Trojans rout Northview, claim piece of NLL

Findlay won one third of the Northern Lakes League Buckeye Division championship on Friday. And the Trojans needed only one half to do it. Findlay rebounded from an early turnover with a devastating offensive barrage, scoring on seven straight possessions in building a 48-0 halftime lead that stood through a running-clock second half and became the final score in the Trojans title-clinching win over Sylvania Northview. "This proves everything we've done is coming to fruition," said Stefan Adams, who in his third year as FHS head coach has led the Trojans to their first league championship since 2011 and first title-clinching Week 10 victory since a 20-17 overtime win over Napoleon earned Findlay a share of the Greater Buckeye Conference crown in 2009. "There's still more out there that we want to be able to get. This is huge as far as building a program. People understand that is takes time; now we want to build for the future and keep this train going." That train was a run-away locomotive on Friday. Following a turnover on its first drive of the game, taking advantage of excellent field position all night and riding the accurate passing of Ryan Montgomery, Findlay scored 48 points on just 30 offensive plays in an explosive first half that left little doubt to the outcome. "Things kind of bounced the wrong way on that first drive, but with the kids, it was next play, let's get back to it," Adams said. "That's the way we expect them to play, with that championship mindset. They never waivered. They bounced right back and took care of business." Taking care of business earned Toledo Whitmer and Anthony Wayne a share of the 2023 title as well, with Whitmer (7-4, 4-1 NLL) beating Springfield 41-0 on Friday, and Anthony Wayne (8-2, 4-1 NLL) knocking off Perrysburg 35-10. Montgomery threw an interception on his third pass of the game. But he was 17-of-19 the rest of the half for 236 yards and four touchdowns, a 3-yard laser to Jacob Ragland (4 receptions, 55 yards), two 10-yard strikes to Ja'vonte Hill (5 recpts., 46 yards) and a 12-yard lob to senor end Jackson Redman. Montgomery dove over from a yard out to put Findlay up 20-0 at the end of the first quarter and Austin Sertell covered 35 yards on two carries to make it 41-0 with 5:18 left in the first half. Findlay's seventh score was a no-possession defensive strike. Northview was finally gaining some ground late in the first half when Luke Weihrauch read a pass play perfectly, jumped the route and took an interception back 70 yards. Weihrauch's interception highlighted another strong game by Findlay's defense, which forced five three-and-outs and limited Northview to 38 yards total offense in the first half. "This group is really something special," said senior linebacker Isaac Tuiloma. "We stuck together the whole offseason, working together, and we know somebody is always going to be there to back you up. We don't worry about anyone else. We're just going to come out and get it, that's all there is." Findlay started five of its seven first half drives in Sylvania Northview territory, including one at the Wildcats 2 after a big punt return by Sonny Hines, one at the 9 after another good return by CJ Reid-Tisdale, one at the 35 after a fairly short punt and one at the 37 after the Wildcats, who tried a flea-flicker and a double-reverse pass in an effort to generate offense, decided to go for it on fourth-and-6. "They're going to win the league for a reason," Northview coach Greg Silm said after the Wildcats ended up 2-8 overall, 1-4 in the Buckeye Division of the NLL. "They have a good offense and they are a very well-coached team. We knew we were going to probably have to play perfect and we just didn't do it. We had a few plays here and there but not enough to keep us in the game. I'm proud of the way the kids battled, but sometimes you're just outmanned by a better team." Backups and second-stringers played the entire second half. And in a class move by both programs – initiated by Adams and agreed to by Silm – Desmond Bailey hobbled onto the field with 6:33 left in the game, joined the Findlay huddle, then took his spot on the offensive line. The ball was snapped, Findlay took a knee to end the play and Bailey hobbled back to the sidelines. Bailey was Findlay's only returning starter on the offensive line, but was injured in the team's final scrimmage and has been sidelined all season. "Getting injured right before the season was heartbreaking, but I was happy I got cleared for tonight's game," Bailey said. "It was all part of coach Adams plan to make sure I got a chance to get in, and I have a lot respect for Northview and their staff for going along with. It really meant a lot to me." Friday's win allowed Findlay to finish third in the Division I Region 2 rankings that determine the football playoff pairings. Unofficially, the Trojans will host Olentangy Liberty (3-7) Friday at Donnell Stadium. "I can't talk enough about our players and our staff and what they have done to get us to this point," Adams said. "That's what it comes down to. It's cool, it's special to be a part of that and we want to see where we can take it." Northview 0 0 0 0 — 0 Findlay 20 28 0 0 — 48 First Quarter FIN – Ragland 3 pass from Montgomery (Sprague kick) FIN – Hill 10 pass from Montgomery (Sprague kick) FIN – Montgomery 1 run (kick failed) Second Quarter FIN – Hill 10 pass from Montgomery (Sprague kick) FIN – Redman 12 pass from Montgomery (Sprague kick) FIN – Sertell 14 run (Sprague kick) FIN – Weihrauch interception return 70 yards (Sprague kick) FIN FR First Downs 19 6 Rushes-yards 20-44 17-47 Passing Yards 283 61 Comp-Att-Int 26-29-1 7-26-1 Punts-Avg. 0-00.0 7-31.6 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0 Penalties-Yards 3-19 6-40 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING — Findlay, Guthrie 2-7, Montgomery 2-(-3), Little 1-4, Sertell 3-32, J. Lane 1-2, Sheets 5-14, W. Hammer 3-(-13), G. Lane 3-1. Sylvania Northview, Wilson 10-29, Finesky 1-(-1), Weimer 1-3. PASSING — Findlay, Montgomery 20-23-1, 236 yards; W. Hammer 6-6-0, 47 yards. Sylvania Northview Vargas 7-23-1, 61 yards. RECEIVING — Findlay, Hill 5-46, Hasselbach 4-54, Best 2-29, Gutherie 2-21, Little 1-5, Ragland 4-55, Redman 1-12, E. Hammer 3-16, B. Guthrie 2-21, Longnecker 1-10. Sylvania Northview Clausius 2-43, Suon 2-3, Finesky 3-15. FHS stats thanks to Jim Welch.