Ohio high school football started the 2020 season with a bang. In what could end up being the game of the year, preseason No. 1
La Salle (Cincinnati) pulled off a 53-52 double overtime win over No. 4
Elder (Cincinnati) on Friday.
In the second overtime,
Scott Nieman scored for Elder to go up 52-45. La Salle answered when
Gi'Bran Payne took a screen pass and rambled 19 yards into the end zone to pull the Lancers with 52-51. Coach Pat McLaughlin made the gutsy call to go for two and the win and senior quarterback
Zach Branam proved to be the hero as he plunged into the end zone to give La Salle the thrilling victory.
Ohio high school football fans can only hope that this opener was a sign of things to come.
How the Top 5 Fared
* No. 1 La Salle defeated No. 4 Elder, 53-52 (2 OT).
* No. 4 Elder lost to No. 1 La Salle, 53-52 (2 OT).
Stat stars
Austin Francis,
Miami East (Casstown): The junior linebacker and running back had 18 tackles, four for losses, and added 18 carries for 116 yards and his team's only touchdown in a 7-6 win over Twin Valley South.
Levi Gullion,
Piketon: The junior quarterback threw for 312 yards, rushed for 83 more and accounted for six touchdowns in a 44-38 loss to Unioto.
Doug Rakes,
Fairview (Sherwood): Completed 19 of 39 passes for 271 yards and six touchdowns in a 47-0 win over Wayne Trace. Rakes also rushed for 58 yards and a score.
Game of The Week
As great as La Salle's double-overtime thriller was, people were speaking with equal conviction about St. Edward's wild 24-23 win over Washington that was decided on a double-pass that went from quarterback
Christian Ramos to punter
Justin Slattery (behind Ramos) to
Joshua Kerekes with about four minutes to go.
Games to watch this week
* No. 7 St. Xavier (0-1) at No. 1 La Salle (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday
* No. 2 Mentor (1-0) at No. 15
Euclid (1-0), 7 p.m. Friday
Ohio Top 25