ROCKY RIVER, Ohio — On paper, this year’s “Battle for the Bridge” between the Lakewood Rangers and Rocky River Pirates looked destined for a similar outcome to last year.
The Pirates again came away with West Side bragging rights with a comfortable 42-27 win over the visiting Rangers in a Cleveland West Conference game on Friday night. Unlike last year, the Pirates had to battle from an early deficit before pulling away in the second half.
“Resiliency is one of our key words this year,” Rocky River coach Josh Wells said. “We knew they were an explosive team, and they showed that tonight, but our kids kept fighting, and we were able to pull away from a good team in the second half.”
Last year, the Pirates (4-1, 2-0) came away with a 46-14 win after an initial first half offensive onslaught left the Rangers shell shocked. This year, while the outcome was similar, the game played out in dramatically different fashion.
Less than 5 minutes into Friday’s game, it was Lakewood that jumped out to a 14-0 lead. The opening drive of the night ended in a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Avery Holt to Jaylen Chappell for 65 yards. The senior wide receiver got behind the Pirates defense on a deep post pattern.
The Rangers (3-2, 1-1 CWC) then recovered a fumble of the ensuing kickoff return that gave them the ball at the Pirate 30-yard-line. Four carries by running back Braeden Greenfield moved the ball down to the goal line before Chappell picked up his second touchdown of the night on a jet sweep.
Rocky River wasted little time getting on the board once its offense got the ball. The Pirates marched 72 yards down the field, highlighted by a 25-yard touchdown by quarterback Ryan Taylor on a cutback of a read option.
After the initial two drives, the Rocky River defense began to settle in and forced two Ranger punts. Both of those defensive holds corresponded to more points for the Pirates. Taylor capped a short drive with a 6-yard touchdown run that was set up by a long punt return by Oran Grieve up the sideline. Taylor got back into the end zone with a 1-yard touchdown run on the following drive to put the Pirates ahead for the first time, and for good, 21-14.
Lakewood rounded out the first half scoring with another Holt-to-Chappell touchdown pass as the quarterback rolled left and threw back across the field for a 33-yard strike and cut the Rocky River lead down to 21-20.
The Pirates were able to seize back the momentum before halftime after Daoud Asleh blocked a Lakewood punt. That set up a Josh Mommers-to-Grieve touchdown pass and a 28-20 halftime lead. Mommers and Taylor split time for much of the game at quarterback after Taylor was initially forced to the sideline with a foot injury.
Rocky River put the finishing touches on the win with two touchdowns in the second half – another one on the ground from Taylor, his fourth rushing score of the game, and a 14-yard counter run by Cam Bulkowski.
The Rangers were able to add one additional score to round out the scoring late in the fourth as Holt added a rushing touchdown.
“That’s a very good and deep program,” Lakewood coach Michael Polevacik said. “We’re trying to build up to that level, and I’m proud of our team’s effort tonight. I think tonight was a sign of our growth after falling behind 42-0 at halftime last year and making this a much more competitive game.”
Lakewood continues conference play next week on the road against North Olmsted. Rocky River goes on the road in CWC play against Normandy.
