LAKE TWP. — One first down would finally be enough on a night filled with big plays.
Jackson quarterback Carter Muhleman made plenty of them, especially when it mattered.
Muhleman’s completion to Geno Szymanski on fourth-and-4 in the final two minutes helped the Polar Bears wrap up a 40-37 win over Lake in a Federal League high school football thriller on Friday, Oct. 3. The victory ended the Blue Streaks’ unbeaten run and kept Jackson in contention in the title race.
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Jackson led from start-to-finish, but couldn’t put away Lake until Muhleman’s pass to Szymanski. He avoided pressure, rolled to his left and hit a wide-open Szymanski for a 7-yard gain to the Blue Streaks 25.
“I took my drop and my first and second read wasn’t there,” Muhleman said. “I had pressure from my left side and escaped out. I ran around and saw Geno come back to me.and I just hit him.”
The Blue Streaks stopped Jackson on third down and used their final timeout. The Polar Bears knew they were in four-down territory. Offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Badre Bardawil called for a pass.
“He said ‘We’re going to put the ball in Carter’s hands and our receivers’ hands,” Jackson head coach Jay Rohr said. “We knew a first down was going to win us the game.
“Carter makes an unbelievable play to get out of the pocket, scrambles and just sees Geno on the sideline. Just the confidence in himself, the ability to look downfield at the time and for Geno to catch it, it was unbelievable.”
The way Muhleman has handled himself has not been unbelievable in the eyes of the Polar Bears. Starting in place of Lucas Ecrement (concussion concerns), Muhleman threw touchdown passes to Szymanski and Max Cowles. He finished 28 of 38 for 303 yards.
Muhleman threw for 309 yards and three TDs in Jackson’s Week 1 win over Chardon when Ecrement was out with an injury.
“That made me know what I was capable of,” Muhleman said.
Muheleman’s teammates have the utmost confidence in him.
“He’s tall, he can throw and he can run,” Jackson running back Corey Jacobs said. “He’s strong and just a great QB.”
Davis Matson’s touchdown and two-point conversion runs helped Lake cut Jackson’s lead to 40-37. A touchback gave the Polar Bears the ball at their own 20 with four minutes left. They never lost control of it.
Jacobs, who had a 58-yard touchdown run on the previous possession, helped Jackson run out the clock. His 29-yard run opened the drive. Two more Jacobs carries, and a third-down catch kept the drive going.
“My mindset was to hold the ball, stay inbounds and just win,” Jacobs said.
Lake quarterback Alex Quior threw two touchdown passes to Chase Fuller and finished 15 of 26 for 270 yards. Fuller finished with five catches for 114 yards for the Blue Streaks (6-1, 2-1). Matson rushed for touchdowns.
Jacobs ran for a game-high 151 yards and three touchdowns for the Polar Bears (4-3, 3-1), who regrouped after losing to Perry last week.
“We kind of control our own destiny, but it’s just one practice at a time, one game at a time for us,” Rohr said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s the Federal League or the playoffs, it’s who our next opponent is. That’s our belief.”
Here’s how the game unfolded through our live updates.
Jackson holds off Lake 40-37
Carter Muhleman’s fourth down pass to Geno Szymanski helps Jackson run out the clock and hand Lake its first loss. The Polar Bears won 40-37.
Davis Matson touchdown, conversion runs get Lake within a field goal
Lake’s David Matson finds the end zone for the second time tonight. His 2-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion gets the Blue Streaks to within 40-37 with 4:00 left.
Jackson’s Corey Jacobs delivers possible knockout blow
Lake was a third-and-1 stop away from getting the ball back.
Enter Corey Jacobs. The Jackson running back races 58 yards for a touchdown to give the Polar Bears a 40-29 lead.
Chase Fuller scores again for Lake
Chase Fuller’s 9-yard touchdown run and Alex Quior’s two-point conversion pass Aaron Mitchell makes things a little more interesting. Lake cuts Jackson’s lead to 33-29.
Fuller had two touchdown catches earlier tonight.
Corey Jaccobs touchdown run gives Jackson 33-21 lead entering fourth quarter
Corey Jacobs scores on a 2-yard run with 3.7 seconds left in the third quarter to give Jackson a 33-21 lead. The Polar Bears have answered every Lake response tonight.
Davis Matson touchdown run keeps Lake hopes alive
Lake cashes in on what was practically a must-score drive. Davis Matson’s 3-yard touchdown run cuts Jackson’s lead to 26-21.
Hot night continues for Jackson quarterback Carter Muhleman
Jackson takes the free kick and scores again. Carter Muhleman’s 25-yard touchdown completion to Max Cowles gives the Polar Bears a 26-14 lead.
Muhleman is 21 of 27 for 239 yards and two touchdowns.
Safety increases lead Jackson lead
A great punt pins Lake deep in its own territory. That leads to a safety and a 19-14 Jackson lead.
Offenses provide lots of fireworks in first half
Jackson leads Lake 17-14 at halftime.
Lake keeps pace on another Alex Quior-to-Chase Fuller touchdown completion
Lake’s Alex Quior throws his second touchdown pass of the night to Chase Fuller. This time it’s an 18-yard completion that cuts Jackson’s lead to 17-14.
Three drives, three scores for Jackson
Carter Muhleman’s 4-yard touchdown pass to Geno Szymanski gives Jackson a 17-7 lead.
Corey Jacobs set up the TD by eluding tackles on a 27-yard completion from Muhleman.
Alex Quior touchdown pass to Chase Fuller helps Lake quickly answer
Well, that was quick. As Lake’s Chase Fuller, he was so wide open. His 58-yard touchdown reception from Alex Quior cuts Jackson’s lead to 10-7.
Corey Jacobs touchdown run increases Jackson lead
Corey Jacobs punches it in from 3 yards out to give the Polar Bears a 10-0 lead. Two quality drives for Jackson.
Jackson threatening to add to lead as second quarter starts
Jackson leads 3-0 after one quarter. The Polar Bears will open the second quarter at the Lake 3.
Jackson grabs lead on game’s opening drive
Jackson drives 73 yards in 13 plays on the game’s first possession and takes a 3-0 lead on Cooper Mizeur’s 23-yard field goal.
Quarterback Carter Muhleman of 5 of 5 for 50 yards on the drive.
Jackson quarterback Lucas Ecrement out tonight
Jackson quarterback Lucas Ecrement is in street clothes and will not play tonight. Ecrement took a hard hit in last week’s game against Perry and sat out the second half because of concussion concerns.
Carter Muhleman will start at quarterback for the Polar Bears. Jackson will get the ball first.
Lake Blue Streaks football scores, schedule
Jackson Polar Bears football scores, schedule
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school football scores | Carter Muhleman helps Jackson hand Lake first loss
Reporting by Mike Popovich, Canton Repository / The Repository
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