See a photo gallery from the game here. MASSILLON, Ohio — Twelve minutes might seem trivial during a 720-minute football season, but it was pivotal Friday for Columbus Bishop Hartley.
See a photo gallery from the game here.
MASSILLON, Ohio — Twelve minutes might seem trivial during a 720-minute football season, but it was pivotal Friday for Columbus Bishop Hartley.
The Hawks' fourth-quarter domination was too much for Chagrin Falls to overcome in a 34-13 Division IV title-game victory at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.
The win gave unranked Hartley (13-2) its seventh straight victory and its second state title. Chagrin Falls (13-2), ranked No. 12 in the final state poll, was sent home with a second-straight runner-up finish.
"When you're down, 20-13, but have the momentum, you've got to put your foot on the gas and close the door," said Chagrin Falls coach Mark Iammarino.
Iammarino was referring to Hartley's response after his Tigers closed the gap with 2:17 left in the third quarter on Kurt Vidmer's 2-yard touchdown. It capped a six-play, 37-yard drive set up by Spencer Diedrich's 25-yard punt return and a facemask infraction against Hartley.
The Hawks answered by scoring two touchdowns during a three-minute span.
Quarterback Austin Underwood connected with Jacob Matuska for a 10-yard touchdown pass during a six-play, 65-yard march sparked when Omar Lane turned a second-and-21 situation into a 48-yard gain.
"That was like the straw," said Iammarino.
Lane explained how the big-gainer came on a buck-sweep.
"I had a great block from JaWaun Woodley, who set up the edge for me," Lane said.
Hartley immediately got the ball back when Drake Jones pounced on an onside kick on Chagrin Falls' 46. Jones was a thorn in the Tigers' side, adding an interception and a blocked field goal to his effort.
Six plays later, the Hawks had a 34-13 lead when Noah Key scored on a 17-yard jaunt as part of a game-best, 130-yard performance.
Chagrin Falls was forced to play catch-up all day because the Hawks quickly went ahead, 14-0.
Hartley scored on its first play from scrimmage when Lane, who rushed for 117 yards, scampered around right end for a 52-yard touchdown as Brent Wable kicked the extra points.
The Hawks pulled ahead, 14-0, four minutes later on Underwood's 43-yard touchdown pass in the left flat to Woodley, capping a six-play, 57-yard drive.
"It's a little disheartening when you prep all week and they come out and score two quick ones, but it's a testament to our guys," said Iammarino. "It was big plays in the first half and when you have a team with a lot of speed, like they do, that can happen."
Most of Falls' 95 rushing yardage came between the tackles as Bradley Munday had a team-high 38 yards.
"[Hartley] plays a 3-3-stack and that's a quick defense," said Tigers' two-way senior tackle Dan Driscoll. "We just needed to get better blocking on the edge."
Hartley extended its lead to 20-0 less than a minute into the second quarter on Key's 60-yard touchdown, the finishing touch of a 10-play, 88-yard march where the Hawks' fake punt kept the drive alive.'
"We're going to do everything to win that game," said Hawks coach Brad Burchfield. "Whether it's an on-side kick or fake punt, as many possessions as you can get is huge."
Chagrin Falls got on the board with 6:46 left before intermission on Tommy Iammarino's 11-yard touchdown pass to Munday. It was the 10th play of a 61-yard drive that included Diedrich's 12-yard pass to Munday off a triple reverse.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:bfortuna@plaind.com, 216-999-4665