The St. Edward defense held down Glenville until the Eagles’ offense rallied behind the running of Brandon White. (Press Pros Feature Photos Thomas Henderson)
Brandon White got the chance against Glenville he didn’t get last year and made it count to help keep the Eagles unbeaten and make up for last year’s loss.
By Dan Gilles for Press Pros
Lakewood, OH – St. Edward senior tailback Brandon White was injured and missed last season’s showdown with rival Glenville – a one-point loss on the road.
That made a healthy White plenty motivated heading into Friday night’s rematch at First Federal Lakewood Stadium.
White overcame a fumble that was returned for a touchdown late in the first half, finished with 180 yards on 27 carries (6.7-yard average) with three fourth-quarter touchdowns, leading the Division I Eagles to a 28-14 non-conference win over the Division IV Tarblooders.
St. Ed’s improved to 4-0, while Glenville fell to 2-2 with its second straight loss.
In the second half, White had 18 carries for 120 yards with a long of 39.
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“What can you not say about Brandon White,” Eagles coach Tom Lombardo said. “If I’m a college coach, that’s the guy I want on my team on Saturdays. We trusted our offensive line and we trusted Brandon to finish the job for us, and they did.”
White said he had this game circled on his calendar all season long.
“Last year, I had to sit out and watch my team lose,” he said. “I’ve been waiting all year long for this. It was big for me to come out here and help our team win this game and now move on. That might be the most TDs I’ve had in a half ever. We’re just attacking the defense and getting better every single week. We’re getting ready for next week and another tough opponent.”
With the Eagles leading 7-0 late in the first half, White was getting started. The Eagles were looking to add to their lead, and it appeared they would after White ripped off runs of 22 and 15 yards to start their drive with 56 seconds remaining. Then disaster struck.
As White was fighting for more yards, the ball was knocked out of his hands. Sophomore defensive back Jaylen Edwards scooped up the ball and raced 71 yards the other way for a stunning Glenville touchdown. Edwards was almost stopped inside the 10, but he broke two tackles and was able to stretch across the goal line. Garry Pritchett ran in the 2-point conversion, giving the visitors a surprising 8-7 lead with 24 seconds left in the half.
“We were up 7-0 and I made a mistake,” White said. “I fumbled the ball and it turned into a touchdown for them. I just told the guys it was on me and I would make up for it. The defense stepped up and did their job, and we came out in the second half with a chip on our shoulder. We just ran the score up.”
Brandon White rushed for 180 yards and three fourth-quarter touchdowns, making up for missing last year’s loss to Glenville.
The tide began to turn in the Eagles’ favor when Makhi Boone intercepted an Arvell Nelson pass at their 44 with 1:46 left in the third. St. Ed’s trailed, 14-7, at the time.
White took over, carrying the ball six of the eight plays on the drive. He gained 11 down to the one on the first play of the fourth quarter, then did the honors on the next play. Will Lavelle’s extra point tied the score at 14 with 11:26 left.
A long 14-play drive by Glenville stalled at the Eagles’ 46, and a fake punt by Eniere Lemon was stuffed for a turnover on downs. From there, White gained 59 yards on five plays, capped by his second one-yard touchdown, making it 21-14 with 3:50 left.
Senior defensive lineman Collin Crocker had a strip sack fumble recovery on Glenville’s ensuing play, giving the ball back to the Eagles at the Glenville 17. Four more White carries were capped by his third one-yard touchdown of the game and the quarter, making it a final with 1:41 remaining.
“We practice these situations,” White said. “The offensive line, they were hungry today.”
Added received Zach Hackelmans: “He’s been waiting for this moment for a year now, and since he’s come back this year, he was hungry. Even during last week’s game, he was talking about this one – he was hungry for it. He came out here and he proved it.”
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Lombardo couldn’t say enough about his standout tailback.
“He rehabbed his butt off to come back,” he said. “He just has great vision, he has great agility in the hole, and he can accelerate out of it and pop out of some tackles. When you have that kind of talent, that’s awesome to see.”
Former player Jordan Casselberry is one of several former players who come around the team to help.
“Jordan was a tremendous help for Brandon in the offseason,” Lombardo said. “That’s what I’m the most proud of.”
Both offenses were struggling to get anything going through the first quarter-and-a-half. St. Ed’s second drive went 12 plays, starting from its own 35, but stalled at the Glenville 14 after quarterback Jonny Evanchick took back-to-back sacks and fired incomplete on fourth down.
Glenville got the first turnover on the first play of the second quarter, when Edwards picked off an Evanchick pass and returned it to the Eagles’ 29. But Glenville went four-and-out and wasn’t able to capitalize on the turnover.
St. Ed’s got on the board first with one of the best high school football highlights in the state, and it capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive.
On fourth-and-8 from the Glenville 30, Evanchick dropped back to pass and tried to hit Hackelmans deep. The ball was underthrown and hit the hands of a Glenville defender, but the ball ricocheted right into Hackelmans’ hands as he stood along the back line of the end zone for a wild touchdown. Will Lavelle’s extra point made it 7-0 Eagles with 7:01 left in the second quarter.
“Last year, I had to sit out and watch my team lose,” Brandon White said. “I’ve been waiting all year long for this.”
With the circus catch, Hackelmans set the school’s “modern era” all-time records for career receptions (98) and TD receptions (19). Alex Stump (2012-14) held both records previously (92 and 18).
“It was fourth down and I didn’t think he was going to throw it,” said Hackelmans, who finished with six catches for 68 yards to lead the Eagles. “I saw the ball in the air and then I saw (the defender’s) hand go up, and I was like, ‘he’s about to tip it up.’ He did and I was able to get my hand out and reel it in while staying in bounds. It was all God, man, I don’t know how I caught it.
“It’s a blessing to set this record. It’s an honor to be mentioned with those great names here at St. Edward and the legacy of this program.”
The Eagles defense, meanwhile, was putting the clamps to Glenville’s offense. The Tarblooders were held to one first down in the first half and 52 total offensive yards. Glenville gained 203 yards of offense on nine first downs. Glenville was held to just two big plays – an 18-yard run and a 32-yard pass.
“These kids play for each other and we always stress that it’s about the team, it’s about the team,” Lombardo said. “This is a tough football team. Our defense really played tough early, and I think our offense had a bit of the jitters early on. We settled in, and when we did, I think everyone saw what we are capable of doing.
“I told the guys, if the ball squirts out, we’ve got to respond. Glenville was able to capitalize on turnovers in a playoff game last year against Lake Catholic. That was a jolt to us, no question about it. To our kids credit, they went down and responded in the second half. Our first three games were kind of easy, so I told our guys, ‘This is what football is and what it’s gonna be like in the playoffs.’ We responded in the second half.”
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