State Semi-Final
Bucks 22
Western Reserve
Blue Devils 21
A blocked extra point early in the third quarter would prove to be the pivotal single point that would send the Buckeye Central Bucks team to a final game against Marion Local next Saturday morning. But in the fourth quarter both team had chances, and took chances to keep the faithful on both sides on the edge of their seats.
With the score tied at 15 at the start of the second half, Buckey would go on an impressive 70-yard, 8-play drive with quarterback Tyler Erwin hitting receiver Adam Paynter on a 43 yard touchdown pass down the right sideline to put the Bucks up 22-15 with 8:55 remaining in the third quarter.
But the Devils would answer right back, and they would do it quickly. On the first play of the possession, Donnie Bolton would race through the Bucks defense down the right sideline to the Buck 2-yard line. From there Tommy Marlowe would pound the ball into the end zone to draw the Devils to within one point at 22-21. However the Bucks would get a strong push and block the Parker Clegg extra point try, leaving the score at 22-21 at the 8:15 mark of the quarter.
From there the two teams seemed to try and give the game away to each other. The next five of seven possessions ended in interceptions, and the other two in turning the ball over on downs. After a 53-yard kickoff return by the Bucks Justin Herrnstein to the Devils 42-yard line, Tim Cooper would pick off a Buck's pass at his own 32-yard line. Then Devils quarterback Jeff Clegg would have a pass intercepted by Herrrnstein at the Bucks 49-yard line. But three plays later Cooper would again pick off another errant aerial by the Bucks QB. This time at the Devils own 32-yard line.
The Devils would start to drive, moving the ball out to the 49, but once again the Bucks would intercept a Clegg pass as Austin McDonnell came up with the pick at the Bucks own 27-yard line with just 1:25 remaining in the quarter.
From there the Bucks would drive deep into Devils territory. They would march 71-yards on 10-play, reaching the Devils 2-yard line. But the Devils defensive unit would make a stand and keep the Bucks fullback Michael Adkins out of the end zone on four tries, and gave the Devils the ball back at their own 2-yard line at the 9:12 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Devils could only move the ball out to their own 21-yard line when faced with a fourth and two situation. Devils Head Coach Andy Hake would take a big rgamble as the punt was snapped to the up-man in Clegg who threw an incomplete pass, turning the ball back over to the Bucks at the Devils own 21-yard line.
It looked like that might be the momentum change that would turn the tide of the game, but the Bucks defense would stiffen after surrendering a first down. First the Devils were flagged for a holding call, then the Bucks defensive tackle Bryce Collins would sack Clegg for a 16-yard loss, setting up a fourth and 38 situation for the Devils. Hake would take a gamble again as Clegg would make a pass to Cooper who lateral the ball to Danny Rosati. But Rosati would be tackled at his own 39-yard line, turning the ball back over to the Bucks on downs with 2:11 remaining in the game.
But amazingly the Devils would once again intercept a Bucks pass. This time Clegg would step in front of the intended receiver at their own 38-yard line. Clegg's interception gave the Devils one more shot to win the game with 2:02 remaining.
Clegg would hit 4 of 6 passes, moving the ball down to the Bucks 19-yard line. However, his third down pass would be incomplete, leaving the Devils in a fourth and two situation at the Buck 19-yard line with just 29 seconds remaining. Hake sent out his kicker Parker Clegg out to attempt a 36-yard field goal, howver before the kick was made Hake would reconsider and call a time out.
After the time out, the Devils would come back on the field with their offensive unit in place. They would try a quick pass to the left sideline to Cooper, but the attempt was batted down, sealing the game for the Bucks.
The Bucks had scored on their first possession on the night when Adkins ran in from 7-yards out at the 6:04 mark of the first quarter, and he would add a 14-yard run at 4:20 in the second quarter.
The Devils scored midway through the second quarter on a Clegg to Thomas Benyo 24-yard pass, and a Clegg 5-yard run on the last play of the first half.
On the night Bolton would rush for 144 yards on 20 carries, while Clegg would run for 39 yards and a touchdown, and hit 13 of 24 passes for 158 yards and a TD.
Western Reserve finishes the night with a very impressive 13-1 record, and the first ITCL team to reach State's.
