Heath and Bayles defeat Newark Catholic

Posted By: coachsink October 19, 2021


A beautiful football night at the famed White field in Newark, Ohio was the setting for a key victory for Tim Ward and his Heath Bulldogs as they put the first blemish on a former perfect Newark Catholic season.  After a great return of 54 yards of the kick off  by D McIntyre from Heath, the Bulldogs set up camp for their first series at the NC 22 yard line. On third down and short Armani McCrae took the ball to the NC 3 yard line, first and goal.  Brayden Bayles then handed the ball to McCrae to finish the job and that he did making it Heath 7 NC 0.

 

After a Green Wave 3 and out, Braydenrolled left and then turned his shoulder and threw it deep for Keelan Williams who tipped the ball and a very alert Reece Huber picked it in midair and took it the rest of the way for an 81 yard TD.  The extra point, good, and Heath is up 14 to 0.   The Green Wave then put a drive together and scored making it 14 to 7.

 

Brayden Bayles picked up a key first down on the next series but the drive stalled just a few plays into the second quarter. Catholicthen punted to Heath and on second and 11from their own 8 yard line, Bayles handed the ball to his outstanding running back, Armani McCrae, who made a great cut off right tackle and broke into the open and kicked it in high gear, racing the rest of the field and with a great stiff arm and studder step at the NC 31 yard line and finished the 92 yard TD run. Extra point good Bulldogs 21 catholic 7.

 

After a couple of good throws from Bayles, Heath tried a 40 yard field goal that failed. The Green Wave moved the ball but Reece Huber was the man of the hour on defense too as he picked off their QB and returned it to the Heath 35 yard line.   Bayles behind some more good running by McCrae did a double fake on a 3rd and long, stepped back and delivered a 40 yard 2 ball to Mitchel McClain for  first down on the Catholic 13 yard line.   Bayles then makes his best throw of the night by throwing the ball across the field and into the back of the end zone where he hit Reece Huber for his 2nd TD catch.    Again perfect on extra points and it’s now 28 to 7, Heath.

 

3 and out for Catholic and a sack of their QB and it’s just about over, but with less than 2 minutes left Heath had a little let down and let Catholic score twice with 2 successful on side kicks and made it a lot closer than the game was. Final scoreHeath 28 Newark Catholic 21.

 

Very proud of my super Sophomore Brayden Bayles who really steps up in big Games as he finished the night with 10 of 15 passing for 192 yards and 2 TDS.  McCrae had 210 yards rushing on 26 carries and 2TDS.  Reece Huber had 4 catches for 96 yards and 2tds,  Mitchel McClain had 3 catches for 70 yards and  Keelan Williams had 1 catch for 10 yards.   A great night for Tim Ward and his Heath Bulldogs and for my Sophomore QB Brayden Bayles.