Lochlann Speakman was all over this pass to Berlin tight end Lincoln Cuckler, but Cuckler won the scuffle for a critical gain. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Brian Bayless)
A 60-yard touchdown connection from Colton Less to Dallen Maxson late in the third quarter was about all the offense Olentangy Berlin needed to come away with another tight win. Next up: A rematch at undefeated, top-seeded Olentangy Orange.
Delaware, OH – Since Olentangy Berlin’s doors opened in the fall of 2018, the football team has developed a penchant for lulling opponents into close games and — more often than not — winning them.
Huffer Chiropractic can help your athlete perform at their best – with offices in Osgood, Jackson Center, and Dublin, Ohio.
The numbers don’t lie. Since the program’s inception, the Bears are 23-15 in one-score games. And many of the gut-wrenching defeats have come to elite teams, further solidifying Berlin’s brand as a well-coached, resilient and tough opponent to put away.
“All I know is that all of these close games don’t make me any younger,” said Mark Nori, Berlin’s first and only coach.
Veteran central Ohio columnist Steve Blackledge writes the OCC and sports at large for Press Pros.
On a nippy Halloween night, the trick for eighth-seeded Berlin was to lean on its rock-solid defense and be just efficient and mistake-free enough on offense to keep ninth-seeded Grove City’s high-powered aerial attack off the field. The treat was an oh-so-typical 12-7 win in a first-round Division I, Region 3 playoff game.
Just one week after stifling once-beaten Olentangy, which came in scoring 34.2 points per game, to the tune of 14-10, Berlin pulled off a similar feat against a fast-paced, no-huddle Grove City offense scoring 32.5.
“We had some intense practices this week, and we were going a lot faster,” Nori said. “The way they like to play, we knew it was going to be a unique challenge. No doubt, our defense kept us in the game again tonight.”
Grove City’s Justin Higgins mixes it up in the trenches with Berlin’s Jaxon Cook.
Grove City mustered just 116 yards of offense and nine first downs, with the majority of those coming in its only scoring drive late in the first half.
“The whole strategy for us was to stop No. 16 (receiver Owen Steele),” Berlin senior defensive back Braylon Lopez said. “We were trying to stay over the top and play the ball, and just don’t make any mistakes.”
Lopez covered Steele, who came in with 50 receptions for 1,099 yards and 13 touchdowns, and did yeoman’s work. Steele made five receptions for just 31 yards and Lopez was rewarded with a drive-ending interception midway through the third quarter.
Because Berlin’s offense is not exactly a big-play juggernaut, coming in scoring 17.6 points per game, this matchup of 5-5 teams stayed tight throughout.
At one point midway through the second quarter, Berlin had outgained Grove City 154-5 and owned a 10-1 advantage in first downs. But all the Bears had to show for it was field goals of 34 and 36 yards by Graham Phlegar for a 6-0 lead.
Logan Services, in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, proudly sponsors the best area sports coverage on Press Pros Magazine.
The Greyhounds finally found their footing late in the half, capitalizing on excellent field position to drive 51 yards in 3:20 seconds for their only score.
On third-and-goal from the 8, left-handed quarterback Carson Welsh, rolling to his right, unleashed a hurried pass off his back foot to running back Blake Jackson in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Berlin’s Grant Gibson wraps up Landon Haskins late in the first half. Grove City eventually scored on this series with just 7 seconds remaining in the first half.
Grove City’s 7-6 lead held up deep into the third quarter when Berlin quarterback Colton Less hit Dallen Maxson on a short pass near the sideline. Maxson made a juke move, sending a Greyhound defender flying, then raced down the sideline for a 60-yard TD. The two-point conversion try failed.
“They were crashing down so we tried to throw a quick one outside,” Less said. “Dallen did the rest.”
Maxson, who made seven receptions for 127 yards, said he thought he thought he could catch the Greyhound defender over-pursuing.
“They were biting on it and, somehow, I got free,” Maxson said. “It felt great getting into the end zone. We had gotten into the red zone a few other times and only come away with three.”
After the score, Berlin – with timely short passes and physical inside running — sustained drives long enough to preserve the win. The Bears were able to take a knee near the Grove City goal line at the end of an 11-play drive that chewed up the final 6:26 off the clock.
Want a greener, healthier lawn? We can help. contact Weedman USA at 614-733-3747 or go online to Weedman.com.
“We were better running the ball tonight, especially toward the end of the game, and proved to be very important,” Nori said.
Added Less, “Basically, we were just taking what they gave us.”
Dallen Maxson pulls down one of his seven receptions for a total of 127 yards and a game-winning TD.
Grove City coach Greg Waits, while disappointed, lauded Berlin’s defense.
“We weren’t very good offensively, but their defense is pretty good,” he said. “We just couldn’t get anything established or get into any kind of flow. I thought our defense played really well, but their defense was the story of the game. Berlin is as good as anybody we’ve faced all year defensively.”
After opening 0-5, courtesy of respective losses by 1, 3 and 6 points to perennial powers DeSales, Olentangy Liberty and Upper Arlington, Berlin has run off six straight wins, yielding just 40 points in the process.
“It’s all about the kids’ resolve and consistency,” Nori said.
Any the ability to win these sorts of close games.
Berlin went 5-2 in games decided by seven or fewer points in 2024 and 4-1 in 2023. Those teams, 10-3 and 11-2, respectively, both reached the regional semifinal.
Next up for the Bears (6-5) is a tussle with intra-district rival and top-seeded Olentangy Orange (11-0). The Pioneers, second-ranked in the Associated Press state poll, handed the Bears their last defeat 31-7 on Sept. 19.
“We want another chance at them,” Maxson said. “I guess you could say this is kind of a revenge game.”
As fate would have it, another Region 3 quarterfinal will pit sixth-seeded Olentangy Liberty (7-4) at fifth-seeded Olentangy (8-2). The Braves won the season-opening matchup at Liberty 26-6.
Aptus Wealth Management proudly sponsors the Buckeyes and Central Ohio sports on Press Pros.