CUYAHOGA FALLS — With two weeks left, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy has the inside track to the North Coast Conference football title.
CVCA took over first place in the NCC with a dominant Week 8 win over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin. The Royals scored 35 unanswered points in the first half and coasted to 35-7 victory.
On a night when fans and coaches wore “4MUK” T-shirts honoring CVCA assistant coach Paul Muklewicz, the Royals came out on fire.
“… One of our our emphases during the week was focus,” said CVCA coach Nick Cook. “We always want to win the yards per rush battle, the between-the-tackle battle. There’s not a whole lot more that will focus you than playing for a beloved coach.”
Indeed, CVCA destroyed NDCL in total rushing yards 370-50. What’s more, the Royals took command early with three big plays.
First, Zac Anderson ran a sweep 69 yards for a TD on the third play from scrimmage.
Then, CVCA’s next drive lasted one play, as Joey Kopec burst up the middle for an 80-yard TD.
Finally, a tipped pass by NDCL quarterback Brody Capel was picked off by CVCA’s Dirk Geiger. Four plays later, Tommy Kopec swept into the end zone from 6 yards out, giving CVCA a 21-0 lead at the end of one quarter.
“Our goal is play physical football,” said CVCA guard Ben Truax. “We’ve got a lot of chemistry between the O-line with the backs. It’s been fun to finally get things rolling and play our brand of football.”
CVCA added a 14-yard TD scramble by QB Charley Levak and a 31-yard TD pass from Levak to Tommy Kopec to make it 35-0 at the half.
NDCL avoided the shutout when Casey McInnerney ran 10 yards for a TD against the Royals’ reserve defense in the fourth quarter.
Here is how the game happened in live updates.
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CVCA football dominates NDCL 35-7 to remain unbeaten
CVCA came out on fire in the first half with 35 unanswered points. The Royals move to 7-0 and are 3-0 and in first place in the North Coast Conference.
NDCL football breaks up shutout with late TD run
NDCL has avoided the shutout with a fourth-quarter TD against mainly Royals reserves on defense.
Casey McInnerney ran for a 10-yard TD with 6:25 left in the game. Ryan Cvitkovic hit the PAT to make it 35-7 and end the running clock rule.
CVCA football maintains 35-0 lead over NDCL through three quarters
Running clock rules made for a quick third quarter. CVCA maintains its lead and will have first-and-10 at the NDCL 35 to open the fourth quarter.
Halftime statistics for CVCA-NDCL football
CViCA football in command, leads NDCL 35-0 at the half
CVCA has dominated both sides of the ball in the first half. NDCL will receive the second-half kickoff, but will be playing against running clock.
CVCA football takes to the air to get its fifth TD of first half
CVCA’s offense shows it’s not one-dimensional, even if it doesn’t have to be.
CVCA QB Charley Levak rolled right and launched a 31-yard pass into the end zone, where Tommy Kopec caught it in a crowd. Luke McQuillen hit the PAT to make it 35-0 Royals with 4:05 left in the first half.
CVCA football makes it four TDs in four possessions
CVCA continues to put it on the Lions in the first half.
Royals QB Charley Levak turned a busted pass play into a 14-yard TD run, cutting back and rushing left into the end zone. Luke McQuillen made the PAT to make it 28-0 with 9:39 left in the second quarter.
CVCA football comes out roaring, leads NDCL 21-0 at the end of one quarter
The Royals have come out smoking in the first quarter and CVCA is driving again. The Royals open the second quarter with second-and-5 at the NDCL 23.
CVCA football turns interception into third TD of first quarter
CVCA is pulling away early, thanks to snagging the game’s first turnover.
A tipped pass led to an interception by CVCA’s Dirk Geiger at the NDCL 21. Five plays later, Tommy Kopec swept left for a 6-yard TD run. Luke McQuillen’s PAT made it 21-0 CVCA with 3:28 left in the first quarter.
CVCA football breaks loose for another long TD run
Two drives, two long scores for CVCA.
This time, Joey Kopec burst up the middle for an 80-yard TD run. Luke McQuillen hit the PAT and CVCA leads 14-0 with 5:55 left in the first quarter.
CVCA football opens with big TD run
CVCA’s running game didn’t take long to get rolling.
On the third play from scrimmage, Zac Anderson ran off left tackled and sprinted 69 yards for a TD. Luke McQuillen made the PAT to make 7-0 Royals with 10:46 left in the first quarter.
CVCA football wins the toss and will receive
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won the coin toss. The Royals will receive the opening kickoff with Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin defending the west goal in the first quarter.
Who are the impact players for CVCA football?
The Royals are stacked on both side of the ball.
CVCA is led by Rutgers commit Joey Kopec, who is one of the Royals’ leading tacklers at linebacker, as well as a lynchpin in the Royals run game. Brother Tommy Kopec plays similar roles, and is coming off a two-touchdown performance against Holy Name.
Wesley Keeler, Zac Anderson and Mason Frye are the other runners in CVCA’s three-man T based offense.
Quarterback Charley Levak provides a dual threat for the Royals, and Dirk Geiger has been a force at tight end and defensive end.
North Coast Conference football standings through Week 7
Contact Michael Leonard at mleonard@recordpub.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA football scores, CVCA vs. ND-CL high school live updates, recap
Reporting by Michael Leonard, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
