Tigers trounce Medina, 37-7

In what Twinsburg head coach Joe Schiavone called a "must-win" game, the Tigers did not disappoint. Twinsburg kept its playoff hopes alive with a 37-7 victory over Medina on Friday night.

After starting the game with a quick three-and-out, Twinsburg's offense exploded for three touchdowns from running back John Barton, who finished the night with 188 yards on 18 attempts. Fellow junior and quarterback Jalen Washington completed 11 of 20 pass attempts for 121 yards and a touchdown in the win for Twinsburg.

"They're special athletes, our offense rolls through them," Schiavone said. "Our offensive line does a tremendous job of protecting for Jalen, and they do a tremendous job of blocking for John."

Barton's first touchdown of the night came on the second play of the Tigers' second possession. Barton took a handoff up the middle, broke a couple of tackles and outran the rest of the Medina defense for a 65-yard touchdown. Kicker Frank Candau's point-after attempt was good, and Twinsburg quickly took a 7-0 lead.

Twinsburg continued to display its offensive prowess in the second quarter when it capped off a 17-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Barton, his second of the night.

"John's good at making people miss," Schiavone said. "He's got that knack about him. All the good backs always make the first guy miss."

Barton showed off his ability to shake defenders on the following possession by eluding multiple would-be-tacklers en route to a 37-yard touchdown run, which extended the Tigers' lead to 21-0.

After a defensive stand by the Tigers' defense, the Twinsburg offense returned to the field and quickly made work of its opponent. Washington found Barton on a 31-yard pass that set the Tigers up inside the Medina 10-yard line, and senior running back Michael Baker took the handoff from Washington into the endzone for another Twinsburg touchdown. Candau's point-after attempt was blocked, but the Tigers entered halftime with a commanding 27-0 lead.

Twinsburg controlled much of the second half, though Medina was able to get on the scoreboard when senior quarterback and University of Buffalo recruit Mason Schreck took a quarterback sneak from into the endzone for the Bees' first and only points of the night.

Candau converted one of two field goal attempts in the second half, and Washington found senior wide receiver Tre Jones for a four-yard touchdown completion to increase the Tigers' lead to 37-7.

"We told them after the tough loss to a good Solon team, that our playoffs started now," Schiavone said. "We knew this was a must-win; next week is a must-win."

Twinsburg, who improved to 6-3 overall, will host Mentor, the No. 1 team in the state of Ohio, next week.

"They're number one for a very good reason," Schiavone said. " ... Our guys will fight tooth and nail against anybody, and that's what I love about our guys ... we'll take on anybody."