It was another big Friday night for area teams in the OHSAA football playoffs, with several local programs advancing to the regional semifinals.
Urbana, Graham, Mechanicsburg and Riverside all picked up playoff victories, including a major road upset by the Hillclimbers over previously unbeaten North College Hill.
There were also several other notable results involving Central Buckeye Conference, Ohio Heritage Conference, Three Rivers Conference and Midwest Athletic Conference teams as the postseason continued across the state.
Division IV – Region 16 (Regional Quarterfinals)
No. 5 Urbana (9-3) 45, No. 4 North College Hill (9-1) 38
The full replay of the contest is available on-demand for free on PeakofOhioTV.com HERE and on Roku.
Urbana pulled off a major playoff upset Friday night, knocking off previously unbeaten North College Hill 45-38 on the road to advance to the Division IV regional semifinals.
The No. 5-seeded Hillclimbers improved to 9-3, handing No. 4 North College Hill its first loss of the season.
Urbana got off to a wild start when a botched handoff by the Trojans ricocheted into the hands of Braxten Spriggs, who returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. North College Hill answered with a 56-yard touchdown run by quarterback Torii Lipscomb to tie the game at 7-7.
Grady Lantz put Urbana back in front with a one-yard touchdown run, and Riley Mounce added a 21-yard field goal early in the second quarter.
The Trojans battled back with a touchdown pass from Lipscomb, but Lantz found Carson Stokes for a four-yard touchdown just before halftime to give Urbana a 24-14 lead.
The Hillclimbers opened the second half with a trick play. Lantz tossed a backward pass to Carter Houseman, who threw downfield to a wide-open Drew Dixon for a 40-yard touchdown and a 31-14 lead.
North College Hill continued to fight back, but Urbana answered each time. Lantz connected with Dixon again on a seven-yard touchdown pass before finding Spriggs for a 15-yard score in the fourth quarter.
The Trojans pulled within seven points late in the game, but Urbana’s offense picked up a crucial first down in the final minute to run out the clock and secure the victory.
Grady Lantz accounted for five total touchdowns, including two rushing scores and three touchdown passes, as he led the Hillclimbers to the upset victory.
Urbana will now face Central Buckeye Conference rival Kenton Ridge in the regional semifinals. The Cougars advanced with a 28-21 upset of top-seeded Wyoming.
Kenton Ridge defeated Urbana 20-17 during the regular season.
Division V – Region 20 (Regional Quarterfinals)
No. 1 Graham (10-1) 53, No. 8 Arcanum (7-5) 20
The full replay of the contest is available on-demand for free on PeakofOhioTV.com HERE and on Roku.
Graham continued its historic season Friday night, rolling past Arcanum 53-20 to advance in the Division V playoffs.
The No. 1-seeded Falcons improved to 10-1 and put together another dominant performance, highlighted by a record-setting night from Danny Hoke.
Graham wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. After opening the game with a successful onside kick, the Falcons put together a scoring drive capped by an 11-yard touchdown run from Donovan Corwin.
The defense came up with a big stop on fourth down, and Graham quickly turned it into another score. Danny Hoke punched it in from a yard out to make it 14-0.
Hoke added two more rushing touchdowns in the first half, giving him four before halftime. Jakob Hoke also broke loose for a 29-yard touchdown run as Graham carried a commanding 40-14 lead into the locker room.
Arcanum got on the scoreboard with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Weston Schmidt to Raysean Miles. Miles also returned a kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, but Graham continued to answer.
The Falcons added to their lead in the second half when Danny Hoke scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the night. Brody Jenkins later added a 20-yard touchdown run to help seal the 53-20 victory.
Danny Hoke made history, setting his career single-game record with five rushing touchdowns. He finished with 108 yards on 16 carries.
Jakob Hoke also had a big night, rushing for 153 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. Corwin and Jenkins each added a rushing score.
Graham will now face No. 4-seeded Waynesville in the next round. The Spartans advanced with a 35-14 win over No. 12 Preble Shawnee.
Division VI – Region 24 (Regional Quarterfinals)
No. 6 Mechanicsburg (10-2) 33, No. 3 Zane Trace (9-2) 14
The full replay of the contest is available on-demand for free on PeakofOhioTV.com HERE and on Roku.
Mechanicsburg continued its playoff run Friday night, pulling away in the fourth quarter for a 33-14 road victory over No. 3-seeded Zane Trace.
The No. 6-seeded Indians improved to 10-2 and will advance to the regional semifinals.
Mechanicsburg struck first in the opening quarter when Aidan O’Neal broke free for a 14-yard touchdown run, giving the Indians a 7-0 lead.
Both defenses came up with big stops in the first half before Zane Trace tied the game with a 49-yard touchdown pass from Bryson Payne to Hudson Williams late in the second quarter.
The Pioneers took their first lead early in the third quarter when Brice Johnson scored on a 25-yard touchdown run to make it 14-7.
Mechanicsburg answered with a pair of touchdown runs from quarterback Matthew Davis. His first came on a 12-yard keeper, and he followed it with a 41-yard touchdown run down the left sideline to put the Indians back in front 19-14.
The Indians took control in the fourth quarter. After stopping Zane Trace on fourth down, O’Neal broke loose for a 64-yard run to set up a one-yard touchdown run by Davis. Davis added the two-point conversion to extend the lead to 27-14.
Mechanicsburg’s defense continued to shut down the Pioneers, and an interception by Camryn Runyon helped set up another short touchdown run by Davis to seal the 33-14 victory.
Davis accounted for four touchdowns on the night, while O’Neal provided a big spark with his rushing performance.
Mechanicsburg will now face No. 2-seeded Deer Park in the regional semifinals. The Wildcats are 10-1 after opening the playoffs with a 44-10 win over Covington.
Division VII – Region 28 (Regional Quarterfinals)
No. 3 Riverside (9-2) 49, No. 6 Cincinnati Country Day (6-6) 13
The full replay of the contest is available on-demand for free on PeakofOhioTV.com HERE and on Roku.
Riverside continued its playoff run in impressive fashion Friday night, rolling past Cincinnati Country Day 49-13 to advance to the next round of the Division VI playoffs.
The No. 3-seeded Pirates improved to 9-2, using a dominant rushing attack and strong defensive performance to pull away from the No. 6-seeded Indians.
Country Day scored first with a one-yard touchdown run from Levi Guttman, but Riverside quickly answered. Justin Mazariegos scored on a four-yard run before Gunner Carpenter added a 15-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter to give the Pirates a 14-6 lead.
Carpenter found the end zone again with a 23-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and Dylan Trimble added a nine-yard scoring run to give Riverside a 28-6 halftime advantage.
The Pirates continued to build on that lead in the second half. Trimble scored his second touchdown on a three-yard run, and Carpenter added another big play, catching a 53-yard touchdown pass from Brody Orsborne to make it 42-6.
Brayden Moore added a nine-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter before Country Day scored its final touchdown late in the game.
Carpenter led the way with 151 rushing yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries. He also caught a 53-yard touchdown pass to finish with three total scores.
Trimble added two rushing touchdowns, while Mazariegos and Moore each scored once.
Riverside outgained Country Day 422-188 in total yards and held the Indians to just 84 passing yards.
The Pirates will now face Midwest Athletic Conference opponent No. 7 New Bremen, which knocked off No. 2 Ansonia 27-12 to advance.
CBC
No. 9 Kenton Ridge 28 (D4, R16)
No. 1 Wyoming 21
No. 7 Valley View 13
No. 2 London 27 (D4, R16)OHC
No. 10 Greenon 20
No. 2 Williamsburg 61 (D5, R20)
No. 6 Waterford 21 (D6, R23)
No. 3 West Jefferson 14TRC
No. 6 Bishop Fenwick 34 (D5, R20)
No. 3 Miami East 0
No. 10 Covington 10
No. 2 Deer Park 44 (D6, R24)
NWCC
No. 5 Mohawk 52 (D7, R26)
No. 4 North Baltimore 20MAC
No. 8 Fort Loramie 0
No. 1 Marion Local 49 (D7, R28)
No. 9 St. Henry 49 (D6, R24)
No. 1 Tri-Village 14
No. 7 New Bremen 27 (D7, R28)
No. 2 Ansonia 12
No. 12 Fort Recovery 7
No. 4 Minster 49 (D7, R28)
No. 10 Coldwater 35 (D5, R18)
No. 2 Triway 13
No. 12 Versailles 35 (D6, R24)
No. 4 Cincinnati College Prep 10
