
BL -- Jack Nocella 71 pass from Schwerha (Milhoan kick)
CR -- Trevor McElhaney 5 run (Danny Novak kick)
BL -- Nocella 93 pass from Schwerha (Milhoan kick)
BL -- Zavien Riley 15 pass from Schwerha (Milhoan kick)
BL -- Nocella 36 pass from Schwerha (Milhoan kick)
CR -- McElhaney 4 run (Novak kick)