CATCH IN FRONT OF DEFENDER … Archbold receiver Brandon Taylor hauls in a pass from DJ Newman in their Division VI Regional Semifinal versus Columbus Grove. VIEW 851 PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST ONLINE FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM. (PHOTO BY RICH HARDING, STAFF)
By: Nate Calvin
ARCHBOLD, OHIO-After a quiet first half offensively by both squads, the visitors from Columbus Grove dominated the third quarter outscoring Archbold 20-0 on their way to a 34-20 win in the Division VI Region 22 Semifinals. Both teams entered the game averaging around 40ppg, but each team was held to just a touchdown in the opening half.
Columbus Grove had a short field for their second possession after forcing Archbold to punt from their own end zone. They took over at the Archbold 35-yard line and needed just two plays as quarterback Blake Reynolds scored on a draw play after a 30-yard run by running back Colin Metzger to make it 7-0.
Archbold capped off a ten play, 76-yard drive on the first play of the second quarter as DJ Newman found Jayden Schulze for a 25-yard TD pass to tie the game 7-7. The second half started with good field position again for the Bulldogs after a long kickoff return by wide receiver Gabe Clement that had a horse collar penalty added to the end of it to put the ball at the Bluestreak 25-yard line.
The Bulldogs scored seven plays later with Reynolds punching it in from two yards out to give Columbus Grove a 14-7 lead with 8:24 left in the third quarter. The Columbus Grove special teams would then turn in the play of the night as a line drive kickoff hit an Archbold upman in the back and the Bulldogs recovered the loose ball at the Archbold 44-yard line.
Columbus Grove would take advantage with Metzger scoring on a 10-yard scamper to make 20-7 after the missed extra point.
After a three and out by the Bluestreaks offense, the Bulldogs engineered an eight play, 95 yard drive that ended with a one-yard TD run by Metzger to extend their lead to 27-7 with :35 seconds to go in the third quarter. Columbus Grove ran 17 plays in the third quarter to only four by the Bluestreaks.
The Bulldogs would put the game away taking over at the Bluestreak 24-yard line following an Archbold turnover on downs as Metzger would bounce off about seven Archbold defenders before finding the goal line to make it 34-7 with 5:24 left in the game.
Archbold scored twice in the final three minutes to close the final margin with Newman throwing a 25-yard TD pass to Brandon Taylor and Noah Gomez added a five-yard touchdown run.
Metzger was the workhorse for the Bulldogs, carrying the ball 26 times for 180 yards and three scores. Newman finished the night for Archbold 13/20 passing for 116 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 132 yards on 14 carries.
Archbold’s season ends with an overall record of 8-1 and an outright NWOAL Championship. Columbus Grove (9-0) will now face Fairview (9-0) in the Division VI Region 22 Final at Defiance High School this Saturday night.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Columbus Grove 7 0 20 7 34
Archbold 0 7 0 13 20
Nate can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com