Associated Press

MASSILLON

The Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary defense not only didn’t break, it hardly bent.

Three interceptions and two fumble recoveries played a huge role in the Irish winning a second straight Division III state high school football championship with a 24-0 victory over Trotwood-Madison in front of 4,940 fans on a cold and rainy Thursday night at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

In winning the school’s sixth state title since 1972, the Irish completed the season with a 15-0 record and extended their winning streak to 21 games.

The Irish, ranked first in The Associated Press’ state poll, scored three touchdowns, all the result of Trotwood-Madison turnovers.

The Rams finished second for the second year in a row after winning the Division II title in 2011.

The SVSM defense continued its season-long domination, posting its fourth shutout. In five games it held foes to 12 points or less 11 times.

Trotwood-Madison (11-3) had just 111 yards of offense and was shut out for the first time since 2008.

SVSM linebacker-running back Newman Williams, a University of Akron recruit scored touchdowns on runs of 1 and 8 yards, forced an early fumble that led to SVSM’s first touchdown, recovered a fumble and picked up a key first down with a 27-yard gain on a fake punt that eventually led to the final touchdown.

All-Ohioan Parris Campbell led all rushers with 58 yards on 18 carries. Campbell, an Ohio State recruit, became the school’s all-time leading rusher with 1,642 yards.