Bay High Football: Playing Like Champions

With a thrilling 39-38 double overtime win over visiting Rocky River last Friday night, the Bay High football team inched closer to a OHSAA playoff spot as the last game of the regular season sets to kick off this Friday.

The Rockets have played like champions this season, adding last Friday’s festival of thrills to a season of memories that has the Rockets at 6-3 and in the hunt for a Div. IV Region 11 playoff spot. It would be Bay’s first ticket to the post-season since 1993.

The heroes were many in Friday’s classic against the tough Pirates, who also entered the game at 5-3.

Bay’s victory was secured when Coach Ron Rutt called for a two-point conversion attempt after both teams had scored overtime TDs. Junior Quarterback John Koz found tight end Kyle Thompson on a down and out for the conversion after the two had just completed a similar route to the other side of the end zone for Bay’s second overtime touchdown.

The Rockets react after beating River.

The scene on the Bay sideline was bedlam as fans rushed the field and players hugged in celebration. It was a night for heroes in Rocketland, and Bay had plenty of them.

Leading the way was running back Nick Best, who set a school-record with 376 yards on the ground and added three TDs. He carried the ball 41 times, slicing through the River defense behind deadly blocking. Kicker Alec White will be remembered for his clutch 42-yard field to tie the game that followed a 37-yarder nullified by penalty at the end of regulation. Koz played a clutch game at QB, leading the team to the game-tying points with just 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter, setting the stage for masterful overtime play.

Bay improved to 6-3 with the win while River slipped to 5-4 despite terrific play from quarterback Matt Lowry and Co.

This Friday, Bay travels to Avon for a tough finale against the playoff-seasoned Eagles. Midview is this year’s West Shore Conference champ, having beaten Avon in September. But Bay, even though the Rockets are not in the West Shore Conference title picture, played like champs again last Friday in a league that is flush with good teams this season. Yes, football is fun in Bay Village again!