South Range coach Dan Yeagley is in his 25th season at the helm. He has a career record of 218-73. Yeagley has the Raiders undefeated at 8-0 on the season with a Northeast-8 Conference championship.

“It’s a great group of kids,” Yeagley said. “They’ve played hard all season. We’re in a tough league. Our kids rose to the challenge every week. They play for the South Range community. They know this is a special season. We’re making the most out of every day.”

The Raiders got the ball first and marched down the field. Senior starting quarterback Michael Patrone hit fellow senior tight end Jacob Gehring over the middle. Junior Dylan Dominguez capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. After a penalty moved the Raiders back, senior kicker Harley Novak was able to blast it through the uprights and South Range was up 7-0.

Sophomore Tyler Remish put a huge hit on the Bison returner, and Beachwood went three-and-out. The Bison forced a South Range punt, and the Raiders led 7-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Staff photo / R. Michael Semple South Range's Luke Crumbacher makes an over the shoulder reception and races into the end zone for a TD as Beachwood defender Desmond Kirks pursues during second-quarter action.

Liam Torres put Beachwood on the board with a 27-yard field goal to begin the second quarter. The Raiders answered quickly. In less than a minute, South Range scored two touchdowns and went ahead, 21-3.

First, senior Luke Blasko ran a reverse in 46 yards for the score. Then, after an interception by junior Cory Penick, Dominguez rumbled 49 yards to paydirt.

With 4 minutes left until halftime, Beachwood freshman Kyler Wiggins used his speed to scamper into the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown run.

Patrone hit senior Luke Crumbacher, who caught it over his shoulders in stride, for a 57-yard big-time answer. South Range went ahead, 28-10, at the break.

Beachwood punted the ball away on the first possession of the third quarter, and Dominguez ran away from the defense again. This time, he dodged Bison defenders for a 58-yard touchdown run.

South Range got the ball again, and scored again. Beachwood forced a 4th-and-4, but Patrone found a wide open Blasko for a 17-yard touchdown catch. The Raiders were up, 42-10, heading to the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Billy Skripac scored from one yard out to give South Range a 49-10 lead midway through the fourth. The Bison put the final touchdown on the board with a 29-yard TD catch from freshman Desmond Kirks. They failed on a 2-point attempt, and the Raiders got in victory formation.

“We had a challenge,” Yeagley said. “Beachwood is a very talented team. They have a lot of team speed, and a lot of size. They were undefeated for a reason. It’s because of how talented they are. Their coach does a tremendous job of preparing them week in and week out. They get their athletes in a position to win.

“Our defense stepped up. We struggled a little bit in the beginning with angles. Our offense was clicking. We were able to move the ball, and get it in the end zone.”