Football: Big Walnut comes up short in state semi rematch with Anderson
Friday, November 28, 2025
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Big Walnut’s Nolan Buirley reaches for more yardage during the Golden Eagles’ state semifinal loss to Anderson Friday at Historic Crew Stadium. Photo: John Hulkenberg
As Big Walnut football coach Curtis Crager stood on the field, feeling the brisk cold air that took over Historic Crew Stadium Nov. 28, he chose to focus on all the accomplishments his team had over the last couple of years.
The disappointment of a 29-22 loss to Cincinnati Anderson in a Division II state semifinal was visible on his face. The Raptors have ended the Golden Eagles season in this round each of the last two years. But focusing on that is for another time.
“I’m going to reflect on all the great things they’ve done,” Crager said. “I mean, that they’ve won the league back-to-back years. They won the region back-to-back years. They beat Massillon back-to-back years. I want to focus on that and what they’ve done for this community, the school and this program.”
Anderson advances to face Avon for a state championship Dec. 4 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton – the same Avon that defeated Anderson 20-13 in last year’s title game.
The Raptors (14-0), whose only state title came in 2007, came through when they needed it the most, including Cooper Kathman’s 1-yard touchdown reception with no time left on the clock to end the first half.
Big Walnut’s Gavin Harrington catches a touchdown pass over Anderson’s Ke’Maury Tye during their game Friday at Historic Crew Stadium. Photo: John Hulkenberg
And the running game, which had been thwarted most of the night, came through in the red zone as Anderson was trying to eat clock in the fourth quarter. Jordan Davis capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive with three carries for the final 16 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:35 remaining, that ended up being the game-clincher. The Raptors had just 29 yards on 28 carries.
“(Big Walnut is) really, really good on defense,” Anderson coach Evan Dreyer said. “They’re D-line has dominated the entire season. And I would tell you this – the last two seasons, last year and this year, that’s as physical a football team (and) well coached (as we’ve played) and to come out on top tonight was really, really good for us.”
Anderson, which beat Big Walnut 28-24 in last year’s state semifinal, played on the edge on offense with quarterback Owen Scalf completing 37 of 50 passes for 294 yards and two touchdowns.
“You got to give a lot of credit to Anderson,” Crager said. “They are very difficult to prepare for and to defend because of their unique style. The pace at which they go is really hard to mimic and practice (and) they’re very well coached.”
Kathman caught 11 passes for 118 yards, including receptions of 20- and 19-yards on the two plays preceding his score at the end of the first half to give Anderson a 23-8 lead.
Big Walnut was able to adjust to Anderson’s fast-paced offense in the second half.
Big Walnut’s Owen Pollock, who had 86 yards receiving, runs after making a catch against Anderson Friday at Historic Crew Stadium. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“I think they’re box players are amazing,” Dreyer said. “Talk about physicality (and) talk about stopping the run – that’s who they are. You start with (TJ Minor and Maston Yano and) you throw in (Will Clawson and Eli Helton) – God, they’re dominant football players.”
But offensively, the Golden Eagles (12-2) were stymied in the rushing game – a strength for most of the season. Nolan Buirley was held to 45 yards on 19 carries.
Still down 23-8 in the fourth quarter, quarterback Eli Stumpf found Gavin Harrington for a short 7-yard pass. Harrington had other plans. Instead of catching the ball, he tipped it to Buirley, who caught it and ran 10 yards for a score to cut the Eagles’ deficit to 23-15.
“There weren’t really any real adjustments to our kids – they just executed better,” Crager said “But we had a chance. We had a chance.”
Stumpf, who found Harrington for a 25-yard touchdown with 1:40 left in the game, finished 15-for-26 for 237 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Owen Pollack had four catches for 86 yards, Dallas Biehl added four receptions for 58 yards and Harrington caught three passes for 54 yards.
Brady Taylor had 10 tackles and a fumble recovery and Landen Doan also recovered a fumble.
Anwoine Higgins Jr. and Brayden Black each had interceptions to lead Anderson, which held Big Walnut to just 47 yards on the ground on 28 attempts.
“We couldn’t get anything going (inside) and we had to live out there,” Dreyer said. “And then they made some plays and interceptions on some tipped passes, and we (didn’t) play well (in the third quarter) and they played really well. And that’s what the state final four game should be.”
Big Walnut lineman Jackson Parsons feels the weight of the moment as the Golden Eagles fall in their state semifinal rematch with Anderson at Historic Crew Stadium Friday. Photo: John Hulkenberg