Toothman helps Salem rally for win in overtime

Staff report

GRANVILLE — The Salem High football team isn’t done making history.

Trent Toothman scored on a 3-yard touchdown run in overtime and the Quakers — playing their first playoff game in school history — beat Granville 38-31 in a Division III regional quarterfinal at Granville High School.

“These guys never cease to amaze me,” Salem coach Mike Kopachy said. “They are making history with every step they take. I am so proud of them.

“It was the best football game I have ever been associated with.”

The Blue Aces had a chance to tie the game in overtime. But on fourth-and-goal at the 3, Ben Eisel tackled RB Tyler Link for a four-yard loss on a toss play.

“I knew I had to come up and make the play on the toss,” Eisel said. “If he would have cut it up inside, another linebacker or a safety would picked him up.

“I am just doing my job.”

Eisel also hit a 34-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to force overtime.

“We have kicked four [field goals] this year,” Kopachy said. “Nobody ices Ben Eisel. That is a situation we practice every day.”

“Losing didn’t even cross my mind. Whatever it was going to take just like these guys have done all year, we were going to do it.”

Salem’s overtime TD was set up by quarterback sneak by Toothman on fourth-and-2. He then scored on third and goal.

Toothman finished with 138 yards rushing on 26 carries and three TDs. He also hit 18 of 32 passes for 253 yards and two TDs for Salem (9-2), which will play Steubenville in next Friday’s regional semifinal.

Eisel caught six passes for 100 yards and a TD and also had three conversion kicks and two conversion runs.

Zack Penick caught six passes for 116 yards and a TD. The Quakers gave up 31 points in the first half, then shut down Granville in the second half.

Link carried 22 times for 69 yards and QB David Hettler hit 12 of 15 passes for 189 yards for Granville (9-2), which was in the playoffs for the third straight year.

“The defense, to shut a team like Granville down in the second half and the offense to dig it out and gut it out against a great defense [is tremendous],” Kopachy said. “That team trailed 90 seconds all year.

“We came down here three hours to play football.”