Rally by Berlin sets up showdown with Marysville
Editor’s note: Each week, we will highlight some of the top games from Friday night’s high school football matchups. For recaps of all the games, go to Dispatch .com.
Olentangy Berlin quarterback Harrison Brewster’s 4-yard run with 34 seconds remaining capped a two-touchdown rally in the fourth quarter against Dublin Jerome as the host Bears won 22-21 and remained unbeaten in the Occ-cardinal Division.
That sets up a Week 9 showdown when Berlin travels Friday to Marysville, the state’s fifth-ranked team in Division I, which is also 3-0 in the Occ-cardinal after a 49-6 victory over Thomas Worthington.
Brewster took the snap, faked a handoff to running back Gavin Angell and spun away from a Jerome defender at about the 7-yard line. The sophomore, who sees action at quarterback, running back and wide receiver, then darted to the end zone to cap an 81-yard drive and give Berlin its first lead.
“I saw (the defender) go at the running back, so I pulled (the ball) and went by him,” Brewster said. “Our offensive line did a great job. (Fellow quarterback) Dylan (Reyes) does his thing. We made mistakes, but we did what we needed to do to win.”
Berlin, which improved to 7-1 overall, edged Jerome in the turnover battle 4-2 but had 10 penalties for 100 yards. The Celtics were penalized seven times for 75 yards.
“We had too many penalties and made too many mistakes, which is something you can’t do against a good team,” said Jerome coach Brett Glass, whose team dropped to 5-3 overall and 1-2 in the Occcardinal. “Our defense kept us in it in the first half.”
Brewster rushed for 57 yards and the game-winning touchdown on 15 carries, and he also was 13-for-17 passing for 131 yards with one interception. Reyes was 3for-9 passing for 71 yards, and he connected with Jason Harris on a 20-yard score. Reyes also connected with Brewster on a 40-yard reception.
—Scott Hennen
Desales 21, Watterson 17
Desales senior quarterback Whit Hobgood made the right choice.
With the host Stallions trailing 17-14 with less than a minute to play, Hobgood made good on a run-pass option, finding Rechee Smith open over the middle for a 50-yard touchdown reception.
“I kind of hesitated for a second, but then I just threw it behind a defender,” Hobgood said. “Rechee just made a play and does what he does.”
The game-winner came with 27 seconds left, marking the third consecutive time the rivalry was decided late. Last season, the Stallions beat the Eagles 2822 in overtime and lost 35-34 in two overtimes.
“It’s Watterson-desales, right?” Watterson coach Brian Kennedy said. “And, it should come down to the fourth quarter and the last big play, and tonight, they made the last big play.”