WADSWORTH — The storyline going into the Division I, Region 1 football quarterfinal was supposed to be about how third-seeded Wadsworth would stop a sixth-seeded Medina team averaging 512.3 yards on offense.

Consider the script flipped.

The Bees won 22-19, but it wasn’t a flashy offense that got it done. Instead, Medina (9-3) will face second-seeded Cleveland Heights (11-1) largely because it forced the Grizzlies (9-3) into five turnovers.

The biggest of all came when Wadsworth faced third-and-17 from the Medina 23 with 10 seconds left. Will Stack (14-of-20 passing, 176 yards, three interceptions, two TDs) eluded a heavy rush, but had to heave a ball intended for Gavin Madigan into the end zone.

Aedyn Ruiz made the pick with no one around him, and the Bees left Art Wright Stadium with the win.

“The big thing was being physical,” Medina coach Larry Laird said. “I thought that we were very physical at the point of attack. I thought as physical as they were, they were able to hem in that quarterback (Stack) and running back (Kyle Figuray). I thought both defenses played very well.

“Our defensive backs have been getting better every week. We were a little short-handed back there. Ruiz came up big for us. We got pressure on that last play. Their quarterback saw nothing but white jerseys. That was huge.”

Medina turnovers didn't hurt as much as those by Wadsworth

Although the Bees turned it over twice on interceptions, the turnovers by Danny Stoddard (22-of-41 passing, 196 yards, TD, two interceptions) didn’t hurt as much.

Aside from the interception that essentially ended things, the Grizzlies also fumbled on first-and-goal from the Medina 2 in the first quarter and at its own 8-yard line in the second quarter allowing Medina to take a 15-12 halftime lead.

“You can never predict what can happen, but anytime you turn the ball over twice in the red zone, once on the 1 and added a muffed punt, I mean, we were right there,” Wadsworth coach Justin Todd said. “We had five turnovers.

“I don’t have an explanation as to why. I just know our kids battled like crazy. That’s the heart of this team. There’s a lot of grit in this team. There’s not a team in America that’s going to win a game when they turn it over five times. That’s unfortunate that it happened tonight.”

Those turnovers overshadowed a solid night by Madigan (five catches, 49 yards), Drew Jones (three, 70) and a 24-carry, 97-yard rushing night by Stack.

Jack Wojciak (seven catches, 61 yards, TD, 95-yard kick return for TD), Austin Knowles (seven, 69) and Dylan Whitehill (five, 51) all stood out for Medina.

That said, Wadsworth stayed in it and had a chance to at least tie the score when it gained 48 yards in 105 seconds in the waning moments.

But then came the Ruiz pick and Medina advanced to a rematch with Cleveland Heights, which beat the Bees 62-52 in Week 7.

“They brought blitz and the corner dropped far,” Stack said. “The flag route didn’t get there in time. I just didn’t have enough time.”

Super sophomore class will lead Grizzlies in 2024

Wadsworth exits with 12 of its 22 starters leaving to graduation.

What returns is 10 starters, including five current sophomores who earned a ton of respect and experience on the Suburban League National Conference championship team.

“We’ll remember how this feels and work on it in the offseason so it doesn’t happen again,” said Madigan, who is among the sophomores returning. “We’ll keep working so we’re better next year than we are tonight.

“Our seniors were an incredible group. They led us the whole way. It was a great group of guys to be around. They taught us to keep fighting.”

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA football: Medina defense comes up solid in win over Wadsworth