Pickerington Central headed to state finale
When quarterback Demeatric Crenshaw graduated and took his unique skill set to Youngstown State, there were a few outsiders who wondered if the Pickerington Central football team could maintain its recent level of excellence.
On the state stage, Crenshaw was magnificent in leading the Tigers to Division I state titles in 2017 and 2019, and another final four appearance in 2018.
But even before Jay Sharrett took the reins from Jack Johnson in 2003 and Pickerington became a two-horse town, the program has never leaned on a star player. In fact, the Tigers' offensive and defensive statistics are quite balanced.
Granted, Lorenzo Styles Jr. is the latest generational talent who may well wind up in the NFL, but the Tigers proved once again during a 38-31 state semifinal win over Mentor on Friday at Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium in New Philadelphia that they are brimming with talent, and solid program players, on both sides of the ball.
Crenshaw's successor, Garner Wallace, a converted wide receiver, has made a handful of big plays during Central's latest run.
He rushed for 136 yards, including a 92-yard read-option touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter to give the Tigers a 21-0 lead. Wallace also completed 8 of 9 passes for 116 yards, including a 31-yard slant pass for a TD to Gavin Edwards (one of those program guys) with 6:57 remaining to push Central's lead to 35-24.
Wallace, a state-caliber middle-distance runner in track and an outstanding basketball player as well, might be the best three-sport athlete in the state. He is headed to Northwestern, where he is projected to play defensive back.
Styles Jr., a dynamic return specialist and playmaking receiver/runner, made his usual impact. He rushed for 130 yards on only 10 carries, including a 70yard TD run in the third quarter to break a 21-21 tie.
But for the first time this season, it didn't come easy for the Tigers. Playing without All-ohio quarterback Ian Kipp, who reportedly was unavailable because of exposure to COVID-19, Mentor rallied to give Pickerington Central a scare. It wasn't until Tyler Gillison sacked Jacob Snow on fourth-and-4 with 54 seconds remaining, that the Tigers could savor a return trip to the title game.
Central (11-0) will face Cincinnati St. Xavier (9-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Fortress Obetz in quest of a third title in four years.
“When the game is on the line, (No.) 3 is going to have the ball,” Sharrett said of Styles to Thisweek Newspapers. “Those offensive linemen knew, our backs knew, everyone knew. You just keep grinding and grinding. You offset the penalties against us. There were some tough calls, but did anyone panic? No. The team that panics loses and that's why we're moving on.”
Also moving on to the state semifinals (the six smaller divisions are a week behind Division I), are Desales and Newark Catholic.
Desales jumped to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and trounced Hartley 38-7 in a Division III regional final. The Stallions swept the three-game series with their Central Catholic League rivals.
Quintell Quinn rushed for 164 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Stal
lions (8-1), who will face Kettering Alter (8-2) on Friday at a site to be determined.
In a stark contrast to the regular-season matchups (24-21 and 16-14), Desales outgained Hartley 413-162 and racked up a 22-6 advantage in first downs.
Hartley made two turnovers deep in its own territory that helped Desales jump to an early lead. The Hawks are built to run the ball and falling behind 17-0 out of the gate and 24-7 at halftime made a comeback improbable.
“We executed really well,” Desales coach Ryan Wiggins told Thisweek. “Obviously, playing each other twice we had a good idea of what could work and what couldn't.”
Added Hartley coach Brad Burchfield, “They played a lot better than us. They're really good at what they do.”
In Division VII, Ryan Auer kicked a 40-yard field goal with 6:01 remaining and Newark Catholic held on to edge Shadyside 10-7 in a slugfest.
An interception and return by Ryan Poly flipped field position dramatically and set up Auer's field goal. Poly had two interceptions in the Green Wave's 35-19 semifinal upset of top-seeded Glouster Trimble.
An interception near midfield by Kyle Langenbrunner with 1:37 remaining sealed the win for Newark Catholic (7-3), which will face Warren Kennedy (8-2) in a state semifinal Friday at a site to be determined.
Newark Catholic managed just 203 total yards, with Langenbrunner picking up 157 yards on 22 carries.
“I had been waiting for that moment, and it is what my team needed right then,” Auer told the Newark Advocate. “I remember the feeling we had last year (a regional final loss to Harvest Prep), and I did not want to have it again.”
Green Wave coach Ryan Aiello called it “one ugly game. But we'll take it.” sblackledge@dispatch.com @Blackiepreps