CHARDON, Ohio — Northeast Ohio's high school football season is off to an incredible start, as is Chardon's journey towards a third consecutive state championship.
The Hilltoppers hung on to beat Olmsted Falls 14-7 Friday night in WKYC's High School Football Game of the Week. It marks the 29th consecutive win for Mitch Hewitt's squad dating back to 2020, as well as their smallest margin of victory in a regular-season game since October of 2019.
Andrew Bruce got the offense rolling for Chardon (1-0), breaking away for a 66-yard touchdown run late in the first half. One quarter later, the junior dashed downfield again for 62 yards to give the Toppers a 14-0 advantage. He finished the night with 158 yards on just six carries.
Olmsted Falls (0-1) turned the ball over twice and nearly fumbled it away at the goal line early in the fourth, but Colin Singleton pounced on the ball in the end zone to make it 14-7. Two missed field goals by Chardon gave the Bulldogs a chance to tie it, but Alex Kisley sacked quarterback James Rosol on fourth down to preserve the victory.
The Hilltoppers have also won 25 straight home games since the start of 2018, and will next face Camden, New Jersey on a neutral field. The Bulldogs will head to Brunswick for a Week 2 showdown.
More Week 1 scores
Mentor 34, Canton McKinley 21: Despite never quite being able to pull away, the Cardinals were in control all night and made a statement against one of the best programs in Division I. Scotty Fox threw for three touchdowns and Michael Waite ran for two more, including an 80-yarder.
Elyria Catholic 14, Elyria 6: The all-city showdown saw the Panthers overcome an early 6-0 deficit with touchdowns by Tony Grasso and Levi Ellis. The Pioneers struggled to move the ball late and fumbled multiple times.
Hudson 14, Solon 13: The Explorers raced out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead with Ian Ludewig and Jagger Pallay combining for 218 rushing yards and two scores. The Comets fought back and cut it to one on E.J. Taylor's TD, but the two-point conversion attempt failed, and Harley Barmen was later intercepted by Nolan Yanak at the goal line with three seconds left.
Holy Name 21, Padua Franciscan 16: Down 16-14 at the start of the fourth, Jayvon Williams hit Kevin Pivonka for an 80-yard touchdown, his second TD pass of the night of at least 50 yards. The Bruins drove into opposing territory as time wound down, but could not finish the job.