Getting punched in the mouth is never a pleasant feeling. Picking yourself back up and responding in dominant fashion is a great feeling. On senior night on Oct. 10, Chardon gave up a touchdown to visiting WRC foe Mayfield on the game’s opening drive, but gradually assumed control and went on to win in a 31-7 rout. A defense stingier than Emmanuel Clase in the ninth inning, and offensive line that seemed to get stronger as the game progressed, and a trio of playmakers who electrified the home crowd with long-distance scoring runs were keys as a first quarter that was a struggle for the hosts became a distant memory by the time the final seconds ticked off. The Hilltoppers finished the first quarter with minus-10 yards on three plays. They finished the game with 417 yards, 349 of that rushing. Senior RB Caleb Hewitt ran for 75 yards and a touchdown, junior QB Drayton Allgood rushed for 99 yards and a score and passed for 68 and another, and senior Beckett Dotson intercepted a pass, caught a touchdown pass, and ran 75 yards for another score. “We started a little slow, but we picked it up and that’s all we needed,” Caleb Hewitt said. “We needed to get a little momentum going, and that’s how we do it.” @topperfb RB Caleb Hewitt, who had a 38-yard TD run, breaks down Chardon’s 31-7 Senior Night WRC win over Mayfield pic.twitter.com/ifB3oeLSti — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) October 11, 2024 Mayfield (3-5, 1-2 WRC) had all the momentum early on. The Wildcats converted two fourth downs on passes from senior QB AJ Rogers to junior WR JD Dinnen, and punctuated a 10-play, 65-yard drive with an 18-yard scoring toss to a wide-open senior wideout Jacob Reed to take a 7-0 lead. A 2-yard loss on a run and a bad snap for a 10-yard loss on Chardon’s ensuing possession led to a three-and-out, and the Wildcats were on the move again, converting another fourth down play at the Chardon 37 on an 8-yard scramble by Rogers. But a fumbled snap pushed Mayfield back 12 yards, and though the Wildcats punted to start the second quarter, good fortune seemed to be with them still as the punt was downed at the Chardon 4-yard line. The Hilltoppers embarked on a 14-play march that took nearly eight minutes but culminated in a fumble at the goal line, which Mayfield recovered at the 1. The Wildcats couldn’t move the ball from there, and Caleb Hewitt returned a punt to the Wildcats’ 7, but a pair of holding penalties led to a 24-yard field goal by senior Sam Sacerich that cut the deficit to 7-3 with 1:15 left in the half. Chardon was just getting started. Dotson made a leaping interception on the first play of Mayfield’s next possession at the Wildcats’ 32, then two plays later gathered in a 32-yard touchdown pass on a flag route from Allgood to give Chardon a 10-7 lead, which the Hilltoppers took into halftime. “Drayton actually said he would see me on the corner (of the end zone),” Dotson said of his touchdown. “He knew it would be open. I ran (the route), and he got me the ball.” @topperfb senior Beckett Dotson, who had a spectacular interception, caught a 32-yard touchdown pass, and ran 75 yards for a touchdown, discusses Chardon’s 31-7 WRC win over Mayfield pic.twitter.com/LmH6G8dTpc — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) October 11, 2024 After an exchange of punts to start the third quarter, Chardon’s offensive line and speedy playmakers began to assert control, and the Hilltoppers started to rack up big runs and touchdowns. Chardon (5-2, 2-1 WRC) went 75 yards in three plays, scoring on Caleb Hewitt’s 38-yard burst to extend the lead to 17-7. Mayfield drove from its 20 to a third down at the Chardon 33 early in the fourth quarter, but senior Logan Webster sacked Rogers for a 7-yard loss to force a punt. The Hilltoppers then went 80 yards in five plays, as Allgood broke a couple tackles and got into the clear on his way to a 38-yard touchdown run. Dotson’s 75-yard sprint for a score later in the frame sealed it for Chardon. Chardon held Mayfield to 175 yards, 72 on the ground, and sacked Rogers three times. “They had a good game plan,” Chardon coach Mitch Hewitt said of Mayfield. “They limited possessions in the first half, which is something we do. We touched the ball three times in the first quarter. “Again, it’s a league that’s produced a lot of deep playoff runs. We know each other well. (Mayfield) is extremely well-coached. Because we’re a six-team league, we play some good non-conference opponents. So records are deceiving.” @topperfb Coach Mitch Hewitt gives his thoughts on Chardon’s 31-7 WRC win over Mayfield pic.twitter.com/BJAfGuKZ5V — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) October 11, 2024 Rogers passed for 103 yards for Mayfield, 88 of those going to the Reed brothers, Lantz and Jacob. Sophomore Ben Koret rushed for 57 yards. But the Wildcats couldn’t maintain the momentum of their strong start. “Two touchdowns in the fourth quarter kills us,” Mayfield coach Ross Bandiera said. “I thought our kids played hard. That fumbled snap hurt us, and their kid made a great play on the interception. You have to tip your cap to them there. I don’t like the result, but our kids fought and I’m proud of our kids.” @MayfieldSports Coach Ross Bandiera talks about the Wildcats’ 31-7 loss at Chardon pic.twitter.com/yznxbU8kD0 — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) October 11, 2024 Chardon has rebounded in resounding fashion to a pair of losses to Columbus Watterson and Kenston, outscoring its opponents 83-7 over the last two weeks since. “You want to be up 30 points as soon as the game starts, but the reality is the discomfort of being down in the first half is where teams grow,” Coach Hewitt said. “A few weeks ago, we folded. So there was growth tonight that I’m proud of our guys for showing. And I think they have more in them, too.” Both teams will resume WRC play on Oct. 18. Chardon will visit North, and Mayfield will host Riverside.