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Kilbourne has romped to the playoffs.

It's A First -- Worthington Kilbourne 43, Thomas Worthington 3 -- It's been 17 years since Worthington shifted to two high schools, but these two eams had never met on the gridiron until Friday night when Kilbourne (8-2, 5-2) took control to defeat host Thomas Worthington. Kilbourne finished up an improved season from 6-4 last year and has a secured playoff spot in Division I, Region 3, having entered the night as a road qualifier in the fifth slot (of eight). First round pairings will be announced Sunday 10/26. Kilbourne's triple option offense was bolstered this time by strong defensive play, including a TD fumble return by Dan Sprague a blocked punt TD and a safety. The Wolves' defense kept the Cards to a 1.0 rushing average on 37 carries in what has been dubbed the "Wo-Town Showdown". Not sure about the name, but it's certainly a good thing that the schools are now paired together in the OCC Central and that they will continue to play. As for the expected battle of Worthington QB's, Aaron Kingcade delivered as expected for Kilbourne with three TD runs. Sam Bohon presented a good passing threat for Thomas Worthington, having receiving weapons in Vance Frederick, Jake Sharick and Dustin Armstrong. Bohon came into the game with 1,856 passing yards, but the Cards were stymied by the Kilbourne defense, and its own penalties and turnovers. Logan Elm 16, Canal Winchester 13 (OT) -- Logan Elm completed its 180 degree turnaround by winning the MSL Buckeye and improving from 0-10 last year to 10-0 this year with an overtime FG by Taylor Steed in the rain and muck at Canal Winchester (9-1, 6-1). Nasty conditions made for a nasty game, and Logan Elm Braves fans may have thought there was imminent doom late in the fourth quarter until Canal fumbled while driving again at the 10. The Braves had just tied up the game when Chris Eversole returned a blocked punt for a TD. Canal had earlier missed an extra point, but Logan Elm returned the favor to leave the game deadlocked late. The final kick was Steed's first game winning FG, and he earlier ran for a first half TD, put in the extra point and threw a crucial pass on a reverse to Braves' QB Johnnie Brown in OT. Saturday Night Fever -- Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 28, Bishop Watterson 0 -- Watterson disappoints but still makes the last regional Division II spot at 5-5. DeSales 35, Cle. Benedictine 21 -- A shoo in for the Stallions, whose only real problem is that Louisville (10-0) is in the same region. Initial reports are that DeSales and Watterson may play in week one. 

Bexley will make its first playoff appearance.

Silver Medalist -- Ready 52, Hartley 6 -- OK, maybe times have been better. The Central Catholic League Silver has only these two teams, and Ready (6-2) is finishing a season that included two cancellations by out of state opponents. Maybe they were scared to play the Silver Knights, though, as they should have been if Friday night's defeat of rival Hartley (7-3) is any evidence. Ready scored 35 in the third quarter to seal the game, including a dynamic second half kickoff return of 85 yards by Colby Culbertson. Collin Leidinger rushed for 218 yards including a 32 TD run after a Hawks fumble. Ready qualified for the playoffs in Division V with the win; Hartley in Division IV awaits the final calculations and announcements. Walnut Ridge 48, Independence 16 -- It's up and down in the City League this year (with the exceptions of North rivals Brookhaven and Beechcroft, which won again and are each 9-1). Independence (7-3, 5-2) had just trounced City League South foe Marion-Franklin (9-1, 6-1 after defeating South), which in turn had pummelled heralded Eastmoor Academy (also 9-1, 6-1 after beating Africentric 57-6). So what gives with the domination of Independence last night by the Scots of Walnut Ridge (6-4, 4-3)? I don't know the answer, really, but I do know the running battle in this one was as good as promised with Brandon Rice running for 276 yards and 5 TDs for the Scots and Devin Clodfelter adding 258 and a TD for Independence. Upper Arlington 7, Dublin Coffman 6 -- Host Coffman (7-3, 4-3) could muster only two short first half field goals in the rain, and Tommy Farwick provided a victory for playoff clinched Upper Arlington (9-1, 7-0) with a 10 yard third quarter run. Clinton-Massie 15, Jonathan Alder 7 -- The Pioneers (8-2) had hoped to win this non-league matchup in Plain City to get a home playoff game, but Clinton-Massie (10-0) came to show why it remains undefeated in Division IV. Graham Johnston scored the lone TD for Jonathan Alder. Bexley 40, Heath 27 -- This victory for Bexley (7-3) gave the Lions their first ever playoff appearance and likely knocked Heath (7-3) from any Division IV playoff potential. Bexley QB Seth White, headed to Ball State, had an amazing 5 TDs, 378 yards, an interception, an onside kick recovery and 4 PAT's. Briggs 42, West 12; St. Charles 23, Watkins Memorial 7; Delaware 21, Olentangy Orange 7; Marysville 13, Dublin Scioto 10; Olentangy Liberty 21, Westerville South 17; Olentangy 9, Westerville North 0; Grove City 12, Pickerington North 7; Pickerington Central 28, Reynoldsburg 0; Licking Valley 41, Columbus Academy 0; Liberty Union 31, Harvest Prep 14; West Jefferson 28, Licking Heights 0; Pleasant 40, Elgin 6; Buckeye Valley 28, North Union 7; Westfall 48, Unioto 21; Grove City Christian 66, Fairfield Christian 6.

Brandon Bargar of Darby played well but could not outshine Jake Trubiano of Davidson.

Hilliard Davidson 21, Hilliard Darby 14 (Thu.) -- It was a nice night and a great first half at Crew Stadium Thursday night for the removed battle of Hilliard as Davidson (9-1, 6-1) rode the legs of running QB Jake Trubiano to a 21-14 win over once heralded Darby (6-4, 3-4). Darby found itself eliminated from the Division I playoff picture while Davidson still stands a small chance of a top seed in Region 3. I'll leave those calculations to the computer geeks who are coming out of the woodwork. A somewhat smaller crowd than expected (given a nice night, a new rivalry and really nothing else going on in Cowtown) saw an exciting first half. Here is how it played out. Nick Van Dyne of Davidson intercepted the Panthers' Brandon Bargar in the first quarter, after which Trubiano bolted 48 yards for the game's first TD. Bargar led Darby back, though, with a 60 yard TD run of his own and threw a 70 yard TD bomb to Richard Hammonds. Trubiano had more, however, as he burst through 3 tackles for another long TD run to add to a quick Wildcat TD dive after a Darby fumble. All of this was before the half, and the 21-14 lead would last with staunch defense and key first downs by the Wildcats in the second half.

Logan Elm and Canal Winchester have an undefeated D III showdown.

Playoff Preparations, Last Chances (10/17) -- I'll try to highlight a few of the big final regular season battles upcoming here, starting chronologically with Thursday night's game. Hilliard Davidson (8-1, 5-1) vs. Hilliard Darby (6-3, 3-3)   --   This one got moved to Crew Stadium to the chagrin of Hilliard fans, though it was probably a smart idea as Massive Field has become a good place to catch a football game and as there may be 15,000+ for this one. When will OHSAA come to their senses and make Massive Field the final playoff destination for all things Ohio football? Not until the money's right is my guess. As for the game itself, Davidson is basically in already despite a disappointing loss at Upper Arlington last Friday. Darby is hoping not to be on the outside looking in, but could be a playoff qualifier with a win. The Panthers probably need UA to beat Dublin Coffman, and may also need some other interesting results, such as a Briggs victory over rival West, which sports QB Eric Stewart's impressive passing skills (160/301 attempts, 2319 yards). The key to the game could be Darby QB Brandon Barger (82/133 attempts, 1,181 yards) and his ability to hit quick receivers out of the pistol spread. Davidson did allow two short strike and run TD passes to UA's Blake Annen last week. Still, Davidson is the clear favorite here until proven otherwise. Logan Elm (9-0, 6-0) at Canal Winchester (9-0, 6-0) -- It's on the radar now, football fans, and it's going to be a heated battle just to the southeast of the city on Friday night as these two unbeaten squads fight it out for supremacy in the Mid State League (MSL) Buckeye and better playoff positioning in their Division III regions. Logan Elm is obviously the surprise here, having gone through a miserable 0-10 season last year. Yes, you read that right --  a possible worst to first going on here! We'll see if Dominique Crosby (153 yards against Hamilton Twp) can keep it running for the CW and if Adam Blake WR and Johnnie Brown QB can continue to hook up the TD passes for Logan Elm as they did twice last week (with Blake adding an interception TD as well). Logan Elm boasts coach Scott Bartholomew, who led Westfall (also of Pickaway County) to the playoffs four years in a row. Remember Westfall last year when RB Seth Hardin ran for an Ohio playoff record 446 yards and 6 TDs in one game?!? But I digress . . . Logan Elm is past the woes of last year and seems ready for the task, having earlier smacked respectable Hamilton Twp, which gave Canal Winchester a good run last week. Now they just have to get by their undefeated hosts! Canal has won 18 of its last 19 regular season games.  

Jonathan Alder hosts Clinton-Massie in D IV.

Upper Arlington (8-1, 6-0) at Dublin Coffman (7-2, 5-2) -- OK, Coffman really needs this one and its in front of the home crowd. The once undefeated Shamrocks are reeling from losses to Davidson and Kilbourne but must face rising power Upper Arlington, fresh off a 23-14 victory over Davidson. Coffman allowed only two complete passes last week, but both went for long Kilbourne TDs (QB Aaron Kingcade to WR Alan Tobey on each). Davidson was smitten by UA's two screen and run TD passes to powerful TE/WR Blake Annen, who could be an important figure against Coffman. Still, one assumes UA  will also continue to ride RBs Tommy Farwick, Isaac Wildermuth and Alex Drake (also seeing time at QB).  Farwick has 1,035 yards on the season for an 8.4 average and Wildermuth boasts an 8.9 average per carry. Clinton-Massie (9-0) at Jonathan Alder (8-1) -- Talk about under the radar, that's this game in Plain City. It's the biggest final game you've never heard of. We've got a big time test here for the JA Pioneers, though we hope they're in the postseason no matter what happens. Clinton-Massie comes into the Division IV, Region 16 picture at #2, 20.61 Harbin points, while Jonathan Alder is at No.4 and 19.23. Inexplicably, my high school team from Cincinnati (Wyoming) is also placed in D IV, Region 16 (explain that) and sits at No.7 but must play at D III Indian Hill, which is one spot out at No. 9 in Region 12 with the aforementioned Logan Elm, Canal Winchester and, yes, Eastmoor Academy, all current qualifiers a slot above. Wow, this makes my head spin!! Incidentally, for anyone who cares, the Wyoming Cowboys are only .02 ahead of Hamilton Badin, which beat Wyoming. Go figure. But back to Plain City. Can the Pioneers beat the intruders? Massie runs a confusing wishbone but may not be as physical up front as Jonathan Alder, which celebrates senior night at home. It may be a sloppy, muddy field according to the cold forecast. Massie averages 43 points per game, but Alder only 29. Alder's only loss was on the road to OCC Delaware Hayes, which looks to be in the playoffs. Clear as mud, again.   Other Games -- Ready at Hartley; Heath at Bexley; Olentangy Liberty at Westerville South; Worthington Kilbourne at Thomas Worthington; DeSales at Cle. Benedictine (Sat.); Watterson at Youngstown Mooney (Sat.); Columbus Academy at Licking Valley.  

Tags: football, high school football, high school sports