Dublin Coffman 42, Hilliard Darby 35: Shamrocks take it with big plays
Robbie Anzuini
Late defensive stand helps seal regional final
By Steve Blackledge
The Columbus Dispatch Sunday November 18, 2007 9:44 AM
In a thrilling game in which Dublin Coffman and Hilliard Darby combined for 936 yards, the outcome was decided by inches on a late defensive stand.
Scott Stucky made a pivotal tackle with 4:35 remaining, interrupting a volley of scoring and ultimately helping Coffman defeat Darby 42-35 in a Division I regional championship not soon to be forgotten by nearly 10,000 in Upper Arlington's Marv Moorehead Stadium.
With Darby trailing 35-28 and facing fourth-and-3 at the Coffman 5-yard line, quarterback Jeremy Ebert threw a swing pass to Richard Hammons, who got near the first down marker before being pushed back to the line of scrimmage by Stucky. Hammons was not awarded his forward progress, but television replays indicated that he probably would have been shy of the first down.
"They were rolling Ebert out and hitting the flats all night, so when he came my way, I took away the deeper guy and I was fortunate enough to make a good break on the ball and get to the second guy before he made the first down," Stucky said. "As crazy a game as that was, it probably wound up being the turning point."
Coffman took advantage and capped the momentum swing. On third-and-2, tailback Shaun Jones broke free for a 60-yard gain. Three plays later, he scored on an 11-yard run to give the Shamrocks 42-28 lead with 1:53 left.
"Once we got that defensive stop, we had a sense we could finally finish them off and we stepped up and got it done," Jones said.
Shamrocks coach Mark Crabtree said, "I think that was a matter of us finally using our size to wear them down on that last drive. When we went up two scores, we felt we had them where we wanted them."
But Darby (11-2) quickly drove 65 yards for another score, as Ebert hit Robbie Anzuini on a 15-yard TD pass with 34 seconds left. Coffman (13-0) recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure a state semifinal game with nationally ranked Cincinnati St. Xavier (13-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday in Welcome Stadium in Dayton.
"What a great, great game," Panthers coach Paul Jenne said. "You surely don't expect an outcome like that when you have two defenses allowing 13 points a game, but both teams played at a very high level on offense."
Zack Stoudt completed 15 of 24 passes for 319 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions to pace the Shamrocks. Two of his TDs went to Ohio State-bound Jake Stoneburner, who had four catches for 110 yards. Neil Bittel had seven catches for 121 yards.
Jones, making his first start for injured Jared Phillips, gained 141 yards on 22 carries and scored three TDs.
"I've got to be honest. I didn't anticipate a score that high," Crabtree said. "There were some athletes on the field and both teams took advantage of their athletes for some big plays."
Ebert completed 23 of 31 passes for 304 yards and four TDs. He also rushed for 93 yards on 22 carries.
Anzuini had eight catches for 177 yards and two scores. Jordan Richeson ran for 96 yards on 17 carries with a TD.
Jones scored on a 4-yard run for a 35-28 Coffman lead.
By Steve Blackledge
The Columbus Dispatch Sunday November 18, 2007 9:44 AM
In a thrilling game in which Dublin Coffman and Hilliard Darby combined for 936 yards, the outcome was decided by inches on a late defensive stand.
Scott Stucky made a pivotal tackle with 4:35 remaining, interrupting a volley of scoring and ultimately helping Coffman defeat Darby 42-35 in a Division I regional championship not soon to be forgotten by nearly 10,000 in Upper Arlington's Marv Moorehead Stadium.
With Darby trailing 35-28 and facing fourth-and-3 at the Coffman 5-yard line, quarterback Jeremy Ebert threw a swing pass to Richard Hammons, who got near the first down marker before being pushed back to the line of scrimmage by Stucky. Hammons was not awarded his forward progress, but television replays indicated that he probably would have been shy of the first down.
"They were rolling Ebert out and hitting the flats all night, so when he came my way, I took away the deeper guy and I was fortunate enough to make a good break on the ball and get to the second guy before he made the first down," Stucky said. "As crazy a game as that was, it probably wound up being the turning point."
Coffman took advantage and capped the momentum swing. On third-and-2, tailback Shaun Jones broke free for a 60-yard gain. Three plays later, he scored on an 11-yard run to give the Shamrocks 42-28 lead with 1:53 left.
"Once we got that defensive stop, we had a sense we could finally finish them off and we stepped up and got it done," Jones said.
Shamrocks coach Mark Crabtree said, "I think that was a matter of us finally using our size to wear them down on that last drive. When we went up two scores, we felt we had them where we wanted them."
But Darby (11-2) quickly drove 65 yards for another score, as Ebert hit Robbie Anzuini on a 15-yard TD pass with 34 seconds left. Coffman (13-0) recovered the ensuing onside kick to secure a state semifinal game with nationally ranked Cincinnati St. Xavier (13-0) at 7 p.m. Saturday in Welcome Stadium in Dayton.
"What a great, great game," Panthers coach Paul Jenne said. "You surely don't expect an outcome like that when you have two defenses allowing 13 points a game, but both teams played at a very high level on offense."
Zack Stoudt completed 15 of 24 passes for 319 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions to pace the Shamrocks. Two of his TDs went to Ohio State-bound Jake Stoneburner, who had four catches for 110 yards. Neil Bittel had seven catches for 121 yards.
Jones, making his first start for injured Jared Phillips, gained 141 yards on 22 carries and scored three TDs.
"I've got to be honest. I didn't anticipate a score that high," Crabtree said. "There were some athletes on the field and both teams took advantage of their athletes for some big plays."
Ebert completed 23 of 31 passes for 304 yards and four TDs. He also rushed for 93 yards on 22 carries.
Anzuini had eight catches for 177 yards and two scores. Jordan Richeson ran for 96 yards on 17 carries with a TD.
Jones scored on a 4-yard run for a 35-28 Coffman lead.