ROCKY RIVER, Ohio (Oct. 12, 2022) -- News and notes following Rocky River's 38-7 victory over Westlake on Oct. 7 and heading into the Pirates' Friday game versus North Olmsted ...
GAME 8: Rocky River (4-4, 3-1 Great Lakes Conference West) got a big effort from its defense, and junior quarterback Julian Patti threw three touchdown passes, as the Pirates plundered the Westlake Demons 38-7 on Oct. 7. The Double-R defense registered two interceptions, two quarterback sacks, and six pass break-ups in what marked the first Rocky River-Westlake clash since 2019. The Pirates outscored their hosts 31-0 over the final three quarters of the GLC West battle. ... For the game, the Buccaneers gained 184 yards on the ground and a season-high 193 yards through the air. The total of 377 yards against Westlake (3-5, 0-4) marked Rocky River's most this season.
NOTING THE OFFENSE: Patti went 12-of-20 in leading that Pirate aerial assault. Junior running back Nick DiSalvo (nine carries, 69 yards) and senior RB Zach Wilson (9-47) were River's top rushers. Senior tight end Stan Heuler hauled in four passes for 44 yards. Jr. wide receiver Rowan McDougal scored on a 70-yard reception (career-first TD) and logged three catches for 93. Sr. WR Mack Massad clocked his fifth career touchdown reception. ... DiSalvo has piled up 169 rushing yards over his last 16 carries. For the season, he has logged 7.9 yards per carry on 34 attempts (270 rushing yards, 2 TD). ... The Pirates have registered season-highs in total yards in three of the last four weeks.
NOTING THE DEFENSE: Defensive end Stan Heuler completed a fine two-way performance with nine tackles and two sacks. Sophomore Ben Bogre added nine stops -- including one for a loss -- and his second interception of the season. Sr. linebacker Trent Delventhal had 6T. Soph. defensive back registered his third interception of the season.
NOTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Senior Mack Massad logged a 33-yard field goal and a 43-yard punt which pinned the Demons back inside their own 20-yard line. ... Massad scored 13 points in the game and now has 177 for his career. That ties him with fellow Swiss Army Knife Owen Bebie (2016-19) for seventh place in program history.
JP A-OK AS RR QB: Over the last three weeks -- which have yielded three straight Rocky River wins -- QB Julian Patti has completed 68.9% (31-of-45) of his passes, while throwing for 479 yards and 6 TD against two interceptions. For the season, the junior signal caller has logged a completion rate of 56%; he's thrown for 1,117 yards and 10 TD against 5 INT. He has also rushed for four scores.
SERIES VS. WESTLAKE: The Sons of Blackbeard have won their last three meetings against the Demons (2014, 2019, 2022).
Rocky River and Westlake first met on the gridiron in 1917. Westlake leads the all-time series, 34-33-2.
SWASHBUCKLING STATS: For the season, Rocky River has scored 23.1 points per game while yielding 17.9 PPG. ... On offense, River has averaged 160 rushing yards and 139.6 passing yards per game (299.6 total yards per game). ... In the turnover department, the Pirates have logged 11 takeaways against eight giveaways (plus-3).
ON DECK: Game 9 of the 2022 season finds the Sons of Blackbeard hosting a GLC West game against the North Olmsted Eagles. The Friday kickoff at Rocky River Stadium is slated for 7 p.m.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES: The 2022 Eagles are 5-3 overall and 3-1 in GLC West play. On the season, North Olmsted has scored 42.6 PPG while yielding 24.8 PPG. ... The Eagles have scored 40-plus points in six games (all in a row from Aug. 26-Sept. 30). ... Last week, NOHS fell to Elyria Catholic 42-21.
COMMON FOES: Bay -- lost to North Olmsted 49-7; lost to River 22-21. Elyria Catholic -- defeated North Olmsted 42-21; defeated River 23-21. Fairview -- lost to North Olmsted 69-14; lost to River 35-7.
LAST MEETING: Rocky River defeated North Olmsted 41-27 on Oct. 15, 2021. The Pirates and Eagles were tied 7-7 through one quarter; River then outscored the Eagles 21-0 in the second and led the rest of the way. Tommy Bebie ran the ball 14 times for 235 yards and 3 TD. Bebie also registered 16 tackles. Johnny Bebie had 69 RY and 9T. Mack Massad was 2/2 on field goals. Charlie Fadel and Trent Delventhal had 6T each.
SENIOR SALUTE: Friday will mark Senior Night for Pirate Football. River's gridiron squad is comprised of 17 greybeards: Aiden Andrako, Johnny Bebie, Charlie Fadel, Parker Hartup, Stan Heuler, Ali Karar, Aidan Konet, Mack Massad, Jack McBride, Evan Merk, Owen Patton, Joey Reich, Demis Salivares, Frank Valencic, Rees Vaughan, Marshall Walker, and Zach Wilson.
by Skip Snow
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