Football: Upper Arlington’s field goals, stingy defense topple top-seeded Gahanna
Friday, November 10, 2023
By Scott Gerfen
info@cbussports.com
Upper Arlington’s Noah Gehlert (16) celebrates after recovering a fumble in the Golden Bears’ 12-7 win over Gahanna on Nov. 10 at Thomas Worthington. Photo: Michael Rich
The offensive game plan for Upper Arlington wasn’t dependent on field goals, but four of them were enough for the fourth-seeded Golden Bears to get past top-seeded Gahanna 12-7 in a Division I, Region 3 semifinal Friday at Thomas Worthington.
“I can tell you it wasn’t the plan just to kick field goals,” said UA coach Justin Buttermore, whose team will face second-seeded Hilliard Bradley in a regional final Nov. 17 at a site to be determined.
Bradley shut out third-seeded Pickerington North 19-0 in a Nov. 10 semifinal.
UA’s 6-foot-3 freshman kicker Edward Oakley hit field goals of 18, 23, 35 and 34 yards in the second and third quarters.
“I think everyone overlooked us in this game, and I’m glad we could get it done,” he said. “Every (kick) was just kind of like the next, and they weren’t too far. It just felt good.”
Upper Arlington’s Zach Corna (4) breaks up a pass intended for Gahanna’s Jalen Scott (11) during the Golden Bears’ 12-7 win over the Lions on Nov. 10. Photo: Michael Rich
Touchdowns weren’t needed thanks to the Golden Bears’ relentless defensive effort that kept in check a high-scoring Gahanna offense, which entered the game averaging 38.6 points.
The only score the Lions could muster came in the third quarter when Jalen Scott scooped up Connor McCellan’s fumble at Gahanna’s 8 yard-line and sprinted up the sideline for a 92-yard touchdown to make it 9-7 with 8 minutes, 12 seconds left in the quarter.
Gahanna’s star rusher, Diore Hubbard, was held to 58 yards on 19 carries. The senior had just 21 yards in the first half.
Quarterback Brennen Ward completed just six of 22 passes for 112 yards and threw an interception that set up Oakley’s 35-yard field goal with 10:01 left in the third quarter.
“They just kind of hold the line up front and there’s no real gaps, and they’re dropping eight guys, so it’s hard to throw the ball,” said Gahanna coach Bruce Ward, whose team finished at 12-1. “We had some opportunities, and we missed some things, and that’s the way it goes.”
The Lions’ biggest offensive threat came in the second quarter when Brennen connected with Scott for 50 yards, setting up first-and-goal at the UA 2-yard line.
After consecutive penalties, Gahanna attempted a 27-yard field goal that went wide left.
Gahanna’s final drive ended at the Golden Bears’ 38-yard line when Brennen Ward’s pass fell incomplete on fourth-and-9 with 1:02 left.
“Our defense has been playing so solid,” Buttermore said. “They’re a bunch of guys playing together. It’s a team approach. It’s not a bunch of individuals.”
UA’s offense was led by McClellan, who rushed for 70 yards on 23 carries, while quarterback Kyle Cox completed 15 of 30 passes for 155 yards.