DIVISION IV STATE FINAL Kenton rolls to second state title

Quarterback Benny Mauk passed for four TDs and ran for three more in the 45-13 win over Portsmouth West.
MASSILLON (AP) -- Amid the joyous screams, high fives and hugs that followed Kenton's second straight state championship, there also was a dose of realism.
What could possibly dampen the spirits of the Wildcats now?
Quarterback Benny Mauk is out of eligibility.
"It'll be interesting to see what happens next year when he's not here," head coach and father Mike Mauk said. "It's been a lot of fun. It's almost like a video game."
Benny Mauk passed for 300 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 133 yards and three scores Friday as Kenton beat Portsmouth West 45-13 to repeat as Division IV state champions.
Chad Bostelman had three touchdown catches for the Wildcats (13-2), who relied on Mauk's scrambling ability early before putting the Senators (12-3) away on the strength of their quarterback's right arm.
"He kind of looks like John Elway out there the way he runs and throws," said Portsmouth West coach Mike Sammons.
One-man show
Mauk completed 22-of-37 passes, had 20 of his team's 25 rushing attempts and all but 34 of Kenton's 167 yards rushing.
"I don't know if we had two years to prepare if we could defend that," Sammons said. "It's not the offense, it's the kid running it. He's as good with his feet as he is with his arm."
Behind a strong pass rush and a gusting 24 mph wind that kept Mauk from throwing down the field, Portsmouth West hung tough into the second quarter of its first state final appearance.
Kenton pulled away in the third, scoring 12 points with the wind at its back and milking the clock with the help of several Portsmouth West penalties.
Both teams were flagged for unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct in the closing moments -- after the outcome had been decided.
Bryson Williams scored on runs of 1 and 11 yards for Portsmouth West, which didn't get much production (36 yards rushing, 43 passing) out of its wishbone offense.
The Senators' defense didn't fare much better after allowing an average of only 13 points in their four playoff victories.
Playing in a five-receiver set that features Mauk in the shotgun and calling his team's plays, Ohio's Mr. Football put together one of the most prolific offensive games in state finals history.
"It's unreal," Williams said. "Everything we tried didn't work. They just had their way."
Mauk's four touchdown passes tied the Div. IV title game record he set last season against Newark Licking Valley, and his seven total touchdowns were two more than Ursuline's Delbert Ferguson put up in 2000.
Mauk's passes helped Bostelman tie a Div. IV record with three touchdown catches, and Kenton's seven touchdowns tied the record for most scored as a team.
Won last 13 games in row
D.J. Underwood caught six passes for 138 yards and a touchdown for Kenton, which won its final 13 games after starting the season with two losses.
"These guys really pulled together," Mike Mauk said.
His son struggled with his passes early, but it didn't matter. The QB was still a handful when he tucked the ball away to run.