The Hilliard Davidson football team took a chance and ran with it in the final minutes of the Division I state championship in Canton on Saturday night.
Hilliard Davidson won its first state title since 2006 as the Wildcats defeated favored Cleveland Glenville 16-15 at Fawcett Stadium.
Hilliard Davidson quarterback Jake Trubiano scored on a two-point conversion with 1:04 left to give the Wildcats the advantage. Trubiano had a 73-yard run a few plays earlier to set up a touchdown run by senior running back Spencer Delande.
Trubiano then ran around the left side for the two-point conversion and the game-winning points.
"Some of the assistants said to kick, tie it and try for overtime," Hilliard Davidson coach Brian White told the Associated Press. "Everybody says we’re conservative and play boring games, but I have faith in my players. You make it and it’s a good call."
What a call it was for Hilliard Davidson, which finished the season with a 13-1 record. The Wildcats upset Cincinnati Elder to reach the state final. Hilliard Davidson had 250 yards rushing, including 196 from Trubiano, according to the OHSAA.
Glenville (13-2) could’ve been the first Cleveland public school to win a state title. Glenville junior quarterback Cardale Jones was 16-of-31 passing for 210 yards.
"You take something from a game anytime you win or lose," Glenville coach Ted Ginn told the AP. "We were winners just to be here."
2. Winton Woods wins Division II state title: The Winton Woods Warriors (13-2) won the school’s first state football title with a 42-12 win over Maple Heights in Massillon on Friday night. Winton Woods had 414 total yards, including 386 on the ground. Senior quarterback Dominique Brown, a Cincinnati commit, rushed 23 times for 185 yards and four touchdowns. Senior running back Jeremiah Goins had 20 carries for 152 yards.
"I don’t think they (Maple Heights) knew how to defend us, and I just thought we were tougher," Winton Woods coach Troy Everhart told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "That’s because of our schedule, who we play, and it shows up in the state championship game."
3. Kettering Alter wins again: Kettering Alter (15-0) won its second consecutive Division IV state title with a 37-7 win over Chagrin Falls in Canton on Saturday. The Alter defense held Chagrin Falls to 144 total yards and forced five turnovers. Senior defensive back Nolan Plate had nine tackles, while senior defensive lineman Thomas Armstrong had 6.5 tackles and two sacks. Senior running back Cody Taulbee had 16 carries for 126 yards and three touchdowns.
4. Notre Dame coaching situation: Two Cincinnati-area football players remained orally committed to the Notre Dame program despite the firing of Irish coach Charlie Weis on Monday. Moeller senior quarterback Andrew Hendrix and Elder senior tight end Alex Welch were still committed as of late last week. Both made their oral commitments earlier this year.
5. Hicks named Gatorade Player of the Year: West Chester Lakota West senior linebacker Jordan Hicks was named Gatorade Ohio Football Player of the Year last week. Hicks, who is 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, is a finalist for the national player of the year award this month. He has committed to playing in the Under Armour All-America game in Florida on Jan. 2. He has narrowed his college choices to (no particular order) Ohio State, Florida, Texas, USC and Alabama.
Among the outstanding efforts this week
Kindsay Brandt, West Chester Lakota West: The senior guard had a team-high 14 points to lead the Firebirds past Mount Notre Dame 52-51. MND was led by junior guard Kathryn Reynolds with 16 points. MND has won four consecutive Division I state titles. Lakota West was a Division I state semifinalist last season.
Jenna Jullerat, Deer Park: The junior guard had 28 points, five rebounds and two assists in a 58-51 win over host Norwood on Tuesday. Deer Park plays at Reading at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Daniel Adams, Cincinnati Anderson: The sophomore averaged 217.3 through four games in the first two matches of the boys’ bowling season. His high game was 239 with a high series of 437.
Looking ahead
Princeton at Sycamore boys basketball, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: Princeton, the Division I state runner-up in the 2008-09 season, opens its season with three consecutive Greater Miami Conference opponents. The Vikings plays host to Colerain on Wednesday before going to Mason on Friday.
Seton at Mount Notre Dame girls basketball, 7:30 p.m. Thursday: The two Girls Greater Cincinnati League Scarlet Division teams play a league game in Reading. MND is led by junior guard Kathryn Reynolds and sophomore guard Raeshaun Gaffney. Seton lost its opener to Sycamore 62-33 but defeated host Glen Este 49-40 in the second game of the season.
Mount Healthy at Roger Bacon boys basketball, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday: Roger Bacon, which went 20-4 last season, plays a season opener at home against the Fort Ancient Valley Conference opponent. Roger Bacon was picked to win the GCL Central division. Senior guard Jorian Hudson is among Roger Bacon’s leaders.
Recruiting news
St. Xavier senior offensive lineman Matt James (6-7, 290 pounds) plans to take an official visit to Ohio State on Saturday (Dec. 12). James also plans to visit Notre Dame, Florida and Cincinnati in the upcoming weeks. …Finneytown junior offensive lineman Donavon Clark (6-4, 290) planned to take an unofficial visit to Pittsburgh this past weekend. … Big Walnut senior tackle Skyler Schofner (6-7, 295 pounds) recently made an oral commitment to Michigan State, according to the Detroit Free Press.
Random thoughts
Tom Chambers has been named the new Cincinnati Woodward baseball coach, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Chambers coached at Withrow for 40 years and left with 576 career wins in 2008. Chambers coached a couple major-league players, including former Reds’ player Ron Oester. …Kings High School senior Lauren Collier recently signed to play softball at Furman, according to the Pulse Journal. …Worthington Kilbourne senior Will Campbell has signed to play lacrosse at North Carolina, according to the Columbus Dispatch.
