MASSILLON, Ohio -- Running back Terrell Bates collapsed to his hands and knees. Tears filled wideout Colin McManamon's eyes. Defensive back Frank Finotti gave assistant coach Bill Rockwell a long, strong hug. These weren't emotions brought on by a tough loss. Rather, they reflected just how much getting to the state championship game meant to St. Edward's football team...
MASSILLON, Ohio -- Running back Terrell Bates collapsed to his hands and knees. Tears filled wideout Colin McManamon's eyes. Defensive back Frank Finotti gave assistant coach Bill Rockwell a long, strong hug.
These weren't emotions brought on by a tough loss. Rather, they reflected just how much getting to the state championship game meant to St. Edward's football team after one of the biggest victories in school history Saturday in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Behind a strong second half in all three phases of the game, the Eagles defeated Toledo Whitmer, 23-13, in a Division I state semifinal.
"Words can't describe it. I've been coming to St. Eds games since the second grade and I have been here every season," said McManamon, a senior. "To be have the chance to be the first ever [state champ], it's unreal."
Bates, who rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown, felt relief.
"We were 4-6 last year and now we're 14-0. It's a great feeling. This is where I wanted to be, in the title game," Bates said. "We were determined to get to Canton."
St. Edward, seeking its first state title, advanced to its fourth final next Saturday in Canton. The Eagles (14-0) play Huber Heights Wayne (11-3), which emerged from the deep Cincinnati region and knocked off defending state champ Hilliard Davidson, 28-14, on Saturday. Wayne features Ohio State quarterback recruit Braxton Miller.
Before the season, St. Edward coach Greg Finotti gave players a pamphlet that included a photo of Fawcett Stadium, site of the final. The same picture hangs in the weight room. In a fiery postgame speech, Finotti reminded his players of that photo.
"We're painting a picture of St Eds, the 2010 season, and Canton Fawcett Stadium, and Saturday, we're going there!" Finotti said to a loud cheer.
St. Edward finished with 372 yards of offense, including 253 on the ground. Quarterback Kevin Burke ran for 68 yards and a TD. After completing one pass in the first half, he was 8-of-12 for 119 yards and a touchdown.
Tied at 7 at the half, the St. Edward defense and special teams chipped in with big plays in the second half while the offense got untracked.
Defensive back Rob Coury recovered a Whitmer fumble at the St. Edward 40 after a Don Pavlov strip on the second play of the third quarter, which led to a St. Edward touchdown four plays later.
One play after getting clobbered by Ohio State recruit Kenny Hayes (6-6, 255), the tougher-than-he-looks Burke (5-10, 180) powered his way to the end zone on a 22-yard run, breaking two tackles and bouncing off another defender.
St. Edward defensive end Deonte Gibson partially blocked a Whitmer punt that traveled 13 yards to the Whitmer 44. A 34-yard catch by Grant took the Eagles to the 6. Whitmer narrowly averted intercepting a deflected pass in the end zone on third down, and Mike DiNunzio kicked a 23-yard field goal, pushing the Eagles' lead to 16-7.
Taking advantage of some mismatches with his receivers, Burke passed and ran 59 yards on a 66-yard drive that ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Quincy Jones for a 23-7 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. The Eagles defense followed up with another big play, forcing a fumble that defensive tackle Tom Lally recovered at the St. Edward 6.
Whitmer scored on a six-yard run by quarterback Alex Palicki with 2:42 remaining, then recovered the onside kick, causing some nervous moments until Gibson sacked Palicki and defensive tackle Greg Kuhar recovered.
St. Edward opened the game with a vintage Eagles drive, 12 plays (11 runs), 78 yards as the offensive line ripped huge holes in Whitmer's talented front four. Bates and Burke combined for 71 yards, and Bates scored on seven-yard sprint to the left corner.
"We knew we were going against two great guys in [defensive ends] Kenny Hayes, who's going to Ohio State, and Chris Wormley," said St. Edward tackle Kyle Kalis, also an OSU recruit. "We just played our game and came out hard, and I don't think they could handle it."
Whitmer (12-2) didn't wilt. The Panthers held St. Edward to one first down the remainder of the half and put together two solid drives. Sprinting to his left, the left-handed Palicki made a nice pass just inside the sideline 11 yards to wideout Denzel Brown for a touchdown and a 7-7 tie at the end of a 59-yard drive.
Whitmer also drove 59 yards at the end of the second quarter, but missed a 27-yard field goal as time expired.