Parma, OH – On Friday, August 22nd the stage was set for a rematch between the Padua Bruins and Alliance Aviators. Last season these two teams met in Week 1, with Padua walking away with a 34-6 victory. This year’s matchup had different results, this time it was Alliance getting the best of Padua, winning 25-3.
The Bruins came into this game following a 5-5 regular season. However, Padua surprised many with a deep Playoff run, making it all the way to the Regional Final where they would eventually fall to Toledo Central Catholic. On other side, Alliance finished their 2024 season with a 4-6 record. Alliance started their 2024 campaign slowly, resulting in a change at Quarterback mid-season, benching Bo Davis for JR Jackson. The Aviators were hoping to start their season strong, and that would start by getting an upset on the road at Padua.
As the game began neither team could get much going, struggling to make their presence felt on offense. It wasn’t until the 1:49 mark in the 1st Quarter that we would have our first score. Aviators Running Back Ravhan Hawkins would punch in a 6-yard rushing touchdown, putting Alliance up 6-0 following a missed PAT.
Padua was unable to answer the Aviators scoring drive, and had a trouble finding a rhythm on offense in the early portions of the game. The troubles only continued for Padua when Quarterback Landon Hanover was unable to connect with his man on a screen pass, instead throwing an interception early in the 2nd Quarter. Following the turnover Alliance drove down the field, putting quarterback JR Jackson in position for a 2-yard rushing touchdown putting Alliance up 13-0 with 5:48 remaining in the half.
Following Alliance’s second score of the game Padua was unable to answer yet again, giving the Aviators another opportunity to score before the end of the half. Alliance would make their way down the field, getting inside the 20-yard line setting the Aviators up for another scoring drive. However, Padua’s defense would come up big forcing a turnover on downs with 1:05 remaining in the half.
The Bruins would have one last chance to put points on the board before the end of the half. Hanover began to get in a rhythm, hitting Receivers Reed Cervenka and Brady Devore to get the Bruin’s offense to midfield. With 25-seconds left in the half Hanover kept it himself, rushing for 10-yards and getting out of bounds to stop the clock. Padua’s offense continued to get up field setting up Kicker Caleb Zolkowski for a 41-yard field goal. Zolkowski sent it right down the middle, putting Padua on the board for the first time of the night, making it 13-3 going into the half.
Following a lackluster 1st Half, the Bruins hoped to carry their momentum from the end of the half into the 3rd Quarter. Unfortunately for Padua, JR Jackson and the Aviators had other plans. Jackson was able to put two more touchdowns on the board in the 3rd Quarter. The first was a 5-yard rushing touchdown with 5:15 left in the half. The second was a 15-yard passing touchdown to Receiver Tajie Nicholson. with under 11-seconds left in the 3rd Quarter. Alliance would roll into the 4th Quarter up 25-3 following two unsuccessful 2-pt conversion tries.
Not much would change for the Bruin’s offense as they would put up another scoreless quarter, allowing Alliance to coast to the finish line on the road. With a final score of 25-3, the Aviators would take their first game of the season, starting off on the right foot. For Padua, it was a disappointing start to their season in front of a packed student section.
After the game I talked to Lineman Bo Barney about how the team is going to move forward following a rough Week 1 loss. Barney said going forward the team has to ‘fix the easy mistakes up front, lead the young guys, and finish drives.’ I also talked to Receiver Brady Devore about how the team will keep their moral up after a disappointing opening loss and he said, ‘We need to keep our heads up, focusing on learning from our mistakes, sticking to the basics, but realize that we have a lot of football ahead of us.’
The Bruins will be back in action next Friday, August 29th at home against Benedictine, where they’ll look to get in the win column.
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