Lake County Sentinel
Rebels improve to 6-0, holding off Chardon 35-28
BY JOEY SCHNEIDER
STAFF
(WILLOUGHBY, OH) - In another titanic match-up on Friday, the unbeaten (5-0) Willoughby South Rebels conquered their toughest test of the season by defeating the (2-3) Chardon Hilltoppers 35-28. Whoever said history tends to repeat itself was exactly right. Last week Chardon lost on a final play, two-point conversion to the also undefeated Eastlake North Rangers. This week South scored the go ahead touchdown with just 43 seconds left in the game. The Rebels would not be denied the win and South's Anthony Mock intercepted the ball as the clock ran out, sealing the victory for the Rebels, and sending them to 6-0 on the year.
South was led by quarterback Luke Jensen who was 17/25 for 345 yards passing and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing for 41 yards and a score. Jensen has been the team’s offensive leader all season. Going into the game Friday Jensen lead the area in passing yards with 1,182 with 13 touchdowns. South's receivers Josh Jensen and Anthony Mock might be the best receiving duo in all of Lake County. Mock had eight receptions for 159 yards and a score, while Josh Jensen had five catches for 137 yards and a touchdown as well. South's junior running back Moogy Fullerton had 22 carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns, including the final score of the game.
The Rebels had a tough test trying to stop Chardon's monster running back Drew Platz. The six foot, 220 lbs. Platz had 555 yards rushing heading into the game, which was fifth in the area. Platz rushed for 100 yards on 17 carries. The Hilltoppers rushing quarterback Andrew Cole had a massive game with 20 carries for 195 yards and three rushing touchdowns. The Rebels, however, were able to overcome Chardon's dominant run game, and stay among the unbeatens heading into another hard hitting game next week against Geneva.
South won the toss and elected to receive the ball. They went right down the field on the first drive, but Chardon rose to the occasion and stopped the Rebels on a fourth and goal. They would capitalize on the stop, driving the length of the field and scored on an Andrew Cole three-yard touchdown. South's first score came with 1:47 left in the first quarter as Luke Jensen would score on a one-yard run.
That was all the scoring in the first half as the defenses went back and forth, forcing turnovers every drive in the second quarter, with neither team able to take advantage, and the score remaining 7-7 going into half-time.
The second half was pure fireworks as both teams scored on what seemed like every drive. Chardon drew first blood in the second half on Andrew Cole's second rushing touchdown of the game as he flipped into the end zone on a 15-yard run. South would answer right back forty seconds later on a Moogy Fullerton 13-yard score. South would get the stop, and Luke Jensen found his first big passing touchdown of the game on a 58-yard connection with his brother Josh Jensen. South would hold the lead heading into the fourth quarter 21-14.
Chardon again would charge down the field and tie the game up 21-21 on Andrew Cole's third and final touchdown, this time a five-yard dash. Luke Jensen would get his second passing touchdown this time to Anthony Mock who contorted his body to come down with the ball in the endzone on a 57-yard pass and catch. Chardon really wanted this game and again scored on a three-yard rush by sophomore Rocco Frisco, with 3:02 left in the game.
Willoughby South's will to win the game was on display as Luke Jensen again found Josh Jensen, who dove and caught the ball on the one-yard line with just over a minute left. Moogy Fullerton would score his second touchdown of the game, giving the Rebels the lead and never letting go.
This was South's toughest test of the season. Chardon might have dropped to 2-4 on the year, but they also had the adjusted fifth hardest schedule in the state. Their four losses have come to juggernauts Massillon Jackson and McDowell (PA). As well as last week to 6-0 Eastlake North and now 6-0 Willoughby South. Chardon played tough all-night fighting with everything they had but just fell one possession short.
Next week the 6-0 Willoughby South Rebels will travel to Spire Academy to take on the 3-3 Geneva Eagles who lost on Friday to the Perry Pirates 42-0. The 2-4 Chardon Hilltoppers will also be on the road as they face off against the 1-5 Lutheran West Longhorns. Both games will be played on Friday, October 2nd, both at 7:00 pm start times..
POSTED 09/26/2026 00:33
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