Big plays in OT lift Wheelersburg
CANTON — For most of the Division V championship game on Friday, the crowd of 9,778 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium was treated to a spellbinding defensive tussle between two 14-0 teams.
When Pemberville Eastwood broke the standoff with a go-ahead touchdown with 1:27 left by Jaden Rayford, few could have anticipated what would happen.
With its season on the line, Wheelersburg drove 75 yards in 1:20 for the tying score, then made two huge plays in overtime — one on offense and one on defense — to come away with an amazing 21-14 victory.
“What was so astounding is the senior leadership and focus we showed, and the ability to execute everything we’ve worked on practice in those situations,” Pirates coach Rob Woodward said.
On the tying drive, quarterback Trent Salyers completed passes of 16, 31 and 13 yards before hitting Makya Matthews on a middle screen for a 12-yard TD pass with 17 seconds left.
Wheelersburg got the ball first in overtime, and on fourth-and-1 at the Eastwood 11, Woodward called off his field goal kicker and went for it. Running back Xander Carmichael took the handoff, stopped and lobbed a jump pass to Tanner Holden for the TD.
Eastwood appeared on the verge of forcing second overtime. Rayford, who gained 136 yards on 30 carries, made a move toward the end zone, but defensive back Avery Donini lowered his shoulder pad into the ball and dislodged it. Cole Lowery recovered and Wheelersburg fans and players celebrated their first state title since 1989.
“I got the initial hit, then I rolled over and saw Avery lay the second hit on him, and the next thing I knew everyone in the stands was going crazy,” defensive end Alex George said. “It was something like you’d experience in a dream.”
It was the only turnover in a game that several players attested was the hardest-hitting they had ever been part of.
“I sure don’t want Jaden to be remembered for that final play,” Eastwood coach Craig Rutherford said. “I remember many cases when he’s dragged three, four, five guys in the end zone on plays just like that. He was just a competitor trying to win.”
Salyers completed 17 of 29 passes for 179 yards to pace the Pirates. Nic Parsley had 13 tackles, including three for loss.
Antonio Salinas had 10 tackles, six for loss, with three sacks for Eastwood, which was making its first title game appearance. Crenshaw, a sophomore quarterback, rushed for 117 yards on 17 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 45, 13, 1 and 3 yards as Central beat Cincinnati Colerain 41-28 in a Division I state semifinal. Crenshaw has run for team bests of 1,218 yards and 18 TDs while passing for 1,500 yards and 13 scores. Sheldon, a junior point guard who has committed to Ohio State, totaled 29 points, four assists, six rebounds and three steals in a 55-46 opening victory over Toledo Notre Dame Academy. She surpassed 1,000 career points in the Shamrocks’ second game.