West Jefferson rallies for 35 straight points to win

West Jefferson rallied from a 21-0 first-quarter deficit, rattling off the game’s next 35 points on the way to a 35-28 victory over Reading in a Division V regional semifinal Friday night at Xenia.

Lance Lambert threw for 301 yards on just seven completions, with touchdowns that covered 74 and 81 yards, both to Caleb Vanhook, who amassed 219 yards receiving on only five catches.

Ethan Higgins punched in two short TD runs and finished with 109 yards on 29 carries. He added an interception in the fourth quarter to set up a 9-yard TD run by Lambert for a 35-21 lead for the Roughriders (12-0).

Aydrian Simmons, who ran for 146 yards, gave Reading (8-4) a 21-0 lead on a 53-yard score just seven minutes into the game. Mancini Jackson scored Reading’s first two TDs on a run and an interception return covering 31 and 32 yards, respectively.

West Jefferson will face Middletown Madison in next week’s regional final.

Bryce Barasch rumbled for 255 yards on 31 carries, and Johnstown (10-2) rolled over host Portsmouth West (10-2) in a Division V regional semifinal at Zane Trace. The Johnnies didn't throw a pass, racking up 457 yards on 66 carries. Luke Myers compiled only 40 yards on the ground but recorded three 1-yard TD runs. Caden Calhoun added 116 yards rushing on 14 carries. Johnstown’s defense held the Senators to just 158 yards of offense. The Johnnies will advance to the regional final to face No. 1 seed Wheelersburg.

Xander Carmichael hit Evan Horsley with a 43-yard TD strike on a fake punt and ran for three scores to help No. 1 Wheelersburg (12-0) storm back from a 13-0 first-half deficit and eliminate fifthseeded Columbus Academy (9-3) in a Division V regional semifinal in Chillicothe. The Pirates outscored the Vikings 35-3 in the second half after Columbus Academy built an early lead thanks to a 10-yard run by Josh Pearson and two field goals by Sam Massick. The Vikings capitalized on three Academy turnovers in the second half and took control with Carmichael’s clutch scoring. Pleasant (10-1) scored with 15 seconds left to defeat Archbold (9-3) in a Division V regional semifinal.