New Philadelphia Defeats Buckeye to Advance to the Second Round of the Playoffs

MEDINA, Ohio- What a beautiful night in Ohio for High School Football. It’s week 1 of the OHSAA football playoffs.  Something both Buckeye and New Philadelphia are used to.  Both made the playoffs last year and both lost in the first round. New Philadelphia traveled to Akron Archbishop Hoban and lost to the eventual state champs 35-14. As for Buckeye, this is their second straight year of hosting a home playoff game in the first round; and this year they are hoping for a different outcome.

Buckeye was the #3 seed last year and they hosted #6 West Geauga. Buckeye sold so many tickets, they had to rent bleachers from the county fairgrounds.  The game lived up to the hype of what a high school football playoff game should be. Buckeye fought to the very end, but lost in 3 Overtimes 35-28.

This year Buckeye comes into the playoffs as the #4 seed with a 9-1 record. Whereas New Philadelphia comes in the #5 seed with an 8-2 record. With both teams having a dream of moving on, all roads seem to lead to returning state champs Archbishop Hoban.

 

The first quarter was each team trying to get settled in, filled with some mistakes.  New Philadelphia got the football to start the game.  They were very successful running between the tackles and Buckeye did not seem to have an answer to it.  New Philadelphia looked like they were going to score easily on their first drive before Kye Crowthers fumbled the football and Buckeye recovered. Buckeyes first two plays did not have much success. On third down though, Quarterback Michael Doerge rushed for 73 yards and a touchdown; only to have it called back due to a holding penalty. At the end of the first quarter the game was tied 0-0.

 

Both offenses finally found the end zone in the second quarter.  It took New Philadelphia only 6 seconds in the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead on a 9 yard touchdown run by Kye Crowthers. Three minutes later, New Philadelphia and Kye Crowthers striked again on a 1 yard touchdown run to take a 14-0 lead. However, Buckeye would not go quietly. With 1 minute left in the second quarter, Michael Doerge ran 16 yards into the end-zone to make it 14-7 at Halftime.

The second half the chess match started. Both New Philadelphia and Buckeye made adjustments, and they payed off. Neither team could score in the third quarter.  Half way through the 4th quarter, Buckeye had a chance to tie the game, when they had 1st and goal from the 9 yard line.  Unfortunately, they were not able to punch it in and they turned the ball over on downs. New Philadelphia took advantage and drove down to Buckeye’s 22 yard line and kicked a 39 yard field goal to extend their lead to 17-7.

 

Buckeye got the ball back with 4:18 remaining in the 4th quarter. Michael Doerge and Buckeye needed to score and score quickly to try and get the ball back to give themselves a chance.  New Philadelphia was not going to let that happen.  They made Buckeye fight and claw for every yard.  It took Buckeye 4:03 seconds to score on a 4 yard run by Michael Doerge. Leaving only 5 seconds left on the clock.  An unsuccessful onside kick, gave New Philadelphia the ball and the win.

Michael Doerge did all he could for Buckeye going 7/14 passing the ball for 66 yards and 1 interception.  He also ran the ball 31 times for 69 yards and 2 touchdowns.  However, New Philadelphia’s Kye Crowthers would not be out done. Crowthers rushed 31 times for 190 yards and 2 touchdowns. With the win New Philadelphia moves on to the second week of the OHSAA State Playoffs where they will face Akron East. Akron East beat undefeated, and #1 Seed Marlington 50-37 to advance.