Kettering Alter topples Steubenville for crown

November 29, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

The Knights rushed for more than 300 yards in handing Big Red its first loss of the year.

CANTON (AP) — Undefeated on the field, Kettering Archbishop Alter wasn’t about to let two forfeits keep the school from finally winning an Ohio high school football championship.

Seniors Austin Boucher and Chris Borland combined to lead the Knights to a 21-6 win over Steubenville in the Division IV title game Friday at Fawcett Stadium.

The dominating triumph capped Alter’s 14th playoff appearance — a chance that was almost scuttled in the season’s fourth week.

That was when the Knights’ first two lopsided victories of the season were turned into 1-0 forfeit losses for using an ineligible player — a reserve who had transferred to the school a year ago but never played sports.

“That really made us pull together,” senior fullback Justin Hall said. “We knew one loss would keep us from the playoffs. We dug down and had great teamwork every game.”

Steubenville (14-1), was ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press final regular-season poll behind defending champion Coldwater, which lost in the regional finals two weeks ago to Kettering Alter, 31-21. The Knights were ranked No. 5 because of the forfeits.

It was a rematch of Steubenville’s wild 34-33 win for the Division III championship two years ago.

“This entire season has been one of redemption,” Alter senior center Evan Neff said. “We came back from the forfeits. We got past Coldwater this year after losing to them in triple overtime (59-52) in the playoffs last year. Then we beat these guys after losing the championship to them by a point two years ago.

“It really is a great feeling.”

Alter kept the Big Red’s big offense in check and rolled to victory on the ground, amassing 303 yards rushing to just 88 by Steubenville.

The Big Red, in the playoffs for the 21st time, had averaged 41 points in four postseason wins, but was shut down until Dwight Macon passed 33 yards to Trey Wiggins to make it 21-6 with 9:43 to play.

The extra point was missed and Steubenville could not muster much more offense.

“They were more determined and wanted it more than anybody we faced all year,” said Steubenville linebacker Branko Busick, voted co-defensive player of the year in the division.

Boucher, a first team All-Ohio selection, completed 7 of 11 passes for 81 yards and one touchdown. He also gained 111 yards on 19 carries, scoring on a 3-yard run in the third quarter.

Borland gained 130 yards on 15 rushes, including a 21-yard scamper around right end that made it 21-0 early in the fourth quarter.

“This win means so much, not just for the ’08 team, but for everybody who has ever played at Alter,” Borland said.

Macon went 11-for-22 for 196 yards, but threw one interception. He gained 68 yards on 14 carries, but the rest of the Big Red offense managed only 20 yards on the ground.

“Sometimes you can give a championship effort and still come up short,” Steubenville coach Reno Saccoccia said. “It was a great season. Now we’ll find out more about ourselves on how we handle the adversity, the disappointment of losing.”