The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
BOMBERS ADVANCE
Hornets beat Cadets 35-18, set for rematch with Marion Local
Kenston players celebrate a 40-7 Division III state semifinal win over Columbus Eastmoor on Nov. 23. For more high school football coverage,
NEW PHILADELPHIA » Kenston is on the doorstep.
In front of a packed visitor stands at New Philadelphia’s Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium, the Bombers put on a display of dominating football that was almost stunning in its one-sidedness, blasting Columbus Eastmoor, 40-7, in a Division III state semifinal Nov. 23 to advance to the state final next week at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton on Nov. 30 at 3 p.m. against Kettering Alter.
This will mark Kenston’s third appearance in a state final. The Bombers also reached the pinnacle of Division III football in 1986 and 1995, losing both by the agonizingly close scores of 7-6 and 3-0.
If Kenston’s performance so far in the playoffs, and especially in a state semifinal, is any indication, don’t bet against it getting over that hump and capturing the school’s first state championship next week.
“I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids, group of coaches, and just the school in general. Just proud as heck to be a Bomber and be part of something special like this.” – Kenston coach Jeff Grubich
Kenston (13-1) racked up 428 yards of offense, 331 on the ground, and garnered 25 first downs. Junior RB Jack Porter led the way with 186 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Junior QB Jon Tomcufcik ran for 108 yards and three scores on 12 carries, and added 97 passing yards for good measure.
Not to be overlooked was a swarming Bombers’ defense, which held the speedy Warriors to 193 total yards and 10 first downs. Eastmoor picked up 74 of the yards and three of the first downs on its lone scoring drive late in the fourth quarter against Kenston’s second-string defense.
“It’s tough to put into words right now,” Kenston coach Jeff Grubich said. “Probably one word: Pride. I couldn’t be more proud of a group of kids, group of coaches, and just the school in general. Just proud as heck to be a Bomber and be part of something special like this.”
Kenston strove to use physicality to overcome Eastmoor’s speed. The Bombers served notice early their offensive line was going to impose its will, and its running game was not going to be stopped on this night. The Bombers took the opening kickoff and drove 79 yards in nine plays. Porter carried on five of the plays, including an 8-yard touchdown run that gave his team a 6-0 lead.
Eastmoor QB Marquise Laster found RB Cameron Long on a delayed screen pass that Long took for 32 yards into Bomber territory. The Warriors advanced to the Kenston 17, but a sack on third down by Matt Iklodi, and another on fourth down by Mitch Sotera, pushes Eastmoor back to the 32 and gave the ball back to Kenston.
Kenston went on to score on three of its next four possessions, as Tomcufcik, keeping the ball and finding daylight when the Eastmoor defense converged on Porter, tallied on runs of 4, 16, and 42 yards to give Kenston a commanding 26-0 lead at halftime.
“Our offensive line did an awesome job all night opening lanes for us,” Tomcufcik said.
The Bomber defense didn’t allow the Warriors to cross midfield for the rest of the first half, forcing three punts and coming up with an interception by Nick Franklin.
“We tried to stop the home runs,” said Iklodi, a senior who also intercepted a pass for the Bombers in the second half. “We knew they had a lot of home run hitters. We knew we had to play smart, disciplined football. We just had to read our keys and trust our coaching.”
Eastmoor caught a little spark on the opening drive of the third quarter, advancing to the Kenston 29 before Iklodi’s pick ended that threat.
The Bombers responded with an 11-play, 73-yard drive, culminating with an 8-yard scoring run by Porter. That made it 33-0 and initiated a running clock with 2:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Stanley Sell added a 1-yard scoring run in the fourth for the Bombers, then Eastmoor went 74 yards in four plays against the Kenston second string to score on a 8-yard pass from Laster to Ravon Wheeler to avoid the shutout.
“I think they were able to be effective up front,” Eastmoor coach Jim Miranda said in regard to Kenston. “They were able to get bodies on our defensive linemen, and they neutralized our linebackers from making plays. They were able to extend drives with their running game and receivers getting open.”
Now Kenston’s got a chance, just one more step and one more great performance on both sides of the ball away, from finishing what its great teams in the past came close to doing: Bring a state championship back to Bainbridge Township.
“We watched the film and saw speed all over the field,” Grubich said. “So there was a huge emphasis this week on cutting off their angles and making them dance around a bit. The defense has been lights out the last two weeks.
“We’re going to enjoy this moment right now and then get back into the film room. We have a ton of alumni and community supporters that keep telling us to ‘finish it’. We’ve got a big challenge next week, so we’ll enjoy this now and then get back to work.”