Sailors edge Polar Bears on Meyers' late TD reception

VERMILION — In a game defined by the run, a crucial pass made all the difference in Vermilion's 21-20 win over visiting Margaretta on Friday. Facing a third down in their own territory, the Sailors (1-0) threw a seam route from junior quarterback Drake Hooks to senior wideout Brock Meyers. Meyers broke a couple tackles and outsprinted Polar Bear defenders en route to a game-winning 63-yard catch and run with three minutes to play. On that big play, Vermilion took advantage of a matchup they thought would be effective. "We liked that matchup. I mean we like our No. 1 Brock Meyers on anyone," Vermilion head coach Bill DiFucci said. "We are going to go to our playmakers and Meyers is our playmaker in the passing game." In the first two drives, both defenses forced three-and-outs. Margaretta (1-0) broke the code with senior running back Zack Bouy, who took a reserve handoff from his own 12-yard-line before using his speed to outrun opposing Sailor defenders on his way to an 88-yard dash to the end zone. In a game that featured big plays and some timely defensive plays, missed chances defined the game for the visitors. "They are a very good football team, but we shot ourselves in the foot," Margaretta head coach Gary Quisno said. "All the negative plays we had such as bad snaps, turnovers and they were able to hit a couple long passes on us." It did not take the hosts long to counter as senior running back Zach Werth made a couple defenders miss en route to a 37-yard run of his own to tie the score at 7-7. The visitors did not take long to answer back as senior Jake Bouy faked an inside handoff and busted his own long TD run, covering 58 yards. After a running and gunning first 12 minutes, the hosts started the second quarter with a methodical drive down. The Sailors almost stalled, but they converted on 4th-and-1 on their side of midfield. That conversion led to a 2-yard touchdown run from Hooks. Both defenses held firm the rest of the half. In the second half, the ground-and-pound style from Margaretta continued. After forcing a fourth down stop, Judah Keller broke off a 63-yard touchdown run. The visitors got an interception from Mason Reinbolt to stop a promising drive for the hosts. In the fourth quarter, both defenses forced turnovers on downs. After getting a three and out, Vermilon got a huge defensive play when the Polar Bears were trying to ice the game. That stop set up the big pitch and catch that resulted in the game winner. With the victory, Vermilion now turns its sights to a rivalry game at Firelands (0-1) next Friday. "That is not a hard game to get up for," DiFucci said. "Our boys will be ready to play. We will enjoy this win tonight and then get after it tomorrow." Margaretta hosts Western Reserve (1-0) next week. "We will look at some things and get better. We have a lot of guys going both ways and we need to get healthier and more in shape." Quisno said. "I wish we would of taken care of the ball better." Vermilion 7 7 0 7 — 21 Margaretta 14 0 7 0 — 20 M — Zack Bouy 88 run (Judah Keller kick) V — Zack Werth 37 run (Micah Smith kick) M — Jake Bouy 58 run (Keller kick) V — Drake Hooks 2 run (Smith kick) M — Keller 63 run (kick blocked) V— Brock Meyers 63 pass from Hooks (Smith kick)