Big-play Bulldogs make the difference in Grove win over Carey

FOSTORIA — Two red-hot teams, unbeaten in their conference with recent deep playoff success. In a game featuring two titans, something had to be the separator. In the Division 6 regional semifinal Friday in Fostoria, that separator was Columbus Grove's repeated big plays in a 37-21 victory over Carey. Grove scored on two 60-plus yard plays, and had six sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery in a physical, team-oriented win. Every time Carey looked to be changing momentum, the Bulldogs struck, riding the big play wave all the way to the regional final. "I just like the way our kids play," said Columbus Grove coach Andy Schafer. "A lot of people wrote us off at the beginning of the year, but we're just fighters. We just keep going out and doing Grove things and getting better each week." The second half told the tale. With the Bulldogs up 10 heading into the locker room, Carey got the ball to start the third and did what it does, marching downfield grind out yards. Seven successful running plays later, Eli Steen stormed in from seven yards out to cut the lead to 24-21. The Blue Devils then forced a three-and-out and looked to be gaining momentum on their next drive, which saw them run 11 straight times. That drive stalled out, however, and Columbus Grove took advantage, as quarterback Landon Best hit Zach Reynolds on a 62-yard pass. Before Carey knew what hit it, the Blue Devils were back down two scores. Salting away the game was the Bulldogs' defensive line duo of Layton Blankemeyer and Kyle Lahtrop. With Carey down 30-21 and needing to throw more while battling both the score and the clock, the duo of Blankemeyer and Lathrop made play after play, chasing Blue Devils quarterback Carter Smiley. Grove had four fourth-quarter sacks, three of which were teamed by Blankemeyer and Lathrop. Blankemeyer added a fumble recovery. Best added the exclamation point with a 15-yard run with two minutes left. "That's a really good, physical football team," said Carey coach Jonathon Mershman. "One of the only teams that can match our physicality. They did a great job. We got some plays here and there, then their offense would make big plays. I can't give that coaching staff enough credit." The first half played out similarly to the second. Carey had a couple of nice drives, but running back Trenton Barraza was the difference maker. He scored touchdowns of 33 and 5 yards to put his team up 14-0, before Smiley cut the deficit with a 2-yard run that was set up by a 51-yard pass from him to Tripp Phoenix. Just as soon as the Carey train horn faded into the night, Barraza took the ball on the next play from scrimmage and darted downfield on an electric 62-yard run that featured jukes, missed tackles and turbo-powered speed. Continuing to fight, Carey would cut it to one score on another TD run by Smiley. Late in the first half posed another chance for Carey to edge closer, as Alex Putnam picked off a screen pass with the Bulldogs driving deep. The Blue Devils couldn't convert, but they had second chance when a partially blocked punt went off a Grove player and was recovered by Carey. The field position offered from that play however was nullified by an interception by Grove's Brady Basinger, which set up a key 25-yard field goal by Evan Verhoff with four seconds left in the half. Best was 8-of-12 passing for 174 yards, with Reynolds leading the way with 85 receiving yards. Barraza collected 160 yards on the ground on 23 carries, impressing both coaches with his speed and toughness. Smiley threw for 103 yards with 93 of them coming on a pair of long throws to Phoenix. Butch Brodman capped a tremendous career with 87 rushing yards, while Smiley added 70 yards and Steen 54. Austin Niederkohr added an interception for Carey (10-3). Mershman reflected on his senior class, a group that was part of a state championship as sophomores and a total of 21 wins between their junior and senior seasons. "I feel bad for our seniors," he said. "They put so much into this. That's a really good senior group. They've had a pretty good four years and were a crucial part of the last three years with all of those wins." For Grove, the show goes on, as the Bulldogs look for a return trip to the state semifinals next week against rival Bluffton. Grove handed the Pirates their only loss this season, a home 14-7 triumph Oct. 20. Grove coach Schafer couldn't contain his excitement. "I love playing Bluffton," Schafer said. "You guys have no idea how much it means to me to be playing Bluffton. It's like having Christmas three times a year. This will be a very intense week for our kids. Now it's on." Columbus Grove 37, Carey 21 First Quarter CG – Trenton Barraza 33-yard run (Evan Verhoff kick) 5:31 CG – Barraza 5-yard run (Verhoff kick) 1:01 Second Quartetr C – Carter Smiley 2-yard run (Nathan Gery kick) 9:55 CG – Barraza 62-yard run (Verhoff kick) 9:42 C – Smiley 3-yard run (Gery kick) 5:49 CG – Verhoff 25-yard field goal 0:04 Third Quarter C – Eli Steen 7-yard run (Gery kick) 8:38 CG – Landon Best 62-yard pass to Zach Reynolds (kick missed) 0:51 Fourth Quarter CG – Best 15-yard run (Verhoff kick) 2:00 Passing: CG: Best 8-12-174-1TD-2INT; C: Smiley 4-13-103-1INT Rushing: CG: Barraza 23-160; Best 7-29; C: Butch Brodman 10-87; Smiley 13-70; Steen 10-54; Austin Niederkohr 5-11; Conner Norden 4-13. Receiving: CG: Reynolds 3-113; Brady Basinger 2-24; Zane Stechschulte 1-23; Kyle Hopkins 1-8; Barraza 1-6; C: Tripp Phoenix 2-93; Dominic Yeater 2-10.