While Madison’s tough 7-0 loss at Chardon in a Premier Athletic Conference tong war Friday night will be remembered for many things, one that flew under the radar to most was this:
It marked the first time the Blue Streaks have been shut out on the gridiron in a long time.
A very long time.
In fact, the loss to coach Mitch Hewitt’s undefeated Hilltoppers (5-0) marked the first time Madison has failed to dent the scoreboard in more than a decade.
The Blue Streaks’ string of games with scoring at least once came to an end after 109 games.
The last time Madison was shut out was Friday, Oct. 26, 2001 when the Blue Streaks were blanked by the visiting Villa Angela-St. Joseph Vikings, 27-0, at Blue Streak Memorial Stadium.
Ironically, the last time the Blue Streaks were shut out on the road was the same season, though five weeks previous, in a 19-0 loss at Holy Name on Friday, Sept. 21, 2001.
Blue Streaks coach Tim Willis, who has been at the helm for the entirety of Streaks’ streak, wants to start another one Friday night at North.
“Let’s hope it’s another 11 years,” he said.
How impressive was Madison’s streak?
Here’s how many times other schools that have fielded high school football teams in the Star Beacon’s coverage area during that 11-season span have been shut out:
Perry — 4.
Lakeside — 8.
Riverside — 9.
SS. John and Paul — 9.
Edgewood — 10.
Jefferson — 10.
Grand Valley — 13.
Pymatuning Valley — 13.
Geneva — 14.
Conneaut — 24.
SJP’s total is for eight seasons as the Heralds have not fielded a football team the last four years.
Trending
With Madison’s streak now having been ended, here’s how many games other programs in the Star Beacon’s coverage area have gone since being shut out:
Conneaut — 0.
Lakeside — 0.
Grand Valley — 1.
Pymatuning Valley — 2.
Jefferson — 5.
Geneva — 6.
Edgewood — 12.
Riverside — 23.
Perry — 49.
The last time current leader Perry was blanked was in a playoff game at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in Week 11 of the 2007 season, 42-0.
The Pirates haven’t been blanked in a regular-season game since a 44-0 loss at West Geauga in Week 7 of the 2003 season on Friday, Oct. 3 of that year.
This and that
When was the last time Chardon was able to shut out Madison on the gridiron? Forty-five years ago, a 6-0 verdict in a game played Friday, Oct. 27 at Chardon, a Week 8 that fall.
It should be noted, Madison and Chardon did not meet on the gridiron from 1968 through 1997, playing for the first time since the aforementioned 1967 game in Week 9 of the 1998 season — the first year for the Premier Athletic Conference — on Friday, Oct. 30 of that year, a 42-7 Chardon win.
The 47 points given up by Jefferson on Friday night at Liberty are the most surrendered by the Falcons since a 48-8 Week 2 loss at Perry in 2008.
What a rush
Four area running backs surpassed the 100-yard mark during their Week 5 contests:
Dylan McCaleb, Edgewood — He ran for 268 yards, the second-highest figure in the area this season, on 26 carries and scored touchdowns on runs of 60, 15 and 1 yard in a 34-13 win at Ledgemont.
Aaron Rossi, Geneva — The area’s leading rusher was at it again, putting up 181 yards on 30 runs and scored both of the Eagles’ touchdowns (1 and 6 yards) in a 14-0 triumph against visiting Lakeside.
J.T. Willis, Pymatuning Valley — He had 168 yards on 21 efforts and scored an 81-yard touchdown in the Lakers’ 34-0 victory against visiting Conneaut.
Marcus Jones, Riverside — He had 117 yards on 22 carries and scored from 9 yards out in the Beavers’ 28-10 triumph at North.
Passing fancy
Three area quarterbacks bettered the century mark last week, though two of them came in defeat:
Tony Chiacchiero, Jefferson — He threw for 216 yards, completing 11 of 20 attempts and throwing four touchdowns on passes in the Falcons’ 47-32 loss at Liberty. He hit Jacob Hamilton for scores from 56 and 15 yards, Kyle Ashburn from 12 yards and Joey Baitt from 15 yards. Chiacchiero’s four-TD pass outing are the most in the area this season.
Maxx Brubaker, Riverside — Double-X hit for 157 yards on a 9-of-14 performance in the Beavers’ win at North. He connected with John McDonald on scoring strikes of 3 and 25 yards and had a 64-yard lightning bolt with Chad Dixon.
Kyle Orgovan, Grand Valley — He had 108 yards, connecting on 8 of 23 attempts, in the Mustangs’ loss at Gilmour Academy on Saturday afternoon.
Gift of grab
No area receiver was able to put up 100 receiving yards in Week 5.
Stop, thief!
Lakeside’s Shawn Gilbert picked off two pass in the Dragons’ loss at Geneva.
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