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Verlon Reed has been a mainstay for Marion-Franklin

Marion-Franklin (9-2) of the Columbus City League South earned hero status Friday night up north at heavy favorite Loiusville (then 10-0, pronounced Lewis-ville) in a startling 14-7 first round Division II playoff victory. Louisville had led the AP state poll essentially the whole year and entered the Division II, Region 7 playoffs as the #1 seed, while our local Red Devils squeaked in with the final 8 seed. Nobody on the south side was surprised by Marion-Frankin's determination against the top seed, however. Coach Brian Haffele has instilled a sense of honor, community and responsibility amongst his team, ranging from the pride in wearing the red jersey around school and the neighborhood to a tough training camp that included keeping the school and field clean and orderly as much as lifting weights and completeing reps. It all paid off for Marion-Franklin on Friday, thanks to teamwork and the great play of standout QB Verlon Reed, who is catching the attention of Division I scouts. Frankly, next to Middletown crushing Moeller in Division I, the Red Devils' upset of the Leopards was the biggest upset of the first week of the OHSAA playoffs. Marion-Franklin started off with an early TD by Chad Jones set up by a long fumble return by Phil Wilkins. Reed then scored from near the goal line in the third quarter to put the Red Devils up 14-7 for good. Marion-Franklin takes on Olentangy Orange (9-2) on Friday at 7:30. Orange defeated Dresden Tri-Valley 28-21 in its first playoff game ever despite losing a 20-7 lead and having to intercept Tri-Valley in the end zone at the bitter end. Corey Joe made the interception in his first game back for Orange after a long injury. Joe also played alternating QB and hit Ross Smith for a 41 yard gain to set up the leading TD.

Grove City Christian prevailed in D VI.

Other Local Action -- In a City League Division II playoff showdown, Brookhaven (9-2) engineered a comeback and prevailed 27-20 in a sloppy, turnover-plagued OT game over Walnut Ridge. The Bearcats must now take on Logan (11-0) in round 2 this Friday, which trounced a strong Canal Winchester team 30-7. In Division III, Granville and reigning state runner-up Eastmoor Academy fell, but Central Catholic League leaders DeSales (45-21 over Bryan) and Watterson (26-0 over Bellefontaine) moved on to play another day. Logan Elm also advanced in Division III, beating New Richmond 28-21. In Division IV, Fairfield County powerhouse Amanda-Clearcreek (11-0) pounded Alexander 42-7 while Heath (9-2) dominated Zane Trace 48-9. In the small school Division VI, Grove City Christian (10-1) avenged its only loss of the season by winning at Bishop Rosecrans in Zanesville 28-0.

Coffman is manhandling opponents.

Division I -- The big boy division saw all four local favorites win and move on to the second round. Undefeated and favorite Dublin Coffman (11-0) escaped an early fumble and 6-0 deficit to dominate Springfield 31-12. Colton Caldwell, who has been playing QB lately for the Shamrocks after an earler injury to Cole Stoudt, passed for 165 yards including two long scores and Shaun Jones rushed for 129 in the win. Coffman will face Westerville South (9-2) on Saturday 11/14 after South defeated Olentangy Liberty for the second week in a row, this time 50-14. Hilliard Davidson (9-1), which has lost only to Coffman, for the second time this year handled Lancaster 28-7 behind QB/HB Jake Trubiano. Probably the most notable game happened out East, with some notoriety as a backyard brawl as Pickerington Central (10-1) got its second narrow win of the season against Pickerington North 14-12 after North failed on a close 4th quarter 2-point conversion pass. Central now matches up with Davidson to play for a berth in the Region 3 final against the Coffman/Westerville South winner.

Tags: high school football, high school sports