If one were to look at the score of the Bulldogs football game against the Firestone Falcons, he or she may think the Bulldogs were in control the whole game in a 42-16 routing; however, that was not the case.

     Firestone jumped out to a 10-0 lead in just the first three minutes of the game. After the Falcons quarterback threw a 68-yard touchdown pass into double coverage, Stow’s two defenders seemed to trip over each other allowing the touchdown.

     The following Bulldog drive, quarterback Kyle Vantrease overthrew his receiver leading to a Falcons interception. This was one of three of  Vantrease’s turnovers in the first half.

     After falling behind 10-0, the Bulldogs leaned on the running attack. Gobble who came into the game averaging 16.2 yards per carry finished 215 yards on 23 carries. He also had three touchdowns. Gobble continued his success over the Falcons, last year scoring six touchdowns against them.

     Despite having an off night, Vantrease still finished with two passing touchdowns and one rushing. One of these touchdowns was on the first drive of the opening third quarter as he led the team down and found Joey Andrassy for a 24 yard touchdown.

     After Andrew Schockling recovered a fumble, Vantrease threw a 22-yard touchdown to wide receiver Logan Lindsay.

     With a little under five minutes left in the game, the Falcons scored on a three yard touchdown run against the Bulldogs second team defense. This was the only turnover the Bulldog’s forced.

     Following the game, Stow head coach Mark Nori said, “We had no hint of panic” (highschoolsports.cleveland.com). This was in reference to being down 10-0 early on. Coach Nori also spoke of how Jayson Gobble was very vocal and supportive to his teammates throughout the game.