Tipp’s Grant Titley hauls in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Larkin Thomas in the first quarter. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Lee Woolery)
The Red Devils scored four touchdowns – two on defense – in the fourth quarter to steal the momentum from London and reach the Division III state semifinals for the second time in four years.
Fairborn, OH – Athletes like to say they never doubt themselves after a rousing comeback victory. But we know better.
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Fear of failure in season-on-the-line moments is real.
In a battle of unbeatens, Tippecanoe trailed London by nine points early in the fourth quarter Friday night in the Division III, Region 12 final. Everyone on the Red Devils’ sideline and in the stands behind them felt that pit in their stomach.
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“There was definitely some doubt,” junior quarterback Larkin Thomas said.
“I was getting a little worried,” senior defensive back and receiver Max Deckard said.
But giving up was not an option, not one, according to Deckard, head coach Matt Burgbacher would ever let happen. After all, the goal since the end of the regular season was to practice on Thanksgiving.
Hold the turkey.
The Red Devils will be on the practice field Thursday morning. Because in a 180-degree shift of the universe, they scored 26 points on four touchdowns in the fourth quarter – two defensive ones by Deckard – to stun the Red Raiders 33-16 at Skyhawk Stadium.
London’s Bryston Toronto scores on a 12-yard run the gave the Red Raiders a 16-7 led early in the fourth quarter and a short-lived feeling of momentum.
“So proud of all these boys because it would have been easy down 16-7 to give in and quit,” Burgbacher said. “You name the adjective you want to use tonight. Our kids showed that perseverance is obviously the one.”
The Red Devils will play in the state semifinals for the second time in four years next Friday against unbeaten and defending state champion Columbus Watterson, a 43-0 winner over Steubenville, at a location to be announced.
“I got a headache, but I’ll tell you what, I’m just so happy for those kids because they earned this victory tonight, and I’m proud … proud, being in the state final four,” Burgbacher said. “But we’re not satisfied. I know we got a tough task next week, but I know they’re gonna give us everything they got.”
He knows that because he’s seen it all season, but never with more drive than in the fourth quarter.
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Tipp built its season on big plays. And right on cue and down 16-7, struggling to run the ball consistently or throw it consistently in the rain, Thomas and Deckard found the spark. London chased Thomas out of the pocket to his left. Thomas threw a floater across his body that looked headed out of bounds.
Tipp’s Max Deckard makes a sideline catch that started the momentum turn and helped lead to the first of four fourth-quarter touchdowns.
But Deckard made the catch, toe-tapping both feet in bounds for a 22-yard gain to the London 40.
“I saw Larkin was getting pressured,” Deckard said. “I was like, ‘Oh, no, it can’t go down like this.’ He threw it up and I caught it. Couldn’t believe I was in bounds.”
Thomas felt the jolt of the play.
“We needed an electric play to get us going,” he said. “Max made an amazing catch.”
Deckard got open again on the next play and drew a pass interference penalty to advance the ball to the 25. Then, from shotgun formation, Thomas ran a draw play 25 yards to the end zone. In three plays, plus the penalty, the Red Devils traveled 72 yards to cut their deficit to 16-14 with 10:33 left.
The 16-14 score was significant. Last year the Red Devils lost to St. Mary’s 16-14 in the second round. That score has been on display in the Tipp locker room for almost a year.
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“I actually looked up at the score,” Deckard said, “and I was like, ‘I’m not letting it go down like this. It can’t. Not again.’”
Deckard wiped that bad memory off the scoreboard 48 seconds later.
Tipp quarterback Larkin Thomas heads for the end zone on a 25-yard run that started the comeback.
London’s deceptive double-wing offense ran what is a normal play for them, one they had run previously in the game: a double handoff and reverse. But at the second handoff, James Merry forced a fumble. Deckard picked up the football and raced 15 yards for a touchdown to give Tipp a 20-16 lead.
“No one realized that the ball was out I don’t think except me – it was right in front of me,” Deckard said. “I was just hoping I didn’t fumble it when I picked it up. The easiest touchdowns are the hardest, they always say.”
The swing in the momentum continued when London, an offense that had attempted only 23 passes all season, asked quarterback Blake Reay to throw on third-and-eight. But he was sacked by the avalanche of Ryan Kolb, Drew Husic and Merry.
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Tipp answered with a 44-yard, five-play drive sparked by a 25-yard pop pass to Will Strong around the left end and capped by Xavier Melton’s six-yard touchdown run. In the space of 5 minutes and 19 seconds, the Red Devils scored three touchdowns to take a 26-16 lead.
“This far in the playoffs, versus a team that has got to run the clock, momentum is everything,” Thomas said.
Then Deckard, flush with momentum, finished off the Red Raiders, whose chances were slim anyway because of their lack of a passing game. Reay tried to find a receiver to his left, but all he found was Deckard for a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown and the final points.
“I saw the ball coming, I didn’t know if I had a chance, it’s wet outside,” Deckard said. “Sure enough I got there, returned it back for a touchdown. It was unbelievable.”
Deckard returned an interception for a touchdown in Week 6 against Sidney. But the fumble return touchdown was a first, and two defensive touchdowns in one game was a first. Those plays and the sideline catch that started the comeback add up the game of his life.
Tipp senior Xavier Melton does the honors with a cold water bath for head coach Matt Burgbacher.
“It’s actually funny because Coach Burgbacher all week was saying, ‘We’re all gonna play the best games of our lives tonight,’” Deckard said. “And sure enough.”
Overall numbers, other than Deckard scoring twice the way he did, don’t add up to career statistical nights for anyone else.
Thomas rushed for 87 yards and passed for 139. He put Tipp up 7-0 late in the first half on a 45-yard touchdown pass to Grant Titley, who had three catches for 57 yards. Strong, who caught 77 passes this year, caught three for 30 yards, all on those little pop pass, jet sweep plays. Melton, a 1,200-yard rusher, gained 58 yards on 16 carries.
But they all made momentous plays in the fourth quarter, plays that will be remembered as some of the best of their careers. The numbers will be forgotten.
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And the defense shut down London’s vaunted rushing attack, which had gained momentum in the third quarter and started to look like the offense that averaged 8.5 yards a carry this season. But three scoring drives, the first aided by a successful pass on a fake punt in the first half, weren’t enough. The Raiders rushed for 155 yards but averaged only 4.1 yards a carry.
Tipp celebrates its second regional championship in four seasons.
So here the Red Devils are for the second time in school history. Sparked by the 16-14 memory of a year ago and a fourth quarter for the ages.
“We expected to go farther than last year,” Deckard said. “We played with that chip on our shoulder. Our motto all year was unfinished business.”
Burgbacher had plans to go a lot farther this week than wherever his team plays against Watterson.
“Well, my wife and daughter will be down at Disney,” he said. “I’m glad I had to cancel the trip for myself. I’m gonna enjoy it. We’re gonna eat some turkey. We’re going to practice. I’ll wait till Christmas break to enjoy that downtime.”
The coach won’t be in the sunshine, but he won’t miss it. He will spend his downtime alone in the dark studying all the game film he wants with no interruptions.
That alone time every day, then the state semifinal on Friday with his team, will be Burgbacher’s happiest places on Earth.
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