by The reigning 3-time state champion St. Edward Eagles took on the Perrysburg Yellow Jackets in this regional semifinal matchup. It was the Eagles who came out on top by a final score score of 40-24. Despite a slow start that included three first half turnovers, the Eagles turned it around and won their 21st consecutive playoff game.
On the Yellow Jackets opening drive it looked they would have to punt it away, but a roughing the punter penalty on the Eagles kept it alive. The Eagles defense would end up bailing them out when linebacker Aiden Peterson stuffed Joseph Seney on 4th down. The first possession for the Eagles would end in disaster for them. A backwards pass to Tyrese Buchanan was dropped and scooped up by Spencer Kies, who returned it for a Perrysburg touchdown.
Saint Ed’s would fumble the ball away again on their next drive. This time Perrysburg was unable to capitalize on the turnover. The Eagles offense finally got going when Thomas Csanyi connected with Joe Saffold for a big 55 yard-play. Bradley Eaton then tied the game up at 7 with a 2-yard rushing touchdown.
The Yellow Jackets took the lead back on their next drive with a 38-yard field goal from Brayden Heitmeyer. It looked like they would have the opportunity to add on after Luke Hess fumbled a punt for the Eagles. However, their offense would go backwards and be forced to punt. Hess would redeem himself with a 10-yard touchdown reception to give the Eagles a 14-10 lead. Hess hauled in 4 catches for 41 yards on the scoring drive.
Colin Crocker got St. Ed’s their first turnover after intercepting Yellow Jackets quarterback Josh Takats. Csanyi then found Saffold for a 24-yard score to make the score 21-10. Just before halftime Takats would be picked-off by the Eagles again, this time by Aydin Buchanan.
Just a few plays into the 3rd quarter, Bradley Eaton extended the Eagles lead to 27-10 with a 49-yard touchdown run. The Eagles then would get their 3rd consecutive defensive turnover when Aydin Buchanan forced Takats to fumble. After a 4th down conversion to Luke Hess got them down to the 1 yard line, Nate Gregory punched it into the endzone to make it a 34-10 game.
Perrysburg scored their first offensive touchdown early in the 4th quarter when Iain Hall hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Takats. Nate Gregory then scored his second rushing touchdown of the night to put the Eagles up 40-16. Brodon Moore added another turnover for the Eagles with another interception of Takats. St. Ed’s defense recorded 4 turnovers on the night. With time winding down, Carson Pershing scored a 2-yard touchdown for the Yellow Jackets to make the score 40-24.
Player of the Game: Bradley Eaton 11 RUSH 83 YDS 2 TD
