No. 6: Lorain’s playoff game

Titans made history at George Daniel Field

The Morning Journal is preparing for the start of high school football by ranking the 20 best stories throughout the coverage area to come out of the 2016 season.

WHAT HAPPENED » Lorain earned its first home playoff game after going 8-2 in a regular season that featured the team’s first outright Lake Erie League championship. Led by All-Ohio senior Daesean Brooks, the third-seeded Titans put together some big plays and used a strong defensive effort to beat Lewis Center Olentangy, 3414, to advance to the Division I, Region 2 quarterfinal.

WHY IT MATTERS » All eyes were on Lorain in the first round of the playoffs and the Titans took advantage of the momentum they had after winning eight straight games to finish the regular season. Being the team to earn the school’s first home playoff game

was special enough, but to win that game proved this Lorain team was ready to make noise in the postseason.

THEY SAID IT » “I feel like our football team is feeding off the basketball team just like the Indians fed off the Cavaliers. We started 0-2 and not too many people believed in us to finish at 8-2, have a home playoff game and win a playoff game. We’re not done yet.” — Brooks

“I probably told my quarterback about 40 times to just get me the ball. Usually I never run slants because the middle is kind of dangerous for me … I’d sacrifice my life going across the middle to win this playoff game.” — Brooks “Our seniors were fighting … playing with great passion and heart, which is what football is all about. We made some plays and once we got that thing rolling. It’s fun for me and the community, but more importantly it’s fun for the kids.” — Lorain coach Dave McFarland

THE AFTERMATH » The Titans went on the road to Mansfield the next week for the quarterfinal, beating Dublin Jerome to become the winningest team in school history. Though Lorain fell to Olentangy Liberty in the regional final, the significance of the 2016 postseason run could never be discounted — starting with that first win at home.

Sports Editor Jon Behm contributed to this article.

MORNING JOURNAL FILE The Lorain Titans take the field for the first home game of the playoffs at George Daniel Field against Lewis Center Olentangy on Nov. 4.