By MATT SEXTON
WNJ Sports Writer
WNJ Sports Writer
COLUMBUS – Two years after setting the mark, Clinton-Massie saw its state record for points in a season fall to the right arm of Mr. Football.
Athens and its senior quarterback Joe Burrow broke the Falcons’ record for points in a season, but they couldn’t finish the season as champions like the Falcons did in 2012.
Toledo Central Catholic’s Marcus Winters scored the game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds left as the Fighting Irish won a thrilling Division III state championship game, 56-52, over the Bulldogs.
Burrow, who was named Mr. Football in Ohio on Wednesday, didn’t disappoint. He completed 26 of 45 passes for 446 yards and six touchdowns with just one interception. For the season, he finished with 63 touchdown passes and just two interceptions.
He has committed to play his college football in Ohio Stadium, home of state finals weekend for the first time since 1989.
However, it was Central Catholic that had the last drive, and therefore the win.
The teams combined for 42 fourth quarter points, trading the lead that Central Catholic started the period with, 35-31.
Athens scored with 2:52 left on a Trae Williams two-yard touchdown run. The Bulldogs led 52-49.
Toledo Central Catholic would face fourth down twice on what proved to be the game-winning drive. On fourth and eight from its own 31, Marcus Winters found Jermiah Braswell for 11 yards and a first down.
Then, on fourth and five from its own 47, Winters found Darion Greer for 36 yards to the Athens 17. Four plays later, Winters scored and the Fighting Irish led with 15 seconds left.
For the game, Winters had 153 yards passing and two touchdowns to go with 134 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Teammate Michael Warren had 194 yards and two scores on 28 carries. Tre’Von Wade added 158 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
Ryan Luehrman led Athens in receiving with 187 yards and two touchdowns on eight catches. Zacciah Saltzman added 89 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. Adam Luehrman had 103 yards a two touchdowns on six catches.
The two teams combined to set Division III state final records for most combined points (108), yards (1,207) and touchdowns (16).
In addition, the 52 points gave Athens the most points in a single season with 861. This broke Clinton-Massie’s record set just two years ago during the Falcons’ first state title run.
There are six more state title games to be contested this weekend in Columbus. The Division IV title game is at 10 a.m. Friday with Alter going up against Benedictine. Kirtland and Minster will play the Division VI final at 3 p.m. The nightcap at 8 p.m. features LaSalle and Nordonia.
SUMMARY
TCC 14 7 14 21 56
AHS 13 6 12 21 52
AHS 13 6 12 21 52
1st Quarter
A – Trae Williams 1-yard run (Nick Gribble kick) 10:50
TCC – Michael Warren 1-yard run (Brock Quinlan kick) 8:00
TCC – Marcus Winters 79-yard run (Quinlan kick) 4:20
A – Ryan Luehrman 54-yard pass from Joe Burrow (kick blocked) 0:30
2nd Quarter
TCC – Jermiah Braswell 19-yard pass from Marcus Winters (Quinlan kick) 4:18
A – Adam Luehrman 8-yard pass from Burrow (run failed) 0:50
3rd Quarter
A – Zacciah Saltzman 29-yard pass from Burrow (run failed) 8:19
TCC – Warren 18-yard run (Quinlan kick) 7:10
A – A. Luehrman 8-yard pass from Burrow (pass failed) 5:19
TCC – Tre’Von Wade 40-yard run (Quinlan kick) 0:49
4th Quarter
A – Heath Wiseman 10-yard pass from Burrow (Patrick Thomas kick) 10:15
TCC – Winters 12-yard run (Quinlan kick) 7:38
A – R. Luehrman 40-yard pass from Burrow (Thomas kick) 6:47
TCC – Warren 67-yard pass from Winters (Quinlan kick) 5:11
A – Williams 2-yard run (Thomas kick) 2:52
TCC – Winters 8-yard run (Quinlan kick) 0:15
TEAM STATS:
PLAYS: TCC 76; A 72. FIRST DOWNS: TCC 25; A 25. RUSHES-YARDS: TCC 59-501; A 27-117. PASSING YARDS: TCC 153; A 446. COMPLETIONS-ATTEMPTS-INTERCEPTIONS: TCC 8-17-1; A 26-45-1. TOTAL YARDS: TCC 654; A 563. PENALTIES-YARDS: TCC 10-77; A 2-10. FUMBLES-LOST: TCC 0-0; A 2-1. TIME OF POSSESSION: TCC 28:48; A 19:12.
INDIVIDUAL STATS:
Rushing (carries-yards): TCC: Michael Warren 28-194 2 TDs; Tre’Von Wade 17-158 TD; Marcus Winters 12-134 3 TD; Darion Greer 1-13; Charles Smith 1-2. A: Trae Williams 17-63 2 TDs; Joe Burrow 10-54.
Passing (completions-attempts-interceptions): TCC: Winters 8-17-1 153 yards 2 TDs. A: Burrow 26-45-1 446 yards 6 TDs.
Receiving (catches-yards): TCC: Jermiah Braswell 3-38 TD; Warren 2-72 TD; Darion Greer 2-39; Deion Greer 1-4. A: Ryan Luehrman 8-187 2 TDs; Zacciah Saltzman 8-89 TD; Adam Luehrman 6-103 2 TDs; Heath Wiseman 4-65 TD.
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