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Shadyside Downs Bridgeport, 50-6

Photo by Kayla Ruble Shadyside QB Billy Johnson (5) hands off to Connor Banco (44) on Friday against Bridgeport.

BROOKSIDE — When it rains it pours. That sums up Bridgeport’s 50-6 loss to visiting Shadyside on Friday night at mud-filled Perkins Field inside Bill Jobko Stadium.

The Bulldogs (1-8) were assessed a 15-yard penalty for coming onto the field late to start the game and then watched the Tigers (7-2) pour on 44 first-half points to institute the OHSAA’s 30-point mercy rule in the second half.

“We did a good job. Our objective was to jump out as quick as we could and get control of the game and let some of our younger kids that deserve a chance to play get in some minutes,” veteran Shadyside coach Mark Holenka said. “Those kids are great scout team players for us, and at the same time, we wanted to get the players that are a little dinged up off the field and give them a chance to continue to heal.”

Goals accomplished.

After losing a fumble on its initial series, Shadyside scored touchdowns on its next four possessions and six of the next seven in building a comfortable 44-0 advantage. All of the damage came via the ground as tailback Alex Krupa and fullback Connor Banco accounted for five touchdowns and 169 yards, with Krupa picking up 90 on 10 carries and Banco finding the end zone three times.

Krupa gave the Tigers an 8-0 lead when he dashed around his left end from 15 yards out. He also added the two-point run.

Following a partially tipped Bridgeport punt, Shadyside started at the Bulldogs 21. It took Banco, a promising sophomore, one play to reach the end zone. The two-point pass failed, leaving the visitors on top, 14-0.

Krupa recovered a Bridgeport fumble on its second play to set the Tigers up again with good field position at Bulldogs 23. Three plays later, Banco followed the blocking of right guard Dylan Hanson and right tackle Chaz Davis into the end zone from 7 yards out. Banco followed the same path for the conversion and a 22-0 lead after 12 minutes.

“Things started off a little slow for us,” second-year Bridgeport coach Zack Melton said. “They came out like we thought they would. All the credit to them because their front line works hard and their backs run hard.

“Shadyside’s a good team and their front lines won in the trenches. Like I told our kids all week, the game is going to be won in the trenches, especially with the weather conditions that we had. They dominated us.”

In addition to Hanson and Davis, also helping pave the way for 234 yards rushing were center Andrew Jobe, left guard Josh Robinson and left tackle Taylor Prickett.

Krupa made it 28-0 with a 6-yard run in the second quarter and quarterback Billy Johnson hit Chase Wade with the two-point pass for a 30-0 margin.

Banco then bulled his way in from a yard out and Cody Hawthorne sprinted 50 yards for another touchdown and then ran for the two-point conversion before the first half ended.

Hawthorne’s younger brother, Dale, got into the scoring act in the third quarter when he intercepted a pass and returned it 35 yards.

“Those kids do a nice job. They practice hard and it’s nice to see those guys get rewarded and have fun,” Holenka said. “Sometimes it’s win, win, win, but it’s nice to see the kids have fun at the same time.”

Bridgeport got on the board in the waning moments when Dane Cash, one of a handful of Bulldog seniors playing their final home game, skirted around his left end from 9 yards out in the waning moments.

Johnson completed 6 of 11 passes for 111 yards — all in the first half.

Garett Duncan led the Bulldogs with 53 yards on 15 carries. Logan Zusack recovered a fumble for Bridgeport.

Shadyside 50, Bridgeport 6

Shadyside    22  22  6  0  —  50

Bridgeport    0     0  0  6  —    6

S — Krupa 15 run (Krupa run)

S — Banco 21 run (pass failed)

S — Banco 7 run (Banco run)

S — Krupa 6 run (Wade pass from Johnson)

S — Banco 1 run (run failed)

S — C. Hawthorne 50 run (run failed)

S — D. Hawthorne 35 INT return (pass failed)

B — Cash 9 run (run failed)

Rushing: Shadyside 30-234-6tds (Krupa 10-90-2tds, Banco 8-79-3tds, C. Hawthorne 1-50-td, Johnson 2-7, Murphy 2-4, Coggins 2-3, D. Hawthorne 2-1, Adams 3-0). Bridgeport 36-70-td (Duncan 15-53, Cash 4-18-td, Booker 12-5, Simmons 1-2, team 4-(-8)

Passing: Shadyside 7-14-128 (Johnson 6-11-111, Coggins 1-3-17). Bridgeport 2-8-23 (all by Booker)

Receiving: Shadyside 7-128 (Wade 3-36, Quinn 2-28, Krupa 1-47, D. Hawthorne 1-17). Bridgeport 2-23 (Cash 1-20, Coyne 1-3)

First Downs: Shadyside 16. Bridgeport 8

Penalties: Shadyside 6-47. Bridgeport 4-47

Fumbles: Shadyside 5-1. Bridgeport 5-1

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