ROSSFORD — Eastwood’s football team completed a grueling four-game stretch in impressive fashion Friday
night.
The Eagles’ reward most likely will be a Northern Buckeye Conference championship.
Eastwood played well offensively and defensively en route to a 41-7 win over Rossford.
Mitchell Davidson and Tim Hoodlebrink returned interceptions for touchdowns 37 seconds a part for the
Eagles to turn a close game into a rout during the first quarter.
Eastwood’s offense was productive with 207 yards rushing and 100 yards passing.
Rossford totaled 219 yards, but only 98 in the first half when Eastwood bolted to a 28-0 lead.
The Eagles improved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the NBC. They can clinch their first conference title since
2011 by beating Fostoria (4-4, 2-3) and Otsego (2-6, 2-3) at home during their final two games.
The game against Rossford was for the conference lead. A Bulldog win would have forged a three-way tie
between the Eagles, Rossford and Genoa for first place in the NBC.
Genoa is second at 4-1, while every other team has at least two losses. Rossford is 3-5, 3-2.
“Our kids and our coaching staff deserve a lot of credit,” Eastwood coach Jerry Rutherford said. “They’ve
worked hard and we’ve been ready to play every week.
“We’re still getting better. We’re a better team now than we were two, three weeks ago.”
Eastwood, which has played five of its eight games on the road, put itself in position to win the NBC
with win over Genoa Sept. 26 and at Lake Oct. 3.
Following a 49-12 win over Elmwood last week, the Eagles prepared for another conference championship
game.
The Eagles also remained in contention for a state playoff berth.
“It’s been a team effort all year,” said Davidson, who scored on a 29-yard interception with 1:11 to play
in the first quarter. “We’re really close and we play for each other. We like to compete and we’ve
worked hard, that’s what has made us successful.”
The Eagles already held a 7-0 lead when Davidson jumped into the right flat, stepped in front of a
receiver, intercepted the pass and raced untouched into the end zone.
“As soon as I saw the quarterback’s eyes, I knew he was throwing my way,” said Davidson, a linebacker who
led the team with 12 tackles. “We practiced that play all week.”
Three plays later, Hoodlebrink grabbed an overthrown pass near the left sideline.
One of the favorites to win a Division II state track championship in the 800 next spring, the defensive
back sailed into the end zone for a 21-0 lead.
“Give Eastwood credit for making those plays, but we can’t give up two touchdowns from our offense on
back-to-back possessions,” Rossford coach Todd Drusback said. “That put us behind the eightball quite a
bit.
“That really turned the momentum in our favor,” Davidson said.
Eastwood scored first, driving 72 yards in nine plays after stopping the Bulldogs at the Eagle 28 on
downs.
Devin Snowden went the final 20 yards around right end for the score.
“We had some opportunities early and we didn’t capitalize, and then the momentum shifted pretty quickly
to Eastwood and we couldn’t overcome that,” Drusback said.
Grant Geiser added TD runs of 4 and 24 yards for the Eagles, and finished with 20 carries for 102 yards.

The Eagles’ offensive line of center Jason Fertig, guards Tyler McCrory and Lucas Friess, tackles Jack
Heckman and Caleb Tussing, and tight ends Jonathan Bowlus and Chris Orcutt also had a big night.
After starting 0-4, Rossford had won three straight games to put itself in position to play for first
place in the NBC.
“That says a lot about our kids. I love our kids,” Drusback said. “They’ve battled hard and its been the
norm that we have to deal with adversity. We were 0-4, but give the kids credit. They didn’t quit and
they didn’t panic. We kept ourselves together and trusted each other, and put ourselves in this
position.”