The first two months of the North Royalton Bears football season has been fraught with bad luck. After the first six weeks of the season, North Royalton had a 1-5 record. But, that record could easily be 4-2 or better if a couple of breaks went the Bears way.
The string of bad luck goes back to the first pre-season scrimmage against Padua. Junior quarterback Christian Robinson was injured in that scrimmage forcing head coach Nick Ciulli and his coaching staff to find another signal caller.
The staff settled on freshman Joe Marousek, who stands 6-feet-1 inches tall and weighs 180 pounds. Joe has ended up starting four of the five games the Bears have played this season.
Coach Ciulli has been impressed with the play of his young quarterback. “He doesn’t play like a freshman. I have a lot of opposing coaches ask me if he (Marousek) is for real and I tell them. yes he is. He holds his own out there. He’s doing fine.”
To show fans how far Marousek has come since the beginning of the season, Marousek passed for 207 yards and ran for an additional 100 yards in the 55-35 loss to Wadsworth in week number six.
Wadsworth head coach Justin Todd came away from that game impressed with Marousek. “I am not looking forward to playing him for the next three years. What a poised young man. I like that quarterback a lot,” he said.
After opening the season with a 38-20 win against North Ridgeville, the Bears have not been able to find the victory column. In week two, Parma beat North Royalton 36-21; week three Highland beat the Bears 37-7; week four Twinsburg edged by the Bears 28-27 and in week number five, Hudson shutout North Royalton 31-0.
“Lots of fans just don’t understand how difficult it is to win a high school football. Or a football game at any level for that matter,” said Ciulli.
Among the North Royalton players to watch for in the second half of the season is junior running back Zach Antonio, who stands 5-feet-10-inches tall and weighs 170 pounds. Before the Wadsworth game, Ciulli said, “I feel that he (Zach) is ready to have a breakout game.”
And breakout he did.
Antonio had 106 yards rushing against Wadsworth and scored four touchdowns. Antonio and Marousek are two building blocks that North Royalton has for the remainder of this season and for the 2017 season.
The remainder of Suburban League season is not easy for the Bears. Brecksville and Stow-Munroe Falls are on the schedule and at this writing, both are undefeated. The Bears also have to face Nordonia and Cuyahoga Falls.
If you haven’t seen the Bears play this season, set a Friday night aside and make your way to Serpentini Stadium or take a road trip and catch a game. You may spot a name you’re familiar with, like a neighbor or someone who lives on your street.
More importantly, you’re seeing a team that has a bright future ahead of itself.
By JOE JASTRZEMSKI
Contributing Writer