Olmsted Falls quarterback Tyler Sparks decided to fly over the defense for a touchdown rather than run through them in the Bulldogs 55-14 win. (Photo by Larry Bennet)

Bulldogs conquer Amherst, turn attention to Avon Lake
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published Sept. 27, 2006

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If you consider yourself a connoisseur of high school sports, it is imperative that you see Olmsted Falls senior Tyler Sparks play football for the Bulldogs.

The 6'4” 197-pound quarterback is worth the price of admission. In his team's 55-14 shellacking of Amherst, Sparks had several highlight worthy moments despite playing just one series into the second half. He had two touchdown passes and three touchdown runs. He had several perfectly thrown balls and once, when it appeared he was trapped on an option play, he made a subtle cut and found the lane for a 17-yard touchdown. But all of those plays were overshadowed by the leap.

With 20 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Sparks and his teammates had a second and goal at the 3-yard line. He rolled left and headed for the corner of the goal line. Instinctively, Sparks threw himself up and over the defender and into the end zone. Like all great players, there was no plan on the play, just a reaction.

"I don't really remember what I was thinking," Sparks said. "I just jumped up and I think I landed on my feet and I was looking around thinking what just happened."

It was his third score of the first quarter and the Bulldogs were on their way to a victory. Olmsted Falls head coach Jim Ryan knows his quarterback is a difference maker.

"Tyler is just so athletic," Ryan said. "With that athleticism, he is just so savvy and he gets us into so many good plays. And sometimes, when things go wrong, he makes a good play out of a bad one."

Sparks gave credit to his young offensive line.

"We have a great group of guys," Sparks said. "We have a young line and at the beginning of the year we were a little unsure but they have done an unbelievable job of stepping up. It is one of our strongest spots on our team right now. I am so proud of them but I am proud of the whole team."

Sparks and the offense benefited from the defense. The Bulldog defenders forced a turnover on the second play from scrimmage to set up the first touchdown. On the second series, Amherst tailback Jason Loushin broke free for a 60-yard touchdown run, but the Bulldogs shut down the Comets for the rest of the first half.

"Our defense was the story of the game in the first half," Ryan said. "They got us great field position, had a big turnover on the second play of the game. Our defense held them to three first downs in the first half. Our defensive coordinator Dave Barberic does a great job."

Defensive end Alex Sedlay said the unit regrouped well after giving up the long touchdown run.

"We knew what was on the line and what was at stake," Sedlay said. "Our defense really stepped up big and made some big hits and big stops. We just showed a lot of heart out there tonight."

Sedlay intercepted a pass late in the third quarter and returned it 41 yards for a touchdown to make the final score 55-14.

"I just played my coverage right and sat in the spot and he threw it right to me," Sedlay said.

Sedlay, who also plays tight end, caught a 50-yard pass. It actually lowered his average yards per reception, since his only other catch this season was a 70-yarder.

Junior running back Mike Varga had a big night. He rushed 21 times for 115 yards. Senior Shane Smith caught three passes for 82 yards including a 29-yard touchdown. Senior Dave Pellerite caught a 10-yard touchdown pass. Senior Cory Castro had a 23-yard touchdown run.

The Bulldogs are now 5-0 and 3-0 in the SWC. Next week they travel to Avon Lake to face the defending champion Shoremen who will be smarting after a 21-20 loss to Brecksville. Sparks missed the Avon Lake game last year after he was injured on the last play of the Amherst game which Olmsted Falls won in double overtime.

"This was a big game and it gives us a lot of confidence heading into next week against Avon Lake," Sparks said. "We will be ready."