Independence senior Emily Magas and Cardinal junior Nate Peters turned in strong performances during the week ending Sept. 13 to earn Ward’s Lawn Care & Landscape Co. Player of the Week honors.
Magas finished the week with 18 kills, five service aces and 30 digs, 17 of which were a team-high in a sweep of Chagrin Falls. The Blue Devils also defeated West Geauga during the week.
“Emily Magas’ outstanding performance this week led her team to another two conference victories against West Geauga and Chagrin Falls,” said Independence coach Megan Osysko. “Emily has stepped up into her senior captain role nicely and continues to improve each match in her abilities.”
Through 11 games, Magas is second on the team with 95 kills, fourth with 13 serving aces and third with 110 digs.
Her consistency has helped Independence to an 8-3 record overall and a perfect 7-0 mark in Chagrin Valley Conference Chagrin Division play.
“Emily is a great teammate,” Osysko said. “She has taken a lot of interest in the younger girls on the team and helped them improve each day in practice.”
Peters carried 15 times for 139 yards and two touchdowns and also scored on a 71-yard bomb from quarterback Kyle Simms with 17 seconds left to lead Cardinal to a 34-28 comeback victory at Atwater Waterloo on Friday, Sept. 11.
“It was a Rocket Pass,” Peters said of his game-winning reception. “I caught it about 15 yards down the field and ran it in. Mainly it was Kyle’s throw. He put it right where it needed to be. I caught it and just had to run to the end zone because there was nobody on me.”
Cardinal scored 12 points in the final 2 ½ minutes to secure the win.
Through four games, Peters has rushed for 530 yards and five touchdowns on offense and he has 15 tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss in leading the Huskies to a 2-2 mark.
COACHES, NOMINATE YOUR PLAYERS
Coaches, click HERE to nominate your athletes for Ward’s Lawn Care & Landscape Co. Players of the Week. Athletes from all Northeast Ohio schools are eligible for the award and nominations are due by 10:00 p.m. every Tuesday.