Lake County Sentinel
Blue Streaks run over Rangers 27-13
BY JOEY SCHNEIDER
STAFF
(EASTLAKE, OHO) - The Madison Blue Streaks earned their second win of the year on the road at Nick Carter Stadium against the Eastlake North Rangers 27-13. It was a hard hit-ting game that saw Madison's three headed monster running attack of senior quarterback Carson Alley, sophomore running back James Poe, and senior run-ning back Sonny Salajcik, wreaking havoc all game long, rushing for over 200 yards and three touchdowns between them.
Madison's Carson Alley mishandled the hand off to James Poe in the opening drive and was recovered by Eastlake's senior defensive end Navahn Woods. North settled for a fifty-yard field goal miss by senior kicker Daniel Tadic. He had the distance but was off to the right.
After a lengthy second drive by Madison, it finally stalled out on the fifty-yard line. The Blue Streaks went for a fake punt on 4th and 5, that was fumbled and fell on by James Poe for a turnover on downs. The Rangers took the ball down the field with some tough running by Eastlake senior running back Reon'tae Lowery, but Madison's defense would not allow the first touchdown of the game, as North settled for a 24-yard field goal by Daniel Taric, which started the second quarter.
Blue Streak senior quarterback Carson Alley had a magnificent next drive rush-ing for over fifty yards and capping it off with a 29-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown. The extra point was missed, but Madison took the lead 6-3.
Madison was again driving this time through the air as Carson Alley connected on three straight passes two of which were screens to Madison junior wide re-ceiver Mac Steele. On the third screen attempt Eastlake's junior linebacker Saw-yer Piasecki jumped the pass, intercepting the ball, and energizing Nick Carter Stadium.
Madison's defense would buckle down again and after a massive sack by Blue Streak senior defensive end Joey Sanchez, North was forced to punt. Madison sold out and brought everyone allowing junior defensive back Daniel Combs to block the punt and the Blue Streaks to recover. Two plays later Carson Alley found junior wide receiver Knolan Albert wide open over the middle for a 22-yard touchdown pass.
North was desperate to get some points on the board after a short kick, and a few runs by Rangers Reon'tae Lowery, Eastlake would again try a fifty-yard field goal attempt with two seconds left before half, and kicker Daniel Tadic absolutely blasted it through the uprights closing the gap to 13-6, with Madison leading heading into the locker rooms for halftime. The fifty-yard field goal broke the Eastlake North record for longest field goal in school history.
North came out fired up in the second half with running back Reon'tae Lowery again running tough. After a big holding penalty that pushed the Rangers to 3rd and long, Madison's Joey Sanchez again came up big with sack to force Eastlake to punt. Madison would not waste the momentum as a combination of Carson Alley, Sonny Salajcik, and James Poe went on a 15-play drive taking al-most ten minutes off the clock as Poe punched it in the endzone on a two-yard run. After the extra point Madison extended their lead to 20-6.
North went three and out and that would end a very quick third quarter.
Madison would strike a bit more quickly in the fourth quarter this time as James Poe took a handoff 27 yards for a touchdown. His second of the game, building Madison's lead to 27-6.
Eastlake North senior quarterback Zach Rummel wasn't giving up on the game as he connected a few times with senior wide receiver Issac Wilson, setting up Rummel to hit Reon'tae Lowrey on a screen that Lowrey took 25 yards for a touchdown. North cut the lead to 27-13. After an outside kick that was recovered by the Blue Streaks, Madison kept moving the ball and running time off the clock. North was able to get the stop with three minutes remaining, but Madison's stout defense once again prevailed as they took over with 1:45 left in the game. The Blue Streaks lined up in victory formation and ran out the clock to earn their sec-ond straight win, moving them to 2-1 on the year. North fought valiantly for the entire game but couldn't seem to stop the run when it mattered the most and fell to 1-2 on the season.
Madison coach Mike Gilligan talked after the game about the run game. "We prepared our guys for the fronts that they have been running all year and they ran them tonight; they have some good football players on that side of the ball, and we had and emphasis on making sure to not let a few players that could kill us up there. It's preparation and execution more than anything."
Carson Alley, Sonny Salajcik, and James Poe were all smiles as they were asked what makes them such a dynamic trio. Sonny started "It's just swapping in and out and running the ball. It's next man up mentality." They were asked what each of them brings in terms of the run game. Sonny said, "I can go up the mid-dle faster" as James then chimed in "I'm faster on the outside runs." What do the coaches prep you for in the run game during the week was the next question. "Just keep running downhill and wait for it to click" said Sonny as the others agreed. Carson then gave credit to the whole team. "It's a team effort all around, offensive line, running backs, receivers, and the defense." "We are always posi-tive on the sidelines we are always positive to each other, and it comes from practice." he concluded.
Madison has a chance to make it three straight wins next week on the road again against West Geauga, while Eastlake North will look to bounce back at home against Brush. Both games are on Friday, September 8th with 7:00 pm start times.
POSTED 09/01/2023 23:37
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Photo by Joey Schneider
