The Crestwood Red Devils’ football team’s three-game winning streak was nice while it lasted. The Red Devils’ offense evaporated in the second half, losing 21-12 against Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division and Portage County foe Rootstown last Friday evening at Robert C. Dunn Field.
“We had some hard times with penalties and some other stupid mistakes that we made,” Crestwood Coach Jack D’Amato said. “We did come out at half and had a long drive, and we got the lead and were not able to hold onto it. It is a credit to our kids for continuing to fight and it showed at the very end.”
While it snapped the Red Devils’ (3-4, 1-1) winning streak, it marked a significant milestone for Rootstown Coach Tom Hannan, who served as the Red Devils’ coach for 16 years.
In only his second season as the Rovers’ coach, the victory against his former team made him the first football coach in Portage County history to record a coaching victory against every Portage County team.
“I am a Crestwood guy,” the second-year Rovers’ coach said. “I spent 16 years there as a coach and my son spent two more years, so I invested 18 years of my life. My kids grew up on that sideline, I have nothing but great things to say about Crestwood High School and every night except when we play them, I root for Crestwood.”
In addition to being the winningest football coach in program history, Hannan just recently joined the 100-victory coaching club this season and has now added to his long list of coaching achievements.
The programs have become very familiar with each other, facing off six times since the 2020 season and the Portage County rivalry has become even more intense as the teams are once again conference foes, with the Rovers having just joined the CVC Valley Division this year.
“Tom is a great guy,” said Crestwood’s fifth-year coach. “I am happy for him that he got the win but just wish it was not against us. It would obviously have to be for him to get that record that he had but he is a great guy.”
On Friday, the defenses dominated the first half, only surrendering one touchdown and it was Rootstown that started the second half with a 7-6 advantage.
On the first drive of the second half, the Red Devils engineered a 13-play, 66-yard drive that lasted more than half of the third period, capped off by a three-yard touchdown run by senior running back/defensive lineman Bobby Bradley, pushing the Red Devils ahead 12-7 after they failed to convert the 2-point play.
As quickly as Crestwood assumed control, the Rovers recaptured momentum with a 7-play, 59-yard drive finished off with an 18-yard touchdown run by senior running back/linebacker Damien Reuting, giving Rootstown a 14-12 advantage.
After a long and methodical opening drive, Crestwood’s offense stalled out as their next three possessions ended with turnovers. Sophomore quarterback/defensive back Michael Kalista threw two interceptions and senior wide receiver/defensive back Wyatt Januska also tossed an interception, all of which were all intercepted by junior wide receiver/defensive back Max McEwun.
Compounding the Red Devils’ problems were several pre-snap penalties, which put them in long-yardage situations.
“It was rough,” the 5-foot-9 Kalista noted. “Especially as the quarterback, throwing two interceptions, that cannot happen, you can’t lose the turnover battle. I think we just got flustered after all of those false starts and then I am just forcing the ball and throwing it into bad spots and trying to push it downfield when I don’t need to.”
As Crestwood’s offense stayed stuck in neutral, the Rovers relied on their reliable rushing attack, fueled by the 6-foot Reuting who tallied 156 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries.
“He really did well and credit to their offensive line and play calling,” acknowledged D’Amato. “They knew what they wanted to do. They wanted to play physical Portage County football and they did.”
Although the Red Devils’ winning streak ended at three games, D’Amato praised his team for fighting back to even their record at .500 entering the contest against the Rovers after experiencing an 0-3 beginning to the season.
Although Crestwood’s record dipped below .500 again, D’Amato said that he was looking forward to seeing his squad continue to demonstrate resiliency throughout the rest of the season.
“That is why we continue to fight,” he said. “Rootstown came out and swung right away and we took it and bounced back and kept swinging as well. Obviously, it did not work out at the end for us and in our favor, but I am proud of our kids and how they continue to fight.”
Crestwood will return home and host CVC Valley Division foe Berkshire at Jack Lambert Stadium on Friday night at 7 p.m.
