LUCAS, Ohio – Mason Galco talked softly after the game. But behind a bearish offensive line, the 5-10, 184-pound Lucas senior runs as loudly as any back in north central Ohio.
Galco and his Cub teammates sent a clear message Friday night to other teams in their Division VII region that last year’s playoff success was no fluke, pounding visiting Centerburg, 30-14.
“We said last year from the start we were going to the playoffs,” Galco said after accepting congratulations from family and friends. “I think we are going right back this year.”
Make no mistake. This was no unknown Lowellville team that the Cubs (2-0) hammered senseless in the season opener. Centerburg is a perennial playoff team, advancing to the Division VI regional championship game last year.
And by the time Lucas was finished roaring in the second half, the Trojans (1-1) had no fight left in them.
Big Bad Bears: How dominant were the Cubs in the game’s final 24 minutes? Lucas had the ball three times in the second half, consuming 19 minutes off the clock, rushing the ball 38 times for 169 yards and three TDs. Centerburg also had three possession, totaling just 60 yards in offense in five minutes.
Galco, who rushed for more than 200 yards against Lowellville, carried the ball 34 times for 168 yards and three TDs against a Centerburg defense that knew he was coming and that he would be running between the tackles.
Early in the second quarter, Galco had just seven yards on six carries. That changed quickly when he raced in from 41 yards out to tie the game at 7, just two plays after senior Alex Switzer blocked a 43-yard Trojan field goal try.
“Our offensive line did an excellent job,” Galco said. “Sometimes we start slow. But we got it rolling tonight.”
Lucas coach Scott Spitler said his players trust in their ball-control offense. The Cubs threw just two passes, both in the first half.
“These seniors bought into this offense since we installed it five years ago,” he said. “When people want to doubt it because we don’t put the ball in the air very much, these kids believe in it.
“Hats off to our defensive coaches tonight. They did a great job of shutting them down until we could make some adjustments in our blocking and get our offense going,” he said.
“We haven’t had good luck against (Centerburg) the last five years. It was great to see these seniors who have stayed with us hang in there tonight, battle and get the win,” Spitler said.
FAST START, SLOW FINISH: Centerburg took the opening kickoff and drove 79 yards to score on 11 plays, mixing in six runs for 27 yards from junior Jacob Rings with four passes for 58 yards from junior quarterback Gunnar Gregory.
But Rings would carry the ball only five more times the rest of the way, finishing with 54 yards on 12 carries. Meanwhile, Rings fired 21 more passes, finishing with 11 of 25 for just 122 yards. The Trojans also committed nine penalties, totaling 85 yards.
“We shot ourselves in the foot a lot tonight,” Centerburg coach Jim Stoyle said. “We dropped the ball on the ground. We had several illegal procedure penalties. Those kind of mistakes are uncharacteristic for us.
“We have battled these guys a lot over the years. The seniors on that team took their lumps as freshmen and sophomores and they stuck together and got better. They did a great job tonight. They were clearly the best team on the field tonight,” Stoyle said.
Statistically Speaking: Lucas had a 17-11 edge in first downs, including 11 in the second half alone. The Cubs rushed the ball 61 times for 256 yards, averaging better than four yards per carry. Centerburg rushed for just 88 yards on 23 tries.
Freshman running back Jeb Grover added 56 yards on 12 carries for Lucas, including a 6-yard TD run. Senior QB Rueben Luna added 27 yards on 13 carries and completed one of his two passes for 20 yards. Luna also connected on a 27-yard FG with 8 seconds left in the second quarter that gave the Colts a 10-7 edge at the break.
Next up: Lucas, which started last season 0-2 before winning seven of its last 10 games, hosts Northmor next Friday night. The Trojans host Marion Pleasant that night.
“We shot ourselves in the foot a lot tonight,” Centerburg coach Jim Stoyle said. “We dropped the ball on the ground. We had several illegal procedure penalties. Those kind of mistakes are uncharacteristic for us.”
