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SUNBURY -- The Big Walnut Golden Eagles clinched a berth in the Division III state playoffs and helped their chances at an outright Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division championship with a 22-14 victory over the Marysville Monarchs Friday at Big Walnut High School. Big Walnut (8-0, 3-0) tied Franklin Heights atop the Capital Division with the win while Marysville (6-2, 2-1) fell a game behind in the division race. And even if the Eagles lose their final two games, they still will qualify for a game in the Division III Region 10 quarterfinals. But it was the Monarchs taking control early and holding the momentum through most of the first half. Marysville drove 48 yards on 11 plays and used up 4:23 of clock time midway through the first quarter before Drew Sancho steamrolled into the end zone from two yards out for the first touchdown of the game. Brian Pelanda then found Dan Ruggles on a pass play for the two-point conversion and a 8-0 Marysville lead. But the Eagles finally got on the board late in the second quarter, set up by an interception and subsequent 54-yard return by Brad Rhoden. Charlie Smith scored from four yards out two plays after the pick and Joel Brockman found Evan Circle on a two-point conversion pass to tie the game with 2:41 left in the first half. The Eagles broke the tie when Circle broke off a 37-yard run for a score with 4:39 left in the third quarter, and took a 22-8 lead on a five-yard touchdown pass from Brockman to Smith. Marysville, though, would score one final time after a Big Walnut fumble as Pelanda found receiver Mark Easton on a 23-yard strike on the very next play. Big Walnut's Matt DeLong, though, blocked the extra point, and Brockman recovered the onside kick to allow the Eagles to run out the clock. Circle led all rushers with 13 carries for 81 yards while Smith carried 14 times for 52 yards. Brockman completed just 5-of-15 passes for 50 yards with two interceptions, but threw one touchdown pass and added an interception. Smith and Wes Potts each had two receptions for BW, Potts gaining 30 yards to lead the receiving corps. Luke Tobin led the running game for Marysville with 14 carries for 48 yards while Jeremy Myers added 20 yards on 12 carries. Pelanda completed 12-of-20 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown, but also threw two interceptions. Easton caught six balls for 76 yards to lead all receivers and added two interceptions on defense. Both teams play big OCC Capital Division games Friday. Marysville travels to Mount Vernon looking to stay in the conference chase while Big Walnut ventures to Columbus for a key matchup against Franklin Heights with the winner grabbing a share of the OCC title. SCORE BY QUARTERS Marysville....................8......0......0......6.............14 Big Walnut...................0......8......7......7.............22 SCORING SUMMARY FIRST QUARTER M-Drew Sancho 2 run (Dan Ruggles pass from Brian Pelanda), 3:11. (11 plays, 48 yards, TOP 4:23) SECOND QUARTER BW-Charlie Smith 4 run (Evan Circle pass from Joel Brockman), 2:41. (2 plays, 16 yards, TOP 0:20) THIRD QUARTER BW-Evan Circle 37 run (Matt Weade kick), 4:39. (6 plays, 62 yards, TOP 1:23) FOURTH QUARTER BW-Charlie Smith 5 pass from Joel Brockman (Matt Weade kick), 9:21. (3 plays, 15 yards, TOP 0:57) M-Mark Easton 23 pass from Brian Pelanda (kick blocked), 1:42. (1 play, 23 yards, TOP 0:09) TEAM STATISTICS..................MARY............BW First Downs........................................10..............10 Rushes-Yards................................43-67......38-129 Passing Yards...................................127..............50 Comp-Att-Int............................12-20-2.......5-15-2 Total Offense....................................194............179 Punts-Avg....................................7-32.1.......8-34.0 Fumbles-Lost....................................1-0............3-1 Penalties-Yards...............................3-22..........7-51 Possession Time.............................25:43.........22:17 RUSHING: Marysville-Luke Tobin 14-48; Jeremy Myers 12-20; Jeremiah Woods 4-12; Drew Sancho 3-10; Nick Feucht 4-9; Brian Pelanda 5-(-3); Team 1-(-29). Big Walnut-Evan Circle 13-81; Charlie Smith 14-52; Joel Brockman 8-12; Brad Rhoden 2-2; Team 1-(-18). PASSING: Marysville-Brian Pelanda 12-20-2-127. Big Walnut-Joel Brockman 5-15-2-50. RECEIVING: Marysville-Mark Easton 6-76; Luke Tobin 2-15; Jeremy Myers 2-7; Nick Feucht 1-16; Greg House 1-13. Big Walnut-Wes Potts 2-30; Charlie Smith 2-12; Josh Becker 1-8. INTERCEPTIONS: Marysville-Mark Easton 2-6. Big Walnut-Joel Brockman 1-0; Brad Rhoden 1-54. clecinosu |