PLAYOFF FOOTBALL … Montpelier quarterback Hayden Sharps rolls out to pass in Friday night’s first round playoff game at Hopewell-Loudon. (PHOTO BY RICH HARDING / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: John Shell
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
BASCOM (October 27, 2023) – In week one of the Ohio Region 26 OHSAA High School Football playoffs, the 16th seed Montpelier Locomotives (7-3) traveled to Bascom, OH to take on the 1st seed Hopewell-Loudon Chieftains (10-0).
It proved to be a challenging start for the Locomotives who were held to back-to-back three and out possessions.
This gave Hopewell-Loudon consecutive short fields both of which resulted in scoring drives, putting the Chieftains out to an early 13-point lead at the conclusion of the first quarter.
However, the Locos responded to the early challenges posed by the Chieftains with a strong 61-yard scoring drive to bring the score to 13-7.
This drive was highlighted by a 37-yard pass thrown by sophomore quarterback Hayden Sharps to senior wide receiver Brayden Brinks who pulled in the catch while lying on his back.
Then, head coach Andy Robinson called a very well-executed onside kick to give Montpelier another possession on the Chieftains 43-yard line in the one-score game.
However, some Montpelier penalties and a strong defensive stand by the Hopewell-Loudon defense forced a Montpelier punt again.
The Chieftains next drive featured a strong rushing attack that included a quarterback sneak by Hopewell-Loudon quarterback Evan Kreais to convert on a key 4th and two situation.
Although the Locomotives’ sophomore defensive back, Jaxson Stahler was able to catch the Chieftains behind the line on a key tackle for loss, Hopewell-Loudon found the end zone again a few plays later with a four-yard run to end the 70-yard drive making the score 19-7.
After the Chieftain’s defense forced Montpelier to punt, Hopewell-Loudon quarterback Evan Kreais threw a pass that was intercepted by senior defensive back Chavez Martin giving Montpelier the ball back with approximately two minutes left in the half. However, the clock ran out on the half with Montpelier trailing 19-7.
Coming out from halftime, Hopewell-Loudon received the kickoff and began moving the ball down field quickly setting up a 44-yard screen pass by Kreais to receiver Braylon Martinez for another Chieftain touchdown making the Hopewell-Loudon lead 25-7 with 9:52 remaining in the third quarter.
On Montpelier’s first possession of the second half, the Locos were facing a 3rd and 19 on their own 34-yard line when Coach Robinson dug deep in the Loco’s playbook and called a reverse pass play.
After receiving the handoff, senior tight end Garret Girrell threw a crisp pass to a wide-open Brayden Brink for a 66-yard touchdown making the score 26-14 still in Hopewell-Loudon’s favor.
On Hopewell-Loudon’s next possession, they executed a balanced ground and air attack that ate precious minutes off the clock while converting consecutive 3rd downs.
They finally ended the 65-yard drive with Martinez rushing for his fourth touchdown on a five-yard run bringing the score to 33-14.
After Montpelier was backed up on their own five-yard line in their next possession, Sharps threw a pass that was intercepted by the Chieftain defense and ran in for a pick six.
As the third quarter ended, Hopewell-Loudon had taken a commanding 39-14 lead.
In the final quarter of play, the aggressive defensive play of the Chieftains stopped the Locomotives from converting on a critical 4th and three and forced the Locos to turn the ball over to the Chieftains deep in their own territory.
The Chieftains ran for another touchdown on first down making the score 46-14. From there, a running clock was established and neither team would score again.
MONTPELIER 0 7 7 0 – 14
HOPEWELL-LOUDON 13 6 20 7 – 46
HL – 32-yard run (kick failed)
HL – 3-yard run (kick good)
M – Sharps 3-yard run (Smith kick)
HL – 4-yard run (conversation failed)
HL – 43-yard pass (kick good)
M – Brink 66-yard pass from Sharps (Smith kick)
HL – 4-yard run (kick good)
HL – 5-yard interception return (kick failed)