Wadsworth Edges Nordonia 37-36 in Overtime of Suburban League Matchup
In a back-and-forth Suburban League showdown between undefeated teams, the Wadsworth Grizzlies outlasted the Nordonia Knights in a 37-36 overtime at Art Wright Stadium. Freshman quarterback Brysen Hall found Calix Lemp for a 17-yard touchdown pass in overtime, with Jack Dinwiddie’s extra point sealing the win and keeping Wadsworth (7-0) atop the Suburban League National Conference.
The victory marked Wadsworth’s second consecutive overtime win, following last week's 21-14 win over Hudson. Nordonia looked strong in their first three Suburban League games and looked poised to continue that trend, led by senior quarterback Ben Chesser, who would rush for 142 yards and three touchdowns, while also throwing for 142 yards in the contest.
The first quarter saw both teams feeling each other out, with Wadsworth striking first when Hall connected with Lemp on a 35-yard pass before Zach Wise punched in a 1-yard touchdown run. However, a blocked extra point kept the score at 6-0.
Nordonia quickly responded early in the second quarter, with Chesser breaking free for a 27-yard touchdown run, but Wadsworth blocked the extra point, leaving the score tied at 6-6. The Knights then surprised everyone with a successful onside kick, but Wadsworth's Zach Wise immediately stole the momentum back by forcing a fumble on the very next play, returning it to the Nordonia 2-yard line. Cooper Gray capitalized, scoring on a 2-yard run, but a failed two-point conversion kept the lead at 12-6.
Nordonia bounced back once again when Chesser engineered a creative hook-and-ladder play, setting up his second rushing touchdown to give the Knights a 13-12 lead. The Grizzlies, however, answered quickly with Gray ripping off a 52-yard run, eventually finishing the drive with another touchdown and a successful two-point conversion, giving Wadsworth a 20-13 advantage.
Nordonia managed to trim the lead to 20-16 with a field goal before halftime, and the Knights carried that momentum into the second half. After forcing a turnover, Chesser scored his third rushing touchdown, putting Nordonia ahead 23-20 in the third quarter.
Wadsworth’s Dinwiddie tied the game at 23-23 with a 35-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter, but Chesser struck again, hitting a wide-open Danny Ours for a 55-yard touchdown, giving Nordonia a 30-23 lead with just over four minutes remaining.
The Grizzlies refused to quit. Hall’s 30-yard pass to Lemp set up a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Earnest, tying the game at 30-30 with just 1:42 left in regulation.
In overtime, Nordonia struck first as Khylan Osbey scored on an 8-yard run, but a blocked extra point left the door open for Wadsworth. The Grizzlies seized the opportunity, with Hall once again finding Lemp in the end zone for the game-tying touchdown, followed by Dinwiddie’s clutch extra point to secure the 37-36 win.
Hall completed 12 of 22 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns, while Cooper Gray led the ground attack with 148 yards and two TDs on 22 carries. Broden Ballinger chipped in with 44 yards on seven attempts, helping Wadsworth secure their dramatic win and maintain their unbeaten record.