Nordonia tailback leads Knights into Elite Eight
Jordan Mabin rushes for 273 yards, two TDs
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sportswriter
(David Foster/Akron Beacon Journal)
Nordonia quarterback Zach Boedicker looks to pass before being sacked by Olmsted Falls' Chad Bajc during the first half of play in the Division II playoffs at Brunswick Stadium on Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, in Akron, Ohio.
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BRUNSWICK - It is a question that would be premature before, but not now: Is there a Division II team in Ohio capable of beating Nordonia?
The Knights (11-1), behind another dazzling performance by tailback Jordan Mabin and the clutch kicking of sophomore Eric Vukmanic, defeated Olmsted Falls 23-14 Friday night in a regional semifinal before a crowd of 4,165 at Brunswick's Judy Kirsch Field.
The victory sends Nordonia into the Elite Eight and a meeting with Chardon next Friday in the regional final.
``We are moving into the next round,'' said Mabin, who rushed for 273 yards on 24 carries and scored two touchdowns. ``Our goal is to get to the state championship. That's been on our minds since the summertime.''
The Knights, who have lost only to Solon in 12 games, had 363 yards of total offense and made the Bulldogs ace quarterback Tyler Sparks (17-of-35 for 213 yards) work hard on every possession.
Olmsted Falls coach Jim Ryan, who led the Bulldogs to a state championship in 2000, said the Knights might have three more weeks of play ahead of them.
``They are a team that has all the ingredients,'' Ryan said. ``You can tell they are a very confident team. No question, they have a chance to go all the way.''
Nordonia took a 17-0 lead in the first half on two touchdowns by Mabin and a field goal by Vukmanic. The Bulldogs (10-2), whose only previous loss was to Brecksville, rallied to 20-14 behind Sparks in the fourth quarter.
But a 33-yard field goal by Vukmanic with 2:28 remaining ended all hopes for an Olmsted Falls comeback.
``I have great confidence in him,'' Nordonia coach Keith Boedicker said of Vukmanic, who earned the kicking job at midseason. ``For a sophomore, he's unbelievable. He doesn't feel pressure. He is that kind of guy.''
Mabin's rushing total gave him 6,594 yards for his career, which moved him into fifth place on the state's all-time list.
The Nordonia line, a constant all season, won many of the skirmishes up front. At other times, Mabin darted and cut into seams, making plays when none seemed possible.
``He hides behind those big linemen and finds his way to daylight,'' Ryan said.
Olmsted Falls had given up only 41 points in its last five games and had four shutouts on the season. Yet Nordonia was able to put together four long drives for points and used a 45-yard touchdown by Mabin for its other score.
The key scoring drive was the last one after Olmsted Falls had gotten to 20-14 with 8:57 left. Nordonia ate up six minutes, 24 seconds and went 68 yards. It ended with Vukmanic's third field goal.
``We controlled the tempo in the game,'' Boedicker said. ``Give our offensive line and Mabin credit for that. We are moving on. It's survival now. That's all that matters.''
Olmsted Falls had been averaging 32 points per game, but its only points came via the playmaking of Sparks, who threw touchdown passes of 44 yards to Dave Pellerite in the second period and 46 yards to Shane Smith in the fourth quarter.
``I thought our defense did a great job,'' Boedicker said. ``We got great pressure on Sparks. We just couldn't get him on the ground.''
Vukmanic's first two field goals were each from 23 yards out. He now has five field goals in two playoff games.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at 330-996-3825 or tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
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