Tigers roll in 35-9 win over Strongsville

The Twinsburg Tigers started the season on the wrong foot with a 19-7 loss at Aurora in week one. Since their week one loss to the Greenmen, the Tigers have found their stride, winning three of their last four games heading into Friday night's match-up with Strongsville.

Twinsburg continued its winning ways by recording a convincing 35-9 victory over the Mustangs. Running back John Barton again played a key role in yet another Tigers' victory, as he rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns and caught a shovel pass for a score. Quarterback Jalen Washington passed for two touchdowns and added another on the ground late in the fourth quarter.

Before Twinsburg's offense even had a chance to take the field to start the game, they were at a disadvantage. Wide receiver London Carter fumbled the opening kick, which gave Strongsville terrific field positon. The Mustangs capitalized, as kicker Mike Moran converted on a 36-yard field goal attempt to give Strongsville an early 3-0 lead. However, the Mustangs' offense wouldn't find much more success during the rest of the game, as they managed to score just one touchdown.

Twinsburg rebounded from the early mistake on the ensuing possession, as Washington led the Tigers' offense on a 55-yard drive that culminated in a 15-yard shovel pass completion to Barton, who broke two tackles en route to a touchdown. Twinsburg took a 7-3 lead and never looked back.

Following a three-and-out by Strongsville, Washington and the rest of the Twinsburg offense went back to work. The Tigers engineered an eight-play, 71-yard drive that resulted in another Barton score, a 16-yard scamper into the end zone.

Barton recorded his third and final touchdown of the night late in the first quarter on a powerful three-yard run up the middle, extending the Tigers' lead to 21-3.

"He's a special running back," Twinsburg coach Joe Schiavone said. "He just has such a drive and a competitve nature of him that he wants to do the best he can on every snap he gets ... when we give him the ball, we know special things are going to happen."

Strongsville showed some life in the second quarter, when quarterback Austin Pritchard connected with running back Corey Dohar for a 29-yard touchdown pass. The Mustangs' two-point conversion attempt failed, and the offense didn't reach the end zone again for the rest of the night.

Washington kept the Tigers' offense going just before halftime when he fired a pass to wide receiver Jordan Bray, who side-stepped into the end zone as the clock expired, extending Twinsburg's lead to 28-9.

"Bray is one of our playmakers on the edge, and he's got a special connection right now with Jalen," Schiavone said.

The Tigers' offense has been dependent upon the play of Washington this season, and he has undoubtedly answered the challenge. Friday night's game was no different, as Washington completed 16 of 23 passing attempts for 165 yards and two touchdowns. 

"He's such a poised young quarterback and makes good decisions," Schiavone said. "We trust him to make reads and we put a lot on his shoulders, and he does a great job of managing the game, he does a good job of making great decisions, depending upon what the defense gives us."

Twinsburg improved to 4-2 overall with the win. The Tigers will host Brunswick on Thursday. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.