Big Walnut’s Nolan Buirley eludes Canal Winchester defender Brody Harmon during the Eagles’ 35-0 regional semifinal rout of the Indians. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Angie Greenwood)
Led by a defense that forced four turnovers, the defending regional-champion Golden Eagles again will face Massillon Washington for the Division II, Region 7 title.
Sunbury, OH – Coming up with enough superlatives to describe Big Walnut’s defense is becoming quite the challenge.
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As the Golden Eagles celebrated a 35-0 win Friday over fourth-seeded Canal Winchester that represents their third consecutive shutout victory, coach Curtis Crager took a crack at it.
“Honestly they love one another,” Crager said. “They play hard for each other. They have fun, and they have a belief in themselves. They’re coachable. They’re talented, too, but they’re playing with an extreme amount of confidence.”
Those points from Crager regarding Big Walnut’s talent and confidence figure to be put to the test as the top-seeded squad prepares for another regional-final matchup with Massillon Washington, which is seeded third in Division II, Region 7 and is coming off a 48-14 pounding Friday at second-seeded DeSales.
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The Golden Eagles, who are the region’s top seed, lost to the Tigers in regional semifinals in both 2021 and ’22 but edged Massillon 14-7 in last year’s regional title game before losing in a state semifinal to Cincinnati Anderson.
While the Tigers are 9-3 but with only one loss to a team from Ohio, Big Walnut is 11-1 and hasn’t lost since falling to still-undefeated defending Division III state champion Watterson in its opener.
“We really focus in practice a lot, making sure we’re all communicating right,” senior wide receiver and defensive back Brody Hatfield said. “The effort’s not the issue. It’s just getting all of us to be on the same page. It’s shown defensively and offensively the last three weeks.
“(Massillon is) going to be the best team we’ve played all year – week one was a little bit different – but we’re going to go into it like any other team. We respect them and they’re a good program, but we’re going to game plan. Our coaches do a great job scouting, so we’ll get the scouting report and execute it to the best we can.”
Setting up Big Walnut’s latest blowout win was a defense that caused the Indians to turn it over in three of their first four possessions.
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The early miscues helped the Golden Eagles build a 21-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
“Our defense played well,” Crager said. “They had a few self-inflicted wounds that they weren’t accustomed to, which helped our cause obviously, but we have the utmost respect for (Canal Winchester) coach (Rob) Page and their staff. I don’t know if they played their best tonight, but I’m so happy for our kids and the way they played in all three phases of the game.”
Big Walnut’s TJ Minor chases down Canal Winchester quarterback Quinton McGhee.
After forcing a three-and-out on Canal Winchester’s opening possession, Big Walnut junior running back Nolan Buirley took a swing pass from junior quarterback and sprinted for a 60-yard touchdown to make it 7-0.
A fumble by the Indians that was picked up by Golden Eagles sophomore defensive lineman TJ Minor set up another score, this time a 1-yard run by Buirley with 6:10 left in the opening quarter. A 27-yard pass completion from Stumpf to senior tight end Owen Pollock came on the play before that touchdown.
Two plays into Canal Winchester’s next drive, Big Walnut senior defensive lineman Dallas Biehl recovered another fumble.
The Golden Eagles started the possession on the Indians 29 and made them pay again, with Stumpf hooking up for a 21-yard reception to Hatfield and Buirley running for an 8-yard touchdown that made it 21-0 with 4:52 to go in the opening quarter.
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An interception by Big Walnut’s Brady Taylor came on the first play of the next drive to keep his team’s momentum going.
It was a tough way for the season to end for Canal Winchester and first-year coach Rob Page, who was Big Walnut’s coach from 2020-22 when the program went 27-9.
The Eagles’ defense pitched the shutout with stops like this on Canal Winchester’s Jamari Snow.
The Indians finished 10-2.
“At the end of the day, the No. 1 thing you can’t do is turn the ball over, and we did,” Page said. “Huge credit to them. They’re physical up front. We couldn’t get the run established, which allows us to be more balanced and do play-action, and it’s a testament to those guys up front. Coach Crager did a great job putting a plan together and they played really hard, so hats off to them.
“I’m not going to base success off of wins and losses, but I really think we maximized this group and we’re going to try to do the same thing next year.”
Buirley, who was Central District co-offensive player of the year, gave Big Walnut a 28-0 lead when he burst for a 56-yard touchdown run with 4:50 to go before halftime.
On a 29-yard carry early in the third period, Buirley surpassed 2,000 yards rushing on the season.
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“I love where we’re headed,” Buirley said. “We’ve been playing together since the third grade, so it’s been amazing. I’m really good friends with everyone on this team.
Big Walnut’s Brody Hatfield is forced out of bounds by Indian defender Jett Craycraft.
“(Rushing for 2,000 yards) means a lot, but we just want to keep going. It’ll mean a lot more if we go farther.”
Finding ways to describe the talent of Buirley – who finished with 23 rushes for 208 yards and four touchdowns and added two receptions for 74 yards and one score as well as averaging 40 yards on two punts – also wasn’t a challenge for Crager.
“He’s a phenomenal young man,” Buirley said. “Sometimes he does it when the blocking’s not there, but he always gives all the credit to the offensive line and everyone that’s blocking for him. He’s a special kid, and I’m glad we have him.”
With 9:30 remaining and the game in a running clock, Minor picked up his second fumble recovery to help anchor a defense that held Canal Winchester to (minus)-20 yards rushing.
Senior linebacker Eli Helton, senior defensive lineman Maston Yano, and senior defensive back Jake Neff were among the other standouts according to Crager.
“We’re just bonded,” Minor said. “We build a brick wall and you can’t break it down. We all have the same goal.”
The next one on that list is beating Massillon, which will be going for its 17th regional championship.
Big Walnut’s only previous regional titles before last season came in 2007 when it won the Division III state championship and in 2008 when it lost in a state semifinal.
“We’re going to enjoy this tonight and then get to work on (Massillon),” Crager said. “I’m sure they’re wanting us, which is fine. We’re happy to oblige.”
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