Football: Upper Arlington edges Pickerington Central in triple overtime
Friday, November 3, 2023
By Jarrod Ulrey
julrey@cbussports.com
Upper Arlington’s Connor McClellan (22) falls across the goal line to score the winning touchdown in the Golden Bears’ 23-17 triple overtime playoff victory over Pickerington Central at UA Nov. 3. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The slow-moving slugfest that took place throughout regulation and into three extra sessions between Pickerington Central and host Upper Arlington came to a head during the game’s final drive.
The fourth-seeded Golden Bears, still learning to live without three starters who were lost to season-ending regular-season injuries, were limited to 9 yards rushing during the first half of their Division I, Region 3 quarterfinal Friday against the fifth-seeded Tigers.
Senior running back Connor McClellan finally began gaining traction in the second half on a Tigers’ defense that allowed an average of just 7.2 points during the six-game winning streak they took into the game.
He broke through for a 13-yard run on the second play of the third overtime and then crashed through the line for a 6-yard touchdown to seal a 23-17 victory in three overtimes for UA.
“We ran our bread and butter,” McClellan said. “I ran into the pile and with the help of my teammates, I came out the other side in the end zone. I’m definitely more of a physical back who will really just do whatever I can for my team.”
While Central finished 8-4, UA improved to 9-3 and will play top-seeded Gahanna Lincoln on Nov. 10 in a regional semifinal at a site to be announced. The Lions edged Grove City 48-42 on Nov. 3 in a quarterfinal.
The last time UA and Central played, with the regional title on the line in 2021, the Bears won 21-14 in a game that also went three overtimes.
“It took a lot of effort obviously,” coach Justin Buttermore said. “I knew for us to win, it had to be a low-scoring game. Several times we had the opportunities to win and just didn’t finish it off. I told them the weaker-minded teams let that stuff bother them.”
Pickerington Central’s Anthony Madison III looks for a lane during the Tigers’ triple overtime playoff loss at Upper Arlington Nov. 3. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The Bears took a 7-0 lead with 11 minutes, 53 seconds left in the first half when junior quarterback Kyle Cox hit senior Austin Stutz for a 41-yard touchdown pass. Central tied it at 7 with 2:50 to go before halftime when sophomore quarterback Rocco Williams ran in from 1 yard. That capped a 13-play, 81-yard drive that was boosted when Central stopped junior running back Zach Corna for (minus)-1 yard but was whistled for a personal foul to move the ball to the UA 49.
On third-and-3 from the Bears’ 27 during that possession, Anthony Madison III ran for 25 yards to set up Williams’ score two plays later.
UA freshman kicker Edward Oakley missed a pair of second-half field goals, including a 30-yarder with 39 seconds remaining in regulation.
After Central kicker Carson Goulet hit a 30-yard field goal on his team’s first overtime possession to make it 10-7, Oakley responded by making a 32-yard field goal that tied it during the Tigers’ first overtime drive.
“We’ve lost a lot of good players, and in the middle of the year, we had some damaged psyches,” UA coach Justin Buttermore said. “I thought the kick (to force a second overtime) was a huge kick.”
UA then took a 17-10 lead when Cox connected with sophomore Trent Wolpert in the left corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown.
When the Tigers were faced with fourth-and-12 from the 22 on the ensuing drive, Williams hit senior Dominic Shaw over the middle for a 13-yard reception.
Two plays later, senior running back Aaron Heller ran in from 4 yards to tie it at 17.
“(Our season) ended a little bit early, but these guys played hard and played well enough to win,” first-year Central coach Jeff Lomonico said. “That’s what’s so tough about it being over. These guys were playing the best football they’ve played. It was great to be a part of a game like that. I’m proud of the seniors, the way they led us and kept bouncing back.”
Pickerington Central’s Patrick Carney (12) and Mike Jones (14) tackle Upper Arlington receiver Sam Tongol after a catch during playoff action at UA Nov. 3. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Central got the ball to begin the third overtime and advanced to the 10 on the first play when UA was whistled for interference.
The Tigers then moved to the UA 4 on a 4-yard pass from Williams to junior Kae’Juan Alexander, but on third-and-goal from the 4, Madison was stopped for a 2-yard gain.
On fourth-and-goal, Central again handed to Madison, but he stumbled coming out of the backfield and was stopped at the 1 by George Gerber to keep it tied at 17.
That set up the game-winning scoring drive for the Bears, who are a combined 33-7 over the last three seasons under Buttermore after going 3-5 in his debut 2020 season with the program.
“I thought Connor broke several tackles on the last two runs,” Buttermore said. “He’s a physical runner and gets better as the game goes on. On both of those plays, he got hit behind the line of scrimmage
“Pickerington Central is a great team and a great program, and for us to be able to battle for four quarters and win in overtime, I’m proud of them. I don’t know if six or seven weeks ago that you would have penciled us into playing in Week 13. They handled adversity, and when you practice well and stay the course, good things happen.”
McClellan finished with 78 yards rushing and Cox completed 12 of 20 passes for 166 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bears.
For Central, Williams went 20-for-31 passing for 189 yards and Madison rushed for 77 yards on 15 carries.
The win sets up UA’s first matchup against Gahanna since 2014 when the Lions blew out the Bears 41-14 for their first win under current coach Bruce Ward.
After going 38-35 in Ward’s first seven seasons, Gahanna is 32-5 over the past three seasons, including winning its first 12 of this season.
“Coach Buttermore preaches staying together as a team, and getting one more week shows that we do want to be together,” Cox said.