What started as a slow game turned green and white in the second half thanks to three scores.
Senior Devin Jones scored twice and the Polar Bears earned their first shutout in five years.
The win was the 100th of head coach Rock Farlow’s career.
“That’s what they tell me, my wife and couple coaches assured me and they checked,” Farlow said. “I’ve kinda slowed down a little bit. You get 10 a year and that adds up really fast, 15 adds up fast. But I’ve been fortunate to have been part of some very good programs.”
Farlow coached at New London, Perkins and Firelands before taking over at Margaretta in 2008.
“I’m really proud of the way (we finished). We didn’t play particularly well in the first half,” Farlow said. “We got a quick three and out (to start the third quarter) and got the ball and drove, and scored the two-point conversion.”
“It was a great job rebounding from not playing well.”
Ahead just 6-0 at halftime, Jones scored his second touchdown run to give the Bears a 14-0 lead after a successful two-point try.
Jones scored the game’s first touchdown with his first-quarter scamper. The Bears missed the PAT.
Margaretta, which had six wins in three years before Friday’s opener, last won its season opener in the 2005 season, a 28-27 win against Woodward.
A week later on Sept. 2, 2005, Margaretta topped Western Reserve 33-0, its last shutout before the defense refused to buckle against Wickliffe.
The Bears thought their defensive front seven would be better than a year ago, and Jones’ ability in the secondary allows him to take away half the field.
It paid off as Corey Kane came up with an interception for Margaretta and returned it from about 10 yards away for a 20-0.
“We were real sound assignment wise. We didn’t give up any big plays,” Farlow said. “We can always count on Devin. They have one receiver they wanted to get the ball to and I don’t think he had any catches.”
The last time Farlow brought a team to face Wickliffe, it was a 46-42 shootout in the 1999 playoff run as Farlow coached Perkins to a Division IV title.
This clash was slightly more one-sided. But the Blue Devils didn’t roll over and let the Bears run through them.
“(Wickliffe) were better than I thought, they were pretty physical, and our kids slugged right there with them,” Farlow said.
Corey Yontz delivered the final shot, scoring on a 97-yard trot late in the fourth quarter that Farlow thinks might be a school record.
It was the type of win the Bears needed to establish their identity as they learn to finish games.
“Especially stumbling around 6-0 at halftime. Last year we’d have given that away easily,” said Farlow.