Football: Jones’ sack helps Canal Winchester hold off Delaware Hayes
Friday, October 13, 2023
By Michael Rich
mrich@cbussports.com
Canal Winchester’s Karson Martino catches a pass while Delaware’s Chase Radabaugh defends Oct. 13. Photo: John Hulkenberg
JayJay Jones didn’t give Jake Lowman much time to make a play. The senior defensive end had him on the ground on fourth down to all but clinch an OCC-Capital Division title for the Canal Winchester football team.
Jones’ sack, which came with 1 minute, 50 seconds remaining in the game, helped Canal hold off host Delaware 24-21 on Oct. 13.
“The kid has been coming up big all year,” said Canal coach Jake Kuhner, whose team won its third league title since joining the conference before the 2013 season. “He’s one of our best defensive linemen, hands down. Braydon Young on the other side was getting pressure all night as well. (Jones) makes big plays in big situations. I want to say that’s his second game-ending sack he’s had this year. He’s a very good player.”
Jones finished with two tackles, both sacks, leading the team, which had four sacks overall, including Young’s 1.5.
“I knew it was going to be a pass (because) they needed it really bad,” Jones said. “I saw the tackle and dipped my shoulder and just got to the QB and stopped him right there in the pocket.”
Earlier in the drive, Lowman hurled up a 39-yard pass to Garrett Brown on the right sideline on a third-down play to keep the drive alive. Delaware couldn’t get any closer than Canal’s 31 before the drive ended with a sack.
Delaware still had three timeouts and had Canal stopped on third down on the ensuing possession, but an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play ended any hope of another chance.
Canal Winchester’s Eliyah Mason (left) breaks up a pass intended for Delaware’s Austin Koslow on Oct. 13. Photo: John Hulkenberg
“(Canal is) a physical, running team and our guys are trying to be physical,” Pacers coach Ryan Montgomery said. “It is what it is. We have to learn from it and we have to move forward. It’ll be a teachable moment for us and our kids, I’m sure, are going to take it hard.”
Canal (9-0, 6-0), known more for its running game, made several big plays in the passing game. AJ Young out-jumped a defender for a ball near midfield and then won the race to the end zone to complete a 78-yard pass play for a 7-0 lead on Canal’s second play from scrimmage.
Karson Martino had two receptions for 66 yards, including an acrobatic 30-yard touchdown reception on the left side of the end zone to give Canal a 14-7 lead with 6:34 remaining in the first half.
Brunner finished 3 of 8 passing for 144 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He added 41 yards on 11 carries on the ground.
“We knew coming into the game (Delaware was) probably going to press us and give us a cover-one, man look,” Brunner said. “I trusted my guys with their speed and going out and making a play. I can’t do it without those guys.”
Canal had a chance to go up two scores on its next possession before Logan Frye forced a fumble that was recovered by Cooper Frye at Delaware’s 25.
But a fumble on the next snap was recovered by Harlee Hanna and returned 30 yards for a touchdown to make it 21-7 with 2:15 remaining in the first half.
Delaware’s Justin Matthews (right) tackles Canal Winchester’s Maxton Brunner on Oct. 13. Photo: John Hulkenberg
Evan Schrader added a 35-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter for what turned out to be the difference.
Corey Howard had 24 carries for 80 yards and Eli Cassidy had 6.5 tackles to lead Canal.
Lowman finished 15 of 28 passing for 244 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Pacers (7-2, 4-2). He completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Gavin Shears, who wrestled the ball away from a defender in the back of the end zone.
“We don’t have a bunch of individuals, we have a team,” Kuhnel said. “Our senior class is phenomenal. We don’t have (any Division I prospects). It’s a great group of kids and I love coaching them.”
Facing pressure on Delaware’s next possession, Lowman flipped a short pass to Gavin Brinkmoeller, who went 55 yards for a touchdown to pull the Pacers within 24-21 with 9:32 remaining.
Brown finished with five catches for 87 yards and Koslow added four receptions for 42 yards.
Frye had 10 tackles, Jaxson Smith added 6.5 and Justin Matthews had 4.5 and an interception to lead Delaware.
The Pacers were seeking their first league title since 1996 and third overall.
“One of our goals was to compete for an OCC (title) and come up short – it’s going to hurt,” Montgomery said. “But I told our guys there’s a lot of things we haven’t done as a (program) in a long time. We’ve only had one eight-win season (1988). We’ve never won a playoff game. I think we have a really good team and we match up with a lot of teams and have an opportunity in the playoffs to make some noise.”