MOGADORE — Eight days before the start of the 2026 season, Mogadore had a dress rehearsal against Garfield and it didn’t go all that well. In a scrimmage featuring two of the area’s top small-school programs, the G-Men dominated and the Wildcats had plenty to learn, according to coach Matt Adorni.
What a difference a week makes as Mogadore dominated its season opener against Crestwood.
After a scoreless opening quarter, the Wildcats reached the end zone on four straight drives en route to a 31-8 victory over the Red Devils at Mogadore Memorial Stadium.
“We really challenged our guys,” Adorni said. “This night started last Friday when we decided to put pads on. I haven’t done that in decades — put pads on Friday night and get after each other — because Garrettsville, which is a great program, just totally outclassed us and out-physicaled us, so I want to really credit our kids because this thing started last Friday night on a really hard and tough practice.”
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The Wildcats’ physicality stood out early in the midst of that scoreless start. Crestwood went for it on fourth down on each of its first three drives — all three times in Mogadore territory. The Wildcats stopped them short of the line to gain all three times, including two key tackles by Kade Thomas.
It turns out Thomas, a senior, was just getting started.
He scored twice in the second quarter, setting up Mogadore’s first score of the season with a leaping interception. That pick put the Wildcats at the Red Devils’ 34-yard line and Thomas quickly added a 12-yard run, spinning out of a hit in the process. Thomas capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.
Thomas later caught senior quarterback Maddox Smith’s pass down the left sideline for a 27-yard touchdown right before halftime, holding on despite significant contact.
“Deep balls have been my thing since sophomore year,” Thomas said. “I know I’m not the tallest, obviously, but I’m really good at my speed exploding out there and beating the corners and then just going up and high-pointing that ball is a big thing.”
Thomas added a rushing touchdown a few minutes into the third quarter. He finished with 73 rushing yards (on 12 carries) and 53 receiving yards (on four catches).
Smith also had a couple of critical deep balls to junior Collin Hendrickson as part of Mogadore’s four straight touchdown drives. After Thomas’ pick and short touchdown run got the Wildcats on the board, Hendrickson helped double their lead when he caught a third-and-10 pass from Smith. The play was slick with Smith side-stepping to his right, then firing back to Hendrickson as he slanted toward the left sideline for a 49-yard gain. Senior Jake Hopkins capped the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.
“It’s definitely a big play in our offense,” Smith said of his weak-side deep ball to Hendrickson. “We run it a good amount and it’s a good way to draw the defense to the right, and if the corner doesn’t sit back and over-commits on that side, it’s a good play to come back to on the left side for big yards.”
Hendrickson’s next catch might have been even more impressive.
Smith, so masterful on his deep throws throughout the evening, had a slight underthrow on third-and-9, but Hendrickson came back for the ball and held it tight — with two hands away from his body and around the defensive back — for a 41-yard reception and a fresh set of downs. Shortly after, Thomas capped the drive, nimbly stepping away from defenders before getting just inside the pylon for a 25-0 lead.
“Obviously, people are keying [on] Kade,” Smith said. “[He had] a bunch of yards last year, a lot of catches and touchdowns, but Collin’s a great receiver as well. He’s a big guy, strong hands, he goes up and gets it and he’s a good mismatch against some smaller defensive backs.”
Crestwood, which had just three first downs in the first half, got on the board when junior quarterback Michael Kalista (14 carries, 142 yards) spotted a seam through the defense and glided through for a 79-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter.
It was a rare mistake for the Wildcats, who were otherwise brilliant on defense.
Indeed, Mogadore didn’t allow Crestwood to convert a third or fourth down all game long.
See our updates from throughout the game:
Mogadore lands the dagger
Quarviyon Siggers-Greco shows his breakout speed as he takes the pitch right for a 29-yard touchdown run on third-and-5.
That should do it as Mogadore leads 31-8 with 3:04 remaining.
Michael Kalista provides a highlight for Crestwood
The Red Devils quarterback breaks the shutout. Kalista angling left and he sees a seam and turns up the field. He runs near the left hash, 79 yards up the field. Then, Nick Hess breaks a tackle en route to the two-point conversion. It’s 25-8 Mogadore with 6:51 remaining.
Kade Thomas scores third touchdown to start second half
Make it four straight drives ending in a touchdown for the Wildcats. Kade Thomas takes the pitch left, shows nimble feet and manages to stay inside the pylon to push the lead to 25-0 with 8:40 left in the third. That’s a 10-yard touchdown run by Thomas. He has two touchdown runs and a touchdown catch. Earlier in the drive, Maddox Smith and Collin Hendrickson connected on another big pass as Smith slightly underthrew it but Hendrickson able to come back to the ball beautifully for the 41-yard catch on third-and-9 to keep the drive alive.
Maddox Smith, Kade Thomas connect on beautiful touchdown pass before end of half
What a play. Third and 20 from the Crestwood 27. Under 20 seconds remaining in the half. And Maddox Smith with just a beautiful toss down the left sideline to a double-covered Kade Thomas. The pass was in a perfect place and Thomas was able to hold on through the ensuing hit for the 27-yard touchdown snag.
It’s 18-0 Mogadore with seven seconds left in the first half.
Maddox Smith, Collin Hendrickson fuel Mogadore touchdown drive
The first third-down conversion for either team was a beauty. Maddox Smith the side-step right and fires the deep ball left. It was perfect and Collin Hendrickson ran under it for the 49-yard catch and a fresh set of downs. Jake Hopkins caps the drive with a three-yard touchdown run.
It’s 12-0 Mogadore with 3:58 left in the first half.
Kade Thomas completes the drive to put Mogadore ahead
After Kade Thomas gave the Wildcats their best scoring opportunity of the game with a leaping interception, he caps the drive with a three-yard rushing touchdown out of the Full House formation.
It’s 6-0 Mogadore with 11:28 left in the first half.
Kade Thomas interception gives Mogadore golden chance
Thomas has had an incredible opening quarter defensively. The leaping pick of an underthrown ball gives Mogadore the ball in Crestwood territory. He adds a 12-yard carry, spinning out of a hit, and the Wildcats will start the second stanza at the Red Devils’ nine.
We are scoreless.
Mogadore defense steps up in short yardage
Three times, the Wildcats defense has stepped up in short yardage situations.
First, on fourth-and-3 from the Mogadore 42, James Lancaster is stopped just short of the line to gain by Kade Thomas. Second, on fourth-and-5 from the Wildcats’ 36, Michael Kalista runs right and Landen Williams able to bring him down, again a yard shy. Most recently, Kalista runs left, to the weak side, on fourth-and-3 and Thomas able to wrangle him down behind the line of scrimmage.
We’re still scoreless with 1:55 left in the opening quarter.
Tale of the tape between Crestwood and Mogadore football
Meet the Crestwood Red Devils football team
Replacing a do-it-all force like Wyatt Januska, now at Kent State, will not be easy for the Red Devils. Expect second-year starting quarterback Michael Kalista to put more on his shoulders this season. Also expect Chris Mory, who took over as a starter in Week 3 last year and ended up leading the team in tackles, to be a force at linebacker.
Meet the Mogadore Wildcats football team
There were a number of reasons the Wildcats made a remarkable jump from 6-6 to 11-2 last year. One of them? The ability to utilize quarterback runs, with Maddox Smith proving an electrifying option at the position. Add in talented receivers Collin Hendrickson and Kade Thomas, and this could be a fun offense to watch. It will be interesting to see how a young defense, potentially featuring seven sophomore starters, meshes.
Contact Jonah L. Rosenblum at jrosenblum@recordpub.com and follow him on Twitter at @JLRSports.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: OHSAA football scores, Crestwood vs Mogadore score, updates
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Reporting by Jonah Rosenblum, Ravenna Record-Courier / Record-Courier
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