GAME PHOTOS: http://bit.ly/2zT06Tl
Chardon won its second straight game with a convincing 28-7 handling of Madison on Homecoming Night.
The Hilltoppers defense was stifling. The offense made big plays when it needed to. And some new faces emerged as potential weapons for the team’s final four games.
It was just the second home game of the season after three weeks on the road. Beautiful weather made it a great night for the community.
“It feels good after three long bus trips,” said head coach Mitch Hewitt. “These kids, after the start, have really bought into what we’re selling them.”
It was the third start for junior QB Max Vujaklija, who took over for senior Andrew Kobeszewski because of illness. The team is 2-1 under “V,” as teammates call him.
“That can’t be forgotten,” Hewitt said. “It’s a system that is built to let kids have success. That’s very unique. Most quarterbacks who lose their starting quarterbacks, they cash it in. And their season is over.”
Chardon didn’t throw the ball once in its Week 5 win against Mayfield. But this week V was unleashed, completing five passes for 132 yards, both 2018 single-season highs.
Vujaklija connected with senior Dante Perrico on the night’s first score, a 55-yard TD over the top of the defense that stunned a home crowd not used to such plays.
Perrico said the play was specifically designed for this week.
“The coaches, they know everything,” he said. “They saw something they liked, and they put it in.”
Vujaklija led the team onto the field carrying the Hilltoppers’ pickaxe, a symbol of the team’s mascot. He said he’d wanted to do that since he was 7 years old.
“It was a great honor, and I was really excited to be able to have this,” he said.
Vujaklija said the team has clicked with him, and since Kobeszewski is expected to be cleared to play Week 7 at South, added, “It will click with Koby, (too).”
John Dinko had three sacks from the defensive line, and D.J. Bowman led the team in tackles for the fifth time in six games with 11.
Jon McKnight went over the 1,000 all-purpose yard mark (527 rushing, 271 receiving, 61 punt return, 165 kick return for 1,024 total). He leads the team in each of those four categories.
The game was taped by GTV and can be viewed by visiting www.geaugatv.org.