Bayles leads Heath win over Johnstown


It took 30 plays and a full quarter to getHeath HS, Heath, Ohio underway Friday night.   The usually potent offense got pinned deep (on the 1 yard line) twice and then deep in their territory on the 3rdpossession.  Saying that, Tim Ward’sdefense answered the call and stopped Johnstown all night long, keeping them from scoring time and time again while getting the ball deep in Heath’s end of the field.

 

The second quarter was different, starting at their 17 yard line, Brayden Bayles my super sophomore QB  got all his weapons engaged and drove  the length of the field. The 1st first down came on a Bayles rollout right where he hit his Senior slot man Mitchell McClain on a crossing route to put the ball on the 29 yard line.  On the next play Bayles hit his usually reliable WR Reece Huber on an under route and Reece took the ball up field and picked up another first down on the Johnnies 47 yard line.

 

One play later Bayles on a wet rainy cold night let one go that slipped at his delivery point and it went up for grabs  intended forReece Huber. Reece who can usually out jump the defender did just that and came down with the ball at the 20 yard line for a first down. The next play was a hand off to RB  Ar’Moni McCrae who took it off left tackle and went straight to the End Zone for the score, Heath 7 Johnstown 0.   The half ended with that score.

 

Johnstown received the 2nd half kick off and on the 2nd play the Bulldogs safety Reece Huber picked the Johnnies QB at the Johnstown 48 yard line.  Keylan Williamsthe WR on  the right side ran an under route and  picked up 13 yards to the 39 yard linethen,  Riley Gould picked up the first down with a good run to the 28 yard line. Some more good running by Ar’Moni McCraemade it 2nd down and 2 at the 11 yard mark, where McCrae took a handoff from Baylesand took it to pay dirt.  TD and a score ofBulldogs 13 Johnnie’s 0.

 

Next series for Johnstown ended in a fumble recovery by Heath at the Johnstown 47 yard line.  Mitchell McClain had a good sweep right that gave Heath a 1st down at the 34 yard line.  Brayden Bayles then threw a beautiful deep post into the end zone but it fell incomplete.    Ar’Monie set up in the right slot and went in motion left where Bayles handed the ball to him on a reverse handoff and Ar’Moni took it to the 17 yard line.  Bayles then missed a fade on the right side, but on the very next play, with trips right Brayden rolled out to the right, didn’t like what he saw so he reversed his field and went deep to the left side and buying some time while Keylan Williamswas finding an open spot in the back of the end zone and Bayles on the run delivered a rocket as he squared his shoulders and put a laser to Williams for the score.   Finally Heath had the offense in gear to make it 20 to 0 Bulldogs with 3;27 left in the third Quarter.

 

The Jonnies failed to move the ball, soHeath took over on the 45 yard line.   Bayles hit Keylan Williams again on a very good plant curl route to get a first down at the Johnnies 33 yard line where the drive stalls and Johnstown takes over.  Johnstown then mounts their only drive of the game and score, making it Heath 20 Johnstown 7.  

 

An onside kick gets Heath the ball back at their 49 yard line where a penalty backs them up to the 39 of Johnstown.  A toss sweep to Huber results in a pick up of 8 yards to the 47 yard line where a good fake and roll out by Bayles completes a pass toRiley Gould who picks up a first down at the Johnstown 40 yard mark. Riley then runs the ball and breaks loose to the 20 yardline, where on 2nd down and 7, Bayles on a play fake throws a strike to TE Gavin Postelwaite which results in a 19 yard TD, 27 to 7 Bulldogs.

 

Brayden ended the night with 187 yards passing on 13 of 21 and 2 TDS.   McCraehad 108 yards rushing on 14 attempts and 2 TDS.  Also rushing was McClain 3 attempts for 25 yards and Gould, 2 for 20 yards.   Receiving; Huber had 4 catches for 70 yards, Williams had 3 for 43 yards and a TD.  Gould had 43 yards on 4 catches, McClain 1 for 13 yards and Postelwaite 1 for 19 yards and a TD.  

 

Spreading the wealth got the job done for Tim Ward’s Heath Bulldogs.  Now off to the State playoffs.  Photo’d above from L to R  Coach Sink, Brayden Bayles QB, Tim Ward HC, Keylan Williams WR, Reece Huber WR, Ar’Moni  McCrae RB.