Nolan Buirley gets gang-tackled by a pesky and determined Anderson defensive squad. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Angie Greenwood)
The Raptors struck early on the strength of standout quarterback Owen Scalf and then held off the Golden Eagles’ comeback attempt to advance to the title game.
Columbus, OH – Big Walnut had one of the most smothering defenses in the state this season, producing five shutouts and giving up just 8.5 points per game while winning 12 of its first 13 games, including capturing its second consecutive Division II Region 7 championship.
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The Golden Eagles’ pass defense was particularly effective, limiting opponents to an average of 114.3 passing yards, with only seven touchdowns and 17 interceptions.
But in a Division II state semifinal Friday at Historic Crew Stadium, the Eagles finally ran into an aerial assault that they couldn’t contain, as junior quarterback Owen Scalf completed 38 of 52 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns to lead Cincinnati Anderson to a hard-fought 29-22 victory over Big Walnut.
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“Their (up-tempo spread offense) style is hard to mimic in practice and very hard to defend,” said Big Walnut coach Curtis Crager, whose squad finished 12-2 after snapping a 12-game winning streak. “Our kids made adjustments in the second half, but it took us a little bit too long to get the stops we needed, and we had to play from behind.”
Anderson coach Evan Dreyer said it was crucial that his offense got out to a fast start, with Scalf completing 24 of 30 passes for 193 yards and two scores while helping Anderson jump out to a 23-8 halftime advantage.
The Raptors, who improved to 14-0, will face Avon (13-1) in the state final 7 p.m. Thursday in Canton.
Big Walnut’s Brody Hatfield stops Anderson’s Tysin Weaver
Avon defeated Anderson 20-13 in the state final a year ago, after the Raptors nipped Big Walnut 28-24 in a state semifinal.
Both Big Walnut (Division III) and Anderson (Division II) won their only state titles in 2007.
“Starting fast and scoring on our first two drives was really crucial, because Big Walnut has a very strong defense and they always keep playing hard through four quarters,” Dreyer said. “The skill level of their back-seven is elite, and their defensive line is great, too.”
The Raptors kept Big Walnut’s defense reeling while jumping out to a 13-0 lead in the first quarter.
Anderson quickly marched down the field on an 11-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, which was capped by an 8-yard pass that Scalf rifled between two defenders and into the hands of senior receiver Brayden Moore in the middle of the back of the end zone.
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And just six plays after Anderson junior linebacker Antwoine Higgins Jr. intercepted a pass and returned it 40 yards to Big Walnut’s 13-yard-line, junior running back Jordan Davis leaped over a pile over defenders for a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Raptors up by 13 points with 15 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Big Walnut’s Owen Pollack eludes Anderson defender Brady Kuhn.
“In the first quarter, we definitely had the upper hand,” Scalf said. “They have a good defense, but our O-line, backs and receivers are great, and when we scored on those first two drives, it gave us a lot of confidence.”
Anderson had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by senior place kicker Maddux Snider after putting together an 18-play, 65-yard drive on its third possession.
But after junior lineman Brayden Black intercepted the ball at Anderson’s 29 to give the Raptors one last possession in the first half with 59 seconds remaining, Scalf completed six passes to quickly move Anderson down the field, culminating in a 1-yard TD connection with junior Cooper Kathman as the second quarter expired.
“That touchdown right before halftime was the biggest play of the game,” Crager said. “If we could have stopped them there, maybe things would have ended differently.”
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On that final play of the second quarter, Scalf rolled right, scrambled to his left and then scrambled back to his right, before zipping the ball to Kathman is the back-right corner of the end zone.
“In the big moments, our quarterback played really well,” Dreyer said. “We decided to go for it with one second left because we play to win, and that was a nice momentum shift heading into halftime.”
Anderson’s Jordan Davis looks for a lane through the Eagles’ defense.
Big Walnut’s defense played much better in a scoreless third quarter, forcing two turnovers and stopping Anderson on downs once.
Senior defensive lineman Landen Doan played a big role, sacking Scalf at Big Walnut’s 44 on fourth down to end Anderson’s first possession of the third quarter, before recovering a fumble by Scalf at the Eagles’ 43 on Anderson’s next drive.
Senior defensive back Brady Taylor also intercepted a pass by Scalf at Big Walnut’s 24 with 4 minutes, 53 seconds remaining in the third quarter to keep the Eagles in the game. It marked Taylor’s 11th interception of the season.
“Give credit to our kids because they have a never-say-die attitude and they executed better in the second half,” Crager said.
On the other side of the ball, junior quarterback Eli Stumpf completed 15 of 26 passes for 237 yards and three touchdowns to nearly rally Big Walnut to a come-from-behind victory.
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Early in the second quarter, Stumpf dumped the ball to junior running back Nolan Buirley in the flat, and Buirley sprinted down the left sideline, before plowing through a defender at the goal line to complete an 11-yard touchdown reception.
On the ensuing two-point conversion attempt, Buirley also received the direct snap and ran the ball up the middle to pull Big Walnut within 13-8.
Nolan Buirley gets stuffed on a two-point conversion attempt.
After Anderson turned the ball over on downs at its own 43 early in the fourth quarter, Stumpf tossed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Buirley on a trick play to make it 23-15 with 8:40 remaining.
On that touchdown, Stumpf lofted the ball to junior wide receiver Gavin Harrington, who leaped in the air to make the catch, before immediately tipping it to Buirley, who sprinted into the end zone untouched from 10 yards out.
“We practice that play every Thursday, but this is only the second time we’ve used it in a game,” Harrington said. “It’s like I’m going up for a volleyball serve, because I tipped it to him as soon as I touched the ball and before my feet hit the ground. I got tackled immediately, and I was laying on the ground when I heard our crowd going crazy, and that’s how I knew we scored.”
Anderson answered with an 11-play, 78-yard touchdown drive, which was capped by a 5-yard run by Davis and extended the Raptors’ lead to 29-15 with 3:28 left.
But Stumpf quickly engineered a six-play, 73-yard touchdown drive, which was capped by a 25-yard toss to Harrington to pull Big Walnut within 29-22 with 1:40 remaining; before Anderson senior linebacker James Schnurstein recovered an onside kick attempt at the 50, and the Raptors were able to run out the clock.
Buirley finished with four catches for 39 yards and rushed for 48 yards on 19 carries, while senior receiver Dallas Biehl had four receptions for 58 yards, senior tight end Owen Pollock had three catches for 84 yards and Harrington had three receptions for 53 yards.
“That’s probably the best defense, by far, that we’ve ever played against,” Harrington said. “But like coach always says, we never quit. Our defense gave us a chance with some big stops, and our offense cashed in with some big touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Eli had confidence that I could beat their cornerback, so he put the ball up high, and I caught it to pull us within a touchdown.
“We just needed the ball one more time, but we ran out of time.”
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