Ohio All-Stars win on late TD

July 1, 2016 at 12:07a.m.

By BRIAN DZENIS

NEW MIDDLETOWN

While Pennsylvania squandered chances to get points in the red zone, Ohio made the best of it’s only trip to win the 37th Stateline Classic, 10-7.

With five minutes left in the game, Lisbon’s Josh Liberati completed his only passing attempt in the contest to Columbiana’s Jacob Ward for a 10-yard touchdown pass to win the game.

“It was a blast, it was probably the best football game I’ve played in a while,” Liberati said.

The win puts Ohio at 11-26 in the Classic and snaps Pennsylvania’s three-year win streak.

Liberati kicked off the game-winning drive by intercepting Pennsylvania quarterback Austin Koniezcka of Moon Area from inside his own 5-yard line. Liberati returned the ball to the Ohio 31. Salem’s Matt Weingart put his team on the Pennsylvania 10 with a 38-yard strike to Ward. Salem head coach Ron Johnson had no qualms about taking the ball out of his quarterback’s hands for a chance to win.

“This game isn’t about Salem or Lisbon,” Johnson said. “I told these guys, ‘This is about Ohio’ and that’s who we coached for.”

Liberati started the play in the shotgun flanked by two fullbacks. The play called for him to roll out to his right and run it in unless someone was open.

“That was a scripted package in that zone. We practiced it for two weeks and I had the utmost confidence in him,” Johnson said. “We knew he makes good decisions, he’s done that his whole career in football and basketball.”

Unfortunately, the game featured more lowlights than highlights. After a late hit on a Pennsylvania player in the first quarter caused a fracas on the sideline, the game turned chippy.

“As soon as it started, things got chippy. The [Jack Arvin Classic] was chippy, too. All all-star games are chippy,” Liberati said. “Kids think you have something to prove, but you don’t, you’re in an all-star game.”

When the final whistle blew, four players from Pennsylvania were ejected.

“I knew there wouldn’t be any ejections from our side, I can’t speak for [Pennsylvania],” Johnson said. “It’s disappointing when any game deteriorates to that, but I couldn’t be more proud of the kids in the second half —we only had a facemask— but that’s playing the game.”

The game’s officials didn’t cover themselves in glory in the final 11 seconds of the game. Pennsylvania was at the Ohio 16 and sent out Shenango’s Dylan Kleckner to attempt a field goal. His kick was short, so officials let him try again despite no penalty being called. As fans booed, Kleckner again fell short. Johnson said officials told him because they did not consider the first kick a play they were prepared for, he could kick it again. Normally, such a thing is a 5-yard penalty for the offensive side, but Johnson said he had no issue with it.

Crestview’s Zack Hicks was the Ohio MVP with 64 rushing yards on 20 carries and caught two passes for 14 yards. Koniezcka was the Pennsylvania MVP, going 15 of 29 for 221 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions.

OHIO 10, PENNSYLVANIA 7

Pennsylvania0700—7

Ohio0307—10

Second Quarter

PENNSYLVANIA — Sims 4 pass from Konieczka (Kleckner kick), 7:20

OHIO — Max Righetti 23 field goal, 3:00

Fourth Quarter

OHIO — Ward 10 pass from Liberati (Righetti kick), 5:10.

TEAM STATISTICS

PAOH

First downs1210

Rushes-yards28-5830-86

Comp-Att-Int16-30-316-27-1

Passing yards221162

Fumbles-lost0-01-0

Penalties-yards5-556-70

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Pennsylvania, Thomas Dean 9-29; Ohio, Hicks 20-64

PASSING — Pennsylvania, Koniezcka 16-26-3-221; Ohio, Weingart 15-26-1-152.

RECEIVING — Pennsylvania, Reinstadtler 4-86; Ohio, Ward 6-69.