Tippecanoe junior quarterback Larkin Thomas ran and passed the Red Devils to a 21-0 win over Troy. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Lee Woolery)
Like the icing on the cake, Tipp celebrates its first outright MVL title with a win over the big kid up the street. The Red Devils extend their record to 9-0 with a 21-0 win over Troy to capture the MVL North Division with a win over Troy.
By Marcus Hartman for Press Pros
Tipp City, OH — There are playoff demons to address later.
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Friday night was about celebrating for the Tippecanoe Red Devils.
They improved to 9-0, clinched at least a share of the Miami Valley League Miami division title (four in a row), at least a share of the overall MVL championship, and beat Troy decisively, 21-0.
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Will Strong wasn’t quite sure at first which accomplishment was his favorite, but he quickly settled on one.
“I like both, but I mean… probably beat Troy,” the Red Devils senior receiver said. “I don’t like ‘em, so I’d probably say beat Troy.”
He has been a weapon on the outside (and sometimes inside) all season for the Tippecanoe offense, but he didn’t need to do much Friday night as the Red Devils beat their Miami County rivals for the sixth season in a row.
Senior running back Xavier Melton and junior quarterback Larkin Thomas carried the Tipp offense most of the night, grinding out a 21-0 win that gave them a one-game lead in the conference race with the Trojans with one left to play.
Thomas went to the air plenty, but Melton was typically the tip of the Tipp spear, charging into the middle of the Troy line or slashing off tackle again and again.
Tippecanoe senior wide receiver Jackson Robbins hauls in a long pass from Larkin Thomas.
“I mean, we were really just trying to see if we can run the ball, and we were able to run the ball, you know what I’m saying?” Strong said. “So we didn’t really have to do much else because if you can run the ball, I mean, you’re gonna win 95% of your games. That’s just what it is.”
Melton missed last week’s win over Greenville with a shoulder injury, but he was determined to get back in the lineup for his last shot to play the Trojans.
“I trusted the people that were with me that as long as I did what I had to do, I knew I could get back out here,” Melton said. “Definitely wasn’t feeling the best, but I mean with the team we have, I don’t want to give up another game. It’s my senior year.”
Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher said he had no doubt Melton would answer the bell.
“Xavier is a ball. He’s a baller, man,” Burgbacher said. “He’s not 100% but you know what? He wanted to play in this game.”
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For the Red Devils, this has been a season of dual focus. They want to right the wrong of bowing out of the playoffs in the second round last year against St. Mary’s, but they also knew they had to spend every week trying to get better.
Playoff games can’t be won until November, and there was a lot of work to do before then.
“Well, we’re co-champs right now,” Burgbacher said. “We got to finish it off next week, but to be able to solidify at least that feels good. Because the seniors come up with a motto every year, and this year was unfinished business.
Troy receiver Michael Tucker dodges a tackle after a pass from Aiden Kirkpatrick.
“Like you said, the way last season ended was rough on everybody, and it still hurts. So to be able to come out here on Friday nights and do what we’ve done: We’re not trying to prove anyone wrong or anything else. We’re just out here representing our town, we’re representing our community. And these guys understand they represent more than themselves, and they’ve done a great job of it this year.”
On the other side, a dejected Troy Everhart lamented his team looking unlike the one that entered on a seven-game winning streak, losing only to a formidable Middletown team to open the season.
“We were horrible blocking up front,” the Trojans head coach said as he left the field. “I mean, we didn’t do anything to help ourselves. You would have thought it was the first time we were playing football.”
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Tipp struck first when Thomas rolled to his left on fourth-and-4 and found Grant Titley wide open on a corner route in the end zone. Titley jumped and spun in the air to bring it down for a 21-yard touchdown in front of the rowdy Tippecanoe student section that was dressed in all black like the Red Devils players.
Melton added another touchdown on a 4-yard run early in the second quarter to cap a 60-yard drive, and that left Tipp firmly in control of the contest.
Tippecanoe running back Xavier Melton bulls his way into the end zone for his first touchdown.
After a short kick to start the third quarter, the Red Devils drove 60 yards in eight plays for their third and final score.
Melton again did the honors, this time from five yards out.
Although more than 20 minutes remained in the game, it felt over for all intents and purposes at that point because Troy simply could not do anything when it had the ball.
The Trojans’ only serious threat to find the end zone came early in the fourth quarter.
They got the ball at their 43 with 11:50 to go made it to the Tippecanoe 3, but do-it-all quarterback Aiden Kirkpatrick was thrown for a big loss by James Merry on fourth-and-goal to force a turnover on downs.
“He’s basically playing by himself I thought for most part,” Everhart said. “I mean, again, we didn’t do anything to help ourselves up front. And when you got a special player like him, you got to give him at least a chance. And we didn’t do that.”
He said he wasn’t ready to look ahead to next week or the Division I playoffs yet, but Everhart’s team must regroup for a home game against Greenville.
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The Trojans entered the night second in the Region 2 computer rankings behind Middletown and have secured a first round bye according to Joe Eitel, so they still have plenty to play for.
But Friday night was all about their rivals to the south.
Troy’s Aidan Gorman tries to evade the tackle of Tippecanoe’s Cade Havill.
“There were so many huge plays tonight, but we could go down the line of our roster of all the guys that made plays tonight,” Burgbacher said. “We’ve got six starters sitting over there on the sideline, and so it’s that next man up mentality. We’re going to get punched in the face, but that’s not going to phase us, and we’re just going to keep going.”
After facing winless West Carrollton in Week 10, the Red Devils expect to have a bye in the first round of the Division III playoffs. 
Many coaches have expressed misgivings about giving teenagers an idle week during the high school football season, but Burgbacher conceded his team could use a little time to rest and heal up.
“We got a chance to maybe get some of these guys back Week 12 and be able to have a little more depth,” he said. “We’re thin now in some of those positions, but again, just the guys that are stepping up and playing for us right now, it’s just awesome to see.”
As awesome as earning another MVL trophy and win over Troy.
Larkin Thomas led Tippecanoe over the Troy Trojans with his arm and legs.
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