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Aurora downed Eastmoor with 21 second quarter points

2008 OHSAA Division III Championship (11/29) -- Aurora 21, Eastmoor Academy 10 -- Wake up, City League football fans, the dream is over. But what a ride it was that the brave Warriors of Eastmoor Academy (13-2) gave us this year in Division III high school football. Eastmoor made its first trip ever to the final game, only the second time that a Columbus City League team has ever made a state football final in the 37 years of the tournament. As many around the city will recall, Brookhaven won the Division II state final in 2005 before moving up to the top tier "big school" Division I. Eastmoor made the final this year despite being an "alternative school" that takes applications based on academics, so it was quite an accomplishment especially just one year after a 9-1 Eastmoor squad was left out of the postseason altogether by a fraction of a point. Aurora (13-2), from Northeastern Ohio, was making first ever final appearance as well, and had overcome 2 early season losses to put together an impressive finish, which included a 20-14 defeat of former Division III champs Big Walnut from Sunbury in the semi-final last week. This time Malon Johnson, Touche Hopkins and other Eastmoor stars still shined but were outdone in the end by Aurora's tenacity and by their own penalties and turnovers. The Warriors started the scoring in the first quarter on a 35 FG by Kwesi Sample and were well on their way to outgaining the Greenmen for the game even early on. The final yardage tally was in favor of Eastmoor 297-191, with receiver Alex Coleman alone catching 10 passes for 149 yards. However, both Hopkins and Johnson, stalwart players all year for the Warriors, each commited second quarter turnovers that led to Aurora TDs and a 21-3 halftime deficit. Aurora QB Brendan Gallagher hit Steven Yung and Dee Brizzolara for long TD strikes after the respective fumble and interception, the latter of which was picked by Brizzolara as well. Eastmoor continued to fight hard, allowing no more points and engineering a 12 play, 93 yard drive in the third quarter that ended on a Johnson/Coleman 30 yard TD pass. Eastmoor then could not capitalize on fourth quarter possessions, one of which was turned over on downs at the Aurora 26. Despite the defeat, we give a hearty praise to Coach Jim Miranda and the Warriors for their fight and triumphs against the odds all year. They deserved to be there, and deserved a better fate.

Other State finals -- St. Ignatius 28, Elder 20 (Div. I) --   Mark Miller of the Cincinnati Elder Panthers (13-2) threw for an incredible 27 completions and 399 yards but could not defeat Cleveland powerhouse St. Ignatius (14-1) in the big school final in Canton Saturday. It was Iggy's 10th championship. Andrew Holland of St. Ignatius threw for 208 yards and three TDs in the win. Sylvania Southview 29, Cin. Anderson 25 (Div. II) -- The reigning Division II champs Anderson, who had lost to local favorites DeSales in the regular season before beating the Stallions in a playoff rematch, lost their lead and a chance for a repeat in the final seconds to Southview (15-0) on a 16 yard TD pass. Southview had conceded a safety and then allowed a Redskin TD late in the game to give Anderson its lead. Kyle Slaton, who killed DeSales a week earlier, rushed for 180 yards for Anderson. Kettering Alter 21, Steubenville 6 (Div. IV); Youngstown Ursuline 21, Liberty-Benton 0 (Div. V); Delphos St. John's 34, Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 14 (Div. VI). 

Tags: football, high school football, high school sports