(Canton, OH)- The Springfield Eagles (10-6) entered week 11 and the OHSAA play-offs 5-5, a #12 seed in their region that, without the extended playoff field, would have seen their season end all the way back in October. However, they took the opportunity that they earned with the extended field and made the best of it, going on an unprecedented run to the Division I state championship. Waiting for them in Canton was a familiar foe, the Lakewood St. Edward Eagles (14-1).
This was the third straight meeting between the two squads to decide the champion of Division I, with the St. Edward Eagles taking the previous two.
The scoring got underway midway through the 1st quarter when QB Casey Bullock tucked it under his wing and rumbled in from 13 yards out, finishing the run off by lowering his shoulder to ensure he crossed the plane of the goal line. Later in the opening frame it was Sophomore RB Brandon White capping a 7 play 76 yard drive with a 20 yard dash to the end zone.
The Wildcats got on the board early in the 2nd quarter, when Aaron Scott ran it in from 3 yards out to put the Wildcats on the board. Following an Eagles 3 and out, the Wildcats set their sites on knotting the score at 14. That goal was achieved when Bay Bay Norman snuck in from 1 yard out.
The deadlock wasn't long lasted as the Eagles answered with a 5 play 61 yard scoring drive that ended with Brandon White again finding pay dirt from 3 yards out. While the deadlock didn't last long, the Eagles 21-14 lead lasted even shorter, as Bay Bay Norman returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards for the kick-off return touchdown.
On the ensuing kick-off the Wildcats were able to wrangle in a loose ball on the return, giving them the ball and a chance to take the lead before heading into halftime.
That attempt wasn't fruitful, as the Eagles defense bent but did not break, stopping Brent Upshaw at the 1 yard line as time expired on the half. To the break they'd go, knotted at 21.
The Wildcats received the opening kick for the 2nd half but were forced into a three and out. Neither team could muster much of anything, and the scoreboard still read 21 on each side as the clock turned to the final 12 minutes of regulation.
It was a special teams play that would break the tie in the 4th, with St. Edward kicker Kellen Moyer splitting the uprights from 36 yards out. The Eagles defense forced a three and out on the ensuing drive, which got the ball back to their high powered offense.
For the 3rd time on the evening, it was Brandon White scampering into the end zone, capping off a 7 play 65 yard drive with a 3 yard run. The Eagles took a two possession lead with only 1:23 left on the game clock.
The Wildcats heave of desperation was intercepted by Xavier Styles, securing the 3rd straight crown for the Lakewood St. Edward Eagles.