The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Mentor battles, but bows out
With Kipp ‘not available,’ Snow performs well, but Cardinals fall in Division I state semifinal
NEW PHILADELPHIA » Jacob Snow barely had 24 hours notice that he’d be making his first varsity start, in a state semifinal nonetheless.
The sophomore quarterback still nearly sent Mentor to the Division I state championship game.
Snow threw for 193 yards and two touchdowns, but Pickerington Central pulled out a 38-31 victory at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium in New Philadelphia.
Snow got the starting nod after regular starter Ian Kipp was ruled out of action a day earlier for unspecified reasons. Mentor athletic director Jeff Cassella said Kipp — an all-Ohioan and finalist for Ohio’s Mr. Football award last year — was “not available.”
“It’s been our mantra this entire season, be able to step up and handle that adversity when your number is called,” Mentor coach Matt Gray said. “Jacob did an unbelievable job once he settled down and said, ‘Hey, I can play at this level. I can succeed at this level.’
“It’s been our mantra this entire season, be able to step up and handle that adversity when your number is called.” –Mentor coach Matt Gray, on quarterback Jacob Snow, who started in place of Ian Kipp
“He did a tremendous, tremendous job.”
Said Snow, “This being my first start, the coaches taught me a lot. Ian taught me more than anybody I’ve ever met. I was really prepared for this.”
It’s the second year in a row — and third time in four years — that Pickerington Central has ended Mentor’s season. A year ago, the Tigers beat the Cardinals, 28-21, in a state semifinal.
With the win Nov. 6, Pickerington Central (11-0) advances to the state championship game to face the winner of Cincinnati St. Xavier and Springfield.
Mentor (9-2) cut PC’s lead to 35-31 at the 5:15 mark of the fourth quarter when Snow hit a diving John Sierputowski for an 11-yard touchdown pass. But the Tigers answered with a 26yard field goal from Mitchell Vollmer to make it a 3831 game.
The Cardinals needed to go 79 yards to tie the game, with only 1:32 remaining after the kickoff. Mentor went four-and-out, allowing PC to kneel out the remaining time on the clock.
“I can’t say enough,” Gray said. “I’m so proud of these guys, being able to battle, compete and do everything we asked, and then some.”
Early on, it looked like PC would blow the game wide open. An early blocked punt gave PC a short field, with Sirron Smith scoring from
14 yards out.
Then after a short punt, PC scored again on a Nick Mosley run for a 14-0 lead.
The lead grew to 21-0 on the first play of the second quarter when PC quarterback Garner Wallace went 92 yards for a score.
But then Mentor found its groove.
Riley Coughlin got Mentor on the board with a one-yard touchdown run to make it a 21-7 halftime score. Then the Cardinals tied the game in the third on a five-yard corner fade from Snow to Hutch Baird, followed by another Cough
lin run.
“It’s not about one person — it’s about us as a team,” senior lineman Hunter Colao said. “The fact we didn’t give up when we were down, 21-0, and battled all the way back ...”
Mentor’s momentum didn’t last, though. On PC’s next drive, Lorenzo Styles, Jr., went 70 yards for a touchdown and a 2821 lead.
Mentor never tied the game or led again.
“With that type of talent on their side of the ball and that type of speed, if you give them a seam or miss
a tackle ... they’re going to go to the house,” Gray said.
PC coach Jay Sharrett praised Styles, a Notre Dame commit who was making his 55th career start.
“When the game is on the line, No. 3 is going to have the ball,” Sharrett said.
PC outgained Mentor, 449-295, with Wallace running for 138 yards and throwing for 120. Styles ran for 138.
Mentor got 64 yards rushing from Coughlin and 39 rushing from Snow to go with the 193 yards in the air from Snow.