Pirates outgun Warriors to clinch WSC championship
By Matt Pawlikowski
Sports
Published Nov. 1, 2006

It is common in football for a team to have a letdown coming off a big victory. There are many examples of a powerhouse, losing to a weaker squad.

It was the scenario that Rocky River faced entering its contest with Fairview.

“We talked about it, and we felt lucky to be playing our rivalry game in week 10,’’ said Rocky River coach Ron Lewis. “We could have been 0-9, and it would be a huge game for us. Your rivals, we don’t like them and they don’t like us. So yes, we were coming off a big win, but this game is also big to the kids. It’s for pride, and we didn’t think there would be any problem.”

Lewis was right, as it took just over two minutes for his team to take a commanding 13-0 lead. In the end, Rocky River capped off its drive to the West Shore Conference title, with a convincing  41-12 win over Fairview.

The Pirates wasted no time scoring its first points of the night, taking just one play, a 20-yard Jon Gipson touchdown run. Moments later it was 20-0, when Andy Breidigim found Pauly Ferguson, for the second time of the night, this time for a 54-yard score.

Ferguson ended the night as River’s all time leading receiver for a season, and now has 46 receptions with 874 yards, breaking a record that stood since 1986 (Chris Kysela) by 28 yards.

“The last two weeks we’ve thrown for over 300 yards, and Andy does a great job of taking care of the ball, and Pauly ( Ferguson) does a great job of making plays. We’re so happy for him, he set the school record in receiving yards, and we were real happy for him.”

His thoughts on breaking the mark?

“I knew I was close to the record, but it was kind of secondary,’’ said Ferguson. “I just wanted to win the game. That’s all that mattered. They don’t like us, and we don’t like them, so it was important for us to win.”

Give credit to Fairview though.  The kids did not quit. The Warriors mounted a nice drive late in the first half when freshman standout Stashon Warren scored on a 12 yard pass. The Warriors went for two, but the receiver couldn’t hold on to the ball due to the poor conditions.

Warren finished the night with 143 yards on the game, quite a feat against the Pirates vaunted defense.

“He only played in eight games, and came up 24 yards short of reaching 1,000 yards,’’ said Fairview coach Mark Ohradzansky  “ We have a lot of young kids like Warren, who are going to be OK, and they didn’t quit.  There were 59 out this year, and we hope to keep things going, but it looks like its going to come down to the levy, so hopefully people will go out there and vote. You have to give Rocky River credit though. They were without a doubt the best team we played all year. Ron Lewis and his staff have done a great job over there”

Rocky River got the ensuing kick back at the 35 yard line, and did what they have done all year, mounted yet another impressive drive, which was capped off by Zach Youseff’s 11-yard run.

Just before half, the Pirate guns would strike again, this time after the recovery of a bad snap by Fairview. Elias George would find a nice hole, and on a first and goal, with 2:35 left until half, scored from seven yards out to put the game out of reach at 34-6.

Fairview did get on the board one time,  late in the fourth quarter, when Nick Krehel took the ball in from one-yard out.

Leading the way for Rocky River’s defense once again, was Chris Aukerman, who had 10 tackles, 3 sacks and 1 caused fumble in the monsoon conditions. In addition to his touchdown, and 40 yards on four carries, Zach Youseff also 10 tackles and 1 sack.

While the offensive unit was rolling, the defense also looked great. Led by Chris Aukerman, the forced fumbles in key situations, and held the Warriors in check.