CANTON, Ohio -- With flashes of brilliance on offense and riding a defense that was both intimidating and unrelenting, Buchtel will finish the football season exactly where it started. Under-rated but not under-appreciated, the Griffins rolled over previously undefeated and top-ranked Alliance Marlington on Saturday, 52-8, in a Division III state semifinal game in Fawcett Stadium.
CANTON, Ohio -- With flashes of brilliance on offense and riding a defense that was both intimidating and unrelenting, Buchtel will finish the football season exactly where it started.
Under-rated but not under-appreciated, the Griffins rolled over previously undefeated and top-ranked Alliance Marlington on Saturday, 52-8, in a Division III state semifinal game in Fawcett Stadium.
After opening the season with a resounding victory at Massillon, the unranked Griffins will return to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium to play Columbus Bishop Watterson (12-1) for the state championship on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Elapsed time between the two games will be 100 days and there has to be symbolism there somewhere.
Buchtel's 11th victory of the season might not have been a thing of beauty. The Griffins, who will be playing for the school's third state title but its first since 1987, were penalized 13 times for 107 yards.
But, many ills can be cured when your offense rolls up 425 yards on 56 plays and your defense holds the opposition to 157 yards. Marlington, ranked first in the final state poll and boasting the Stark County player of the year in running back Alden Hill, did not score until 3:15 remained.
While the Griffins had a galaxy of stars, no one stood out more than wide receiver Corey Smith and quarterback Steve Parker, who hit Smith in stride with a 60-yard touchdown pass on Buchtel's first play from scrimmage. The Griffs were off and running.
The Griffins were able to build a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on two touchdowns, two failed extra-point attempts and a safety. A personal foul call against Hill on a punt helped pin the Dukes on their 7 on Marlington's second possession. Quarterback Jesse Carpenter covered a poor snap from center that rolled into the end zone for a safety.
Smith, who is being recruited by Ohio State, LSU, Oregon and Michigan State, put on a show on Buchtel's first possession of the second quarter when it went 90 yards in three plays.
On the first play he made a circus catch over a defender for a 47-yard gain. On the second he made an even more spectacular catch when he climbed over a defender and wrestled the ball away while falling to the ground for a 38-yard gain. On the third play Parker ran five yards for the score.
"Steve just told me to run and get the ball and he just threw the ball up," said Smith, 6-0, 175 pounds. "The corner was playing me to the outside and the safety was over the top. I just ran a seam and tried to get back to the outside and I just jumped."
Smith finished with five receptions for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
Offensive coordinator Rayshon Dent calls Smith the Magic Man. "The guy runs routes that most high school kids can't cover," said Dent.
Parker completed seven of 11 passes for 205 yards and three touchdowns and ran 19 times for another 129 yards.
Then there was the defense.
Led by linebacker Dantonio Parmer, end Devonte Blackwell and linebacker De'Andre Prince, all seniors, the Griffins forced three turnovers and stifled the Dukes (13-1) at practically every turn. Hill, who had rushed for 2,191 yards, was held to 54 yards on 15 carries. Teammate Dymonte Thomas, who had 1,643 rushing yards entering the game, was held to 23 yards on 11 carries.
Carpenter, who had accounted for 1,537 yards rushing and passing, gained eight yards rushing and completed seven of 12 passes for 82 yards.
"The defense came to play," said head coach Ricky Powers, the star of Buchtel's last state championship. "We didn't do anything special to defend against those two backs. We just felt if we played our type of defense things would work out."