H.S. Football: Turnovers doom Vermilion in SBC loss to Edison

VERMILION — Four second-half turnovers including three fumbles spelled doomsday for Vermilion as Edison rallied from a 22-6 third quarter deficit Friday night to defeat the Sailors 27-24.The loss dropped Vermilion's record to 5-4 overall and 1-2 in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division. Edison improved to 6-3 and 2-1.It was Edison's ninth win in 10 meetings versus Vermilion dating back to 2016. Except for the Sailors' 36-35 win over the Chargers in 2018, the remaining nine games were essentially blowout wins by Edison including 17-0 in 2024 and 34-14 in 2023.All three of Vermilion's second-half fumbles ultimately were cashed in for touchdowns.Senior Coltyn Meagrow scored Edison's game-winner on a 21-yard touchdown pass from senior Cole Leimeister with 1:38 left in the game.The third and final Chargers fumble recovery came with 5:41 left in the game and was the dagger. It came after a 25-yard return by Vermilion on an Edison free kick following a safety.The Chargers drove 60 yards on nine plays after Edison's Blaise Garn recovered the Vermilion fumble at the Edison 40.Vermilion outgained Edison 316-237 in total offense, led by senior Evan Kuhns who rushed 25 times for 126 yards and had two touchdowns."Obviously it hurts. It's a tough loss," Kuhns said. "At the end of the day we need to respond from adversity and bounce back for next week. A couple tough losses at home now. We just have to be able to put a game together and finish it off."It was Vermilion's third loss in four games. All three losses were by five points or less. Vermilion defeated Huron 28-21 on Oct. 10 after dropping a heartbreaking 29-28 five-overtime loss to Port Clinton on Oct. 3. Before that Vermilion lost to Norwalk 14-9 on Sept. 26."Turnovers late cost us the football game," Vermilion coach Bill DiFucci said. "That's a good program on the other side of the football field. We knew that they were going to make adjustments. It came down to the second half. We had opportunities in front of us. We got the lead but then had a couple of turnovers. It's just high school football. Crazy things happen. We didn't get it done tonight."Vermilion appeared to be in good position after Kuhn's second touchdown of the game put the Sailors' up 22-6 with 5:35 left in the third quarter. Edison cut the deficit to 22-14 following a 39-yard touchdown reception by Andy Strecker from Leimeister with 2:12 left in the third quarter.Edison's third touchdown came following a Vermilion fumble at its own 3 on a punt return. The Chargers cashed in two plays later on a 1-yard run by senior Ryder Kramb with 8:08 left in the game. The ensuing two-point conversion try failed as Vermilion hung on to a 22-20 lead.Later in the fourth quarter Edison committed a safety after it was backed up to its 8-yard line and a snap eluded Leimeister and rolled through the back of the end zone with 5:52 left. Vermilion appeared to be in good position on the ensuing free kick return, but the fumble nullified it. Ultimately, Edison drove the ball 60 yards for the win.Contact Paul Heyse at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.