It’s a party like it’s 1994

Now that’s an anniversary party!

If a 25-year anniversary is called the “Silver Jubilee,” then what’s No. 26 called?

After what transpired on Nov. 21 at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, a case could be made — at least in Geauga County — that a 26-year anniversary should be called the “Hilltopper.”

Twenty-six years after the Chardon football team won its first state championship on the gridiron, the football program returned to the site of the 1994 championship game and beat Columbus DeSales, 31-28, in double overtime for the Division III state title on Nov. 21.

“Wow,” said Chardon coach Mitch Hewitt, taking a momentary break from a long and exuberant postgame celebration. “Instant classic, man.”

Chardon trailed by two touchdowns, 28-14, midway through the fourth quarter, forced overtime, escaped a scoreless first overtime, took a lead on a field goal by first-year kicker Nathan Tager, and then let loose with a New Years Eve-esque celebration when DeSales’ field goal attempt to force a third overtime sailed wide.

Whew.

It was all that, and more.

An instant classic, indeed.

“Never give up until the final second is off the board,” said senior center Dylan Friend. “This win was for everyone — our entire city.”

Prior to the game’s start, Hewitt recalled midsummer phone call he got from the Chardon police department that roust him from his slumber at 6 in the morning.

“There were 25 dudes out spilling it at 6 a.m.,” Hewitt said of the voluntary workout where players got together. “There was no guarantee of a season. There was none of that, man.”

If Hewitt didn’t know the character of his team prior to that morning — he did after that phone call.

This was a special group.

A group that navigated its way through a international pandemic of the coronavirus, a plague that has hung over the nation and world for nearly an entire calendar year.

It’s a group that survived a target on its back all season as the topranked team in Division III.

It’s a group that battled adversity such as trailing in the state championship game — the first time all season the Hilltoppers trailed in a game.

But no one panicked because of the faith and trust the players and coaches had in each other. A trust borne of a work ethic shown that summer morn when players were working out on their own to the point that the local police called the coach to find out what’s up.

“I’ve never coached a game where I was more calm,” Hewitt said afterward.

Even when everything around him said he should panic.

After all, the run-based Hilltoppers — who, by the way, are celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Wing-T coming to the program — trailed by two touchdowns midway through the fourth quarter at 28-14.

But as Hewitt has often said, “This not your grandfather’s Wing-T.”

Behind a brilliant passing performance by Drew Fetchik (249 yards passing) Chardon got to overtime and won it there.

“If we wanted to win the whole thing, we can’t be all iso and jet,” Hewitt said of the evolution of Chardon’s offense. “I think it showed we have evolved our offense. We knew we have a special kid at quarterback, and he proved it tonight.”

But there was much more special than just Fetchik.

It was guys like Blake Barker, who scored a few touchdowns and had one called back on a kickoff return because of a holding call.

It was guys like firstyear kicker Nathan Tager, who missed a field goal earlier in the game and had another blocked in overtime before making the game-winner.

It was Trey Leibhardt’s field goal block in overtime, Evan Ash’s touchdown to tie the game late in the fourth, Nick Fay pulling double duty on both lines.

The list goes on and on. It was everyone. That’s what made the win so special.

Talking to his team afterward, Hewitt told the players the energy from their entire season “awakened the graveyard,” in that it brought to life an excitement that hadn’t been felt in decades.

Maybe since that last championship season in 1994.

Twenty-six years had passed since Chardon partied like it did at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium on Nov. 21.

Here’s hoping another 26 years doesn’t pass before the Hilltoppers party like that again.