The 2026 football season kicked off Thursday night with two Chagrin Valley Conference teams in action, and Rootstown made sure opening night included a comeback to remember.
The Rovers erased a 13-point halftime deficit to edge Southeast, 14-13, while Chardon battled Massillon Jackson into the fourth quarter before the Polar Bears pulled away for a 34-13 victory.
Rootstown Rallies Past Southeast
Rootstown Football didn’t put a point on the board in the first half, but the Rovers didn’t need much time — or much field — to change the game after halftime.
Southeast took a 13-0 lead into the break behind a pair of touchdowns from quarterback Tyler Shaw.
Shaw opened the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Nathanael Rivera with 9:34 remaining in the first quarter. The Pirates missed the conversion, but Shaw struck again late in the second quarter, this time scoring on a 16-yard run. Tristan Finch‘s extra point gave Southeast a 13-0 advantage.
Rootstown’s defense provided the spark the Rovers needed in the third quarter.
Sophomore Grayson Rantilla intercepted Shaw and gave Rootstown possession at the Southeast 4-yard line. Two plays later, quarterback Blake Mullaly scored from a yard out and added the extra point to cut the Pirates’ lead to 13-7 with 6:05 remaining in the third.
Special teams helped set up the Rovers’ next score.
After Southeast was forced to punt from deep in its own territory, Max McEwuen fielded the kick at the Pirates’ 45 and returned it to the 26.
Again, Rootstown needed only two plays to capitalize.
Senior Ayden Moyer broke free for a 15-yard touchdown run with 7:21 remaining in the fourth quarter, and Mullaly’s extra point gave the Rovers their first lead of the night, 14-13.
Rovers’ Defense Finishes the Comeback
Southeast had one final opportunity to reclaim the lead and moved into Rootstown territory on a lengthy fourth-quarter possession.
The Pirates eventually faced fourth-and-7 from the Rootstown 45 with less than a minute remaining.
Mullaly, who made an impact on both sides of the ball throughout the opener, broke up Shaw’s fourth-down pass to secure the victory.
Mullaly also led the Rovers on the ground with 71 yards on 10 carries.
The difference in the second half was Rootstown’s ability to turn defense and special teams into favorable field position. The Rovers’ two touchdown drives began at the Southeast 4 and 26, allowing them to erase the halftime deficit without needing a sustained scoring march.
Rootstown improved to 1-0 with the victory.
Platz Breaks Loose Early for Chardon
Chardon couldn’t match Rootstown’s comeback, but the Hilltoppers gave Massillon Jackson all it could handle for three quarters.
Drew Platz provided a spectacular start.
Just 50 seconds into the season, Platz broke loose for a 76-yard touchdown run to put Chardon ahead, 7-0.
Jackson answered behind quarterback Carter Muhleman, who connected with Lucas Yoder for a 26-yard touchdown. Joseph Biviano later kicked a field goal to give the Polar Bears a 10-7 advantage after the first quarter.
Chardon responded with a little trickery deep in its own territory.
Facing fourth down at its own 19, the Hilltoppers called a fake punt, and Ivan Chuha ran for 11 yards and a first down.
Platz took care of the rest on the very next snap.
The senior exploded for a 70-yard touchdown, his second long scoring run of the night. The extra point was unsuccessful, leaving Chardon with a 13-10 lead.
Biviano connected on a 31-yard field goal later in the second quarter to send the teams into halftime tied at 13.
Jackson Takes Control After Chardon Turnover
Jackson grabbed its first touchdown lead in the third quarter when Muhleman found Quinn Snyder for a 14-yard score, but Chardon remained within striking distance at 20-13 entering the fourth.
The Hilltoppers appeared poised to answer.
Behind Platz and Rocco Tarantino, Chardon moved the ball to the Jackson 18. A fumble early in the fourth quarter, however, ended the threat and gave the Polar Bears an opportunity to take control.
Jackson did exactly that.
The Polar Bears followed the turnover with a 16-play scoring drive. Chardon twice had Jackson facing third-and-long, but Muhleman completed passes to keep the possession alive.
Chase Maurer eventually finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, pushing Jackson’s advantage to 27-13.
After Chardon turned the ball over on downs on its next possession, Muhleman connected with Yoder for a 53-yard touchdown to put the game away.
Muhleman completed 19 of 33 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns, while Maurer rushed for 114 yards and a score on 20 carries.
Platz Leads 333-Yard Chardon Ground Attack
Despite the loss, Chardon’s running game provided plenty of encouragement in the opener.
Platz finished with 232 yards and two touchdowns on just 17 carries, averaging more than 13 yards per attempt.
As a team, Chardon piled up 333 rushing yards against Jackson.
The Hilltoppers were tied with the Polar Bears at halftime and trailed by only seven entering the fourth quarter before the turnover at the Jackson 18 helped swing the game.
Chardon opens the season 0-1 following the 34-13 loss.
Chardon Hilltoppers
Rootstown Rovers
Southeast
