Clinton-Massie rallies to win D-IV state final
This Clinton-Massie state football championship won’t ever be forgotten.
“Surreal,” senior running back Colton Trampler said.
Clinton-Massie football coach Dan McSurley let the seniors decide whether to go for a two-point conversion with 45 seconds left and a state championship on the line early Friday afternoon.
“I think all the seniors said, ‘Coach, let’s win this thing,’ ” McSurley said.
Senior quarterback Kody Zantene pitched the ball to senior running back Carson Van Hoose who ran to the right and into the end zone for a two-point conversion that gave the Falcons a 29-28 win in the Division IV state final.
“My dad (Clinton-Massie assistant Jeskee Zantene) said he was watching a state championship game about four or five years ago and they won a state championship on that play and it was awesome,” Clinton-Massie senior quarterback Kody Zantene said.
The Falcons (14-1), winners of 14 consecutive games, captured their third state football title in school history.
“It means so much to me,” Clinton-Massie senior running back Colton Trampler said. “I think back to every second that we spent in the offseason working and just doing everything we could to try to get this win and this was always the dream. It has been since third grade. I could walk into that locker room right now. There is going to be tons of people laughing and crying. It’s just so exciting that were able to get it done this year.”
The Falcons trailed 28-7 with 5:23 left in the third quarter but never lost faith. Zantene scored on a 49-yard run nearly two minutes later.
Then, senior offensive lineman Garrett Vance recovered a fumble in the end zone to pull the Falcons within seven points early in the fourth quarter. It was the first career touchdown for Vance.
“This feeling is great especially having the community here,” Vance said. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”
Zantene rushed for a 1-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left in the game.
The Falcons finished the game scoring 15 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters. This was Clinton-Massie’s third state title after winning back-to-back in 2012 and 2013.
“This was such a fitting end to these seniors and their whole career starting back in third grade,” said McSurley, who earned his 250th win at Clinton-Massie. “... This will be without question go down in history as one of the greatest comeback victories in high school history.”
Division II Winton Woods 21, Akron Hoban 10:
Winton Woods captured its second state title Thursday night in Canton.
Ty’Rek Spikes, Buddy Ellery and KC Spears had rushing touchdown to lead Winton Woods (13-3). Spikes had 22 carries for 153 yards, Ellery rushed 10 times for 87 yards and Spears added 60 yards on four carries.
The Warriors limited Hoban, a five-time state champ, to 192 yards.
Division III Chardon 21, Badin 14:
Sean Carr’s 2-yard TD run with 1:05 remaining lifted undefeated Chardon to a 21-14 victory over the Rams in the Division III state championship on Friday afternoon at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Senior Jack Walsh and junior Carter Russo each scored TDs as Badin finished its season 14-1.
Chardon won its second straight state championship and became the first team in Ohio history to finish a perfect 16-0 season.
“It’s what you expect between the No. 1 team and the No. 2 team in the state of Ohio in Division III,” said Rams coach Nick Yordy. “Those guys are wellcoached and have an unbelievable defense. They played really hard and they’re really, really good. I give credit to our guys, too. I think we played a heck of a game.”