AURORA, Ohio — A fumble a year ago motivated Casey Myser.
Highland’s junior running back didn’t forget it Friday night against Aurora, as he rushed through holes gashed open by his offensive line and scored twice to propel the Hornets in their 34-0 win at Veterans Stadium for the Suburban League American Conference football championship.
“Three hundred, sixty-five days, we thought about it,” Myser said of last year’s 9-7 loss to the Greenmen in Week 10. “I know last year I fumbled down on the 5-yard line. I felt like I let a lot of people down, so this game was definitely circled all year for me.”
Myser responded by rushing for 215 yards on 24 carries, including a 47-yarder in the second quarter that pushed the Hornets to a 21-point lead and their league title.
Coach Mike Gibbons quickly reminded them in their postgame huddle it’s not their only goal. The Hornets (10-0, 7-0), ranked No. 8 in the cleveland.com Top 25, rebounded a year ago from that Aurora loss to reach the Division II regional finals.
They look to return there as the second seed, which should be sewn up with their shutout of No. 11 Aurora (9-1, 6-1).
“As soon as the playoffs ended last year in the regional finals, these guys all got together and they had a film session the next day,” Gibbons said, “and it hasn’t stopped.”
That focus is how his team took an anticipated battled of undefeated rivals into a running clock with Garrett Phillips’ touchdown run on the third play of the fourth quarter.
Phillips, who organized last year’s film session among players after their regional final loss to Avon, did his part in Friday’s shutout with two interceptions. One came in the end zone, just before his touchdown run, which Myser set up with a 63-yard burst.
“These guys spend countless hours after practice, watching film, breaking down film for this Friday,” Phillips said. “I think that’s been the biggest thing. Learning to play with each other, and here we are in Week 10, right where we want to be.”
Highland held Aurora to only 15 yards rushing. Coach Bob Mihalik’s Greenmen could not get their run game going early, minus leading rusher Lucas Manderbach after an injury he suffered the previous week.
Aurora senior quarterback Ryan Dwyer found Ben Lukasik for a 13-yard gain on the opening play, but Highland held them in check for the rest of the drive, as two penalties negated any hopes for a first down. Then, a punt attempt was ruled down, 13 yards behind the line of scrimmage to set up the Hornets with a short field for their opening drive.
Myser ripped off two runs to move Highland inside the 10. Two plays later, Lucas Gerding scored the Hornets’ opening touchdown.
They finished with 307 yards rushing and 405 yards in total offense, as Dylan Borla worked out of the pistol formation with Myser behind him. The defense gave up just 208 yards, most of it in the passing game with Dwyer completing 19 of 32 passes for 185 yards to lead Aurora.
Both teams had been dominant, especially in the Suburban League. All of their wins in conference play came by at least 31 points, including this one for Highland. The Hornets gave up just 21 points in seven American Conference games.
“It’s a special group,” Myser said. “It’s obviously a dominant group up front, and they’re playing 11 as one. They’re flying around and swarming. Hopefully we can keep this thing rolling.”
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on X (@mgoul), Threads (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]).