Hoban ends Zanesville's playoff run

MASSILLON – Zanesville proved it belonged on the same field as state power Akron Hoban on Friday night.

But costly mistakes – and an untimely injury to All-Ohioan Leondre Crosby – prevented the Blue Devils from reaching their first state championship game.

Trailing 12-7 four minutes into the third quarter, the 220-pound Crosby was injured on a third-and-2 play from near midfield after his knee was twisted in a pile-up. Zanesville punted, but Crosby was unable to return to his middle linebacker spot.

It was a critical loss, as Ohio State-bound Todd Sibley took the second play on the Hoban’s next possession 81 yards for a touchdown to build a 12-point lead. The Knights then held off a rally to secure a 33-21 win in a Division III state semifinal at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Hoban, whose only loss came in Week 10 to Cleveland Benedictine, advanced to the finals against defending state champion Toledo Central Catholic. The Irish topped Trotwood Madison, 21-13, in the other semifinal.

Zanesville, hurt by nine penalties and a pair of interceptions, finished a 12-2 season.

“Every time we grabbed the momentum we would do something to shoot ourselves in the foot, or they would make a play on their side,” Zanesville coach Chad Grandstaff said. “They are a real good football team and it showed tonight. They’re the fastest team and the most physical team we’ve played all year, and it was tough.  We couldn’t make mistakes and we did.”

Hoban, led by Sibley and a determined offensive line, scored 14 unanswered points in the third quarter to build a 26-7 lead after Sibley scored again on a 5-yard run. It was a play set up by a six-yard punt that left the Knights at the Blue Devils’ 22-yard line.

But fueled by Crosby’s valiant return, Zanesville rallied.

It drove 73 yards in just four plays, as Crosby took a handoff from the Tigers’ 41 and sprinted almost untouched into the end zone. Aaron Ashby’s extra point made it 26-14 with with 2:14 left still left in the third.

Four plays later, after Sibley was stopped by Braxton Snyder and Zeph Morgan on a third-and-2 play, a short punt had Zanesville at the Hoban 44 as the third quarter ended. An 11-yard swing pass to Crosby, coupled with a pair of 15-yard penalties on the Knights, had Zanesville at the 8.

Crosby got five yards on first down, giving the Blue Devils a second-and-goal from the 3. Two runs left them short of the end zone. It was fourth-and-1 before an illegal motion penalty backed it up to the 6.

After calling timeout, Zanesville elected for a pass near the right pylon. But the throw was late, and Tyler Gilchrist intercepted the pass and ran 99 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.

Instead of potentially cutting the lead to five points, the Knights’ officially put it away up 33-14 with 9:14 left.

Zanesville cut it to 33-21 after Ben Kaufman’s 65-yard touchdown reception, but with just 1:43 remaining, it was all but over.

“We had the momentum, but there seemed to always be some things to set us back,” Grandstaff lamented. “Against a team like that, you’re not going to be able to overcome mental mistakes or bad field positions. But like we always say, no matter what, when you walk out of that game, you’ll know you were in a game against the Blue Devils, and I think we got their respect.”

Crosby said the game defined the team’s season, when they had a penchant for winning close games. Trailing 12-7 at the break, they didn’t panic.

But his injury came at a vital time.

“We came out in the second half and had momentum on our side, but things don’t always go your way,” Crosby said. “That’s life and that’s just what happens. The knee is far away from your heart.”

Grandstaff wasn’t sure Crosby was going to make it back. He was unable to put weight on the knee coming off.

“After he went out, they went right to the running game and were able to pop some runs off,” Grandstaff said. “But I give him credit coming back in and fighting through it like he does. … He’s a tough kidd and he’s faced a lot worse adversity than a jacked up knee.”

Zanesville’s defense was opportunistic early, as R.J. Harris pounced on a Todd Sibler fumble at the Hoban 19 to give the Blue Devils a short field. Four plays later, after Derek Grandstaff found Ja-Quan Mathews wide open over the middle for 21 yards, Crosby bulled in from the 1. Ashby’s extra point made it 7-0 with 7:07 left in the first quarter.

The early lead helped ease the Blue Devils’ anxiety, but unlike the DeSales game in the regional semifinals, when the Stallions were hurt by missed field goal, the Knights’ Dane Kersh was 4-of-4 in the first half.

Sibley had only seven carries for 30 yards in the first half but finished with 181 yards on 25 carries. Crosby had 25 carries for 129 yards.

sblackburn@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com

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Twitter: @SamBlackburnTR