Tuesday, November 25, 2003
The Bengals will face two-time Div. IV state champion Kenton.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MASSILLON -- Ray Williams rushed for 163 yards, including an early 59-yard touchdown, leading No. 3 Cleveland Benedictine to a 47-7 win over No. 1 Steubenville in a Division III state semifinal Friday night.
The Bengals (13-1) jumped on the Big Red (13-1) early on Jon Huddleston's 78-yard punt return for a 7-0 lead. Williams' TD run extended the lead to 14 points.
After Steubenville cut the lead in half on Corey Lyons' 6-yard TD run, Williams scored again on a 6-yard run to put Benedictine ahead 21-7.
Benedictine plays for the state title on Friday in Canton against Kenton, the two-time defending Div. IV champion.
Kenton 42, Newark Licking Valley 21
DUBLIN -- D.J. Underwood passed for 338 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for two scores, leading Kenton to the Div. III state title game.
Shea Newfer scored on a 50-yard interception return for the Wildcats (11-3), who won the Div. IV championship the last two seasons.
Nathan Clark rushed for 128 yards on 27 carries for the Panthers (12-2). He scored on a 4-yard run and caught a 22-yard TD pass from Devin Fulk.
Underwood completed 23 of 30 passes without an interception. His touchdown runs covered 3 and 7 yards.
Avon Lake 48, Chardon 8
PARMA -- Matt Kostelnik had two interceptions and caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Booher to lead Avon Lake over Chardon in a Div. II state semifinal.
The Shoremen (14-0) forced six turnovers and continued to roll through the playoffs behind a stellar defense. The eight points were the most they've allowed in their four postseason victories.
Matt Smith had a 47-yard touchdown run for Chardon (11-3) in the third quarter, cutting Avon Lake's lead to 21-8.
Avon Lake's Jon Schroeder rushed for 177 yards on 21 carries, including a 60-yard touchdown on the second play of the game.
The Shoremen will play Trenton Edgewood (14-0) for the championship next Friday night at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon.
Trenton Edgewood 33, Columbus Brookhaven 13
DAYTON -- Josh Glancy and Ryan Williams ran for two touchdowns apiece to lead Trenton Edgewood past Columbus Brookhaven.
The Cougars (14-0) scored on three of their first four possessions to put away the Bearcats (13-1).
Calvin Weaver scored on a 5-yard run in the third quarter and Rodney Holmes had a 7-yard TD run with 21 seconds left for Brookhaven.
Gahanna Cols. Academy 41,Delphos St. John's 35, OT
TIFFIN -- Ray Jones scored on a 1-yard run in overtime and Gahanna Columbus Academy's defense clinched a win over Delphos St. John's in a Div. V state semifinal.
Delphos St. John's (11-3) was stymied on two short runs while driving for the tying score.
On third-and-3, linebacker Matt Reis tackled Kyle Spieles for a short gain. Spieles was stopped on fourth down when safety Steve Butt grabbed him by the ankles before his Academy teammates wrestled him down.
Academy (12-2) will face Amanda-Clearcreek for the state title on Friday in Massillon.