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2021 TSF Cincinnati Team of the Year: Winton Woods

Winton Woods head coach Chad Murphy (photo by James bates/TriStateFootball.com)

It was one of the great storylines of the season. Winton Woods (13-3) struggled out of the gate at 1-2 and then heart, desire, pride and drive all kicked in at the same time. It was a lethal combination for Warriors foes. Winton Woods would go on to capture the second Division II state championship in school history, winning all six of their playoff games by 10 or more points. The Warriors topped off their magical run with nine straight victories and 12 triumphs in their last 13 tilts. That effort has earned them the 2021 TriState Football Cincinnati Team of the Year.

After three weeks Winton Woods had more losses than wins and more turnovers (six) than touchdowns (four). Things looked bleak. New head coach Chad Murphy made a couple of tweaks to the offense and the Warriors were off and running, literally. They managed to get to the playoffs and in rounds 2 and 3, Winton Woods avenged those two early season losses to La Salle and Kings.

The next week the Warriors dismantled previously unbeaten Piqua, 38-17 for the programs fourth regional title. Winton Woods held the Indians to a season low 17 points and scored 15 more points than Piqua allowed in any game all year.

During that four-game postseason run the Warriors averaged 39.25 points. In that span, running back TyRek Spikes was sensational. The senior had games of 252, 240, 230 and 170 yards rushing with nine touchdowns. He finished with 1,175 yards with 11 touchdowns rushing in six playoff games.

In the state semifinals, Winton Woods would give up 525 yards of total offense to Green but only seven points. Four critical turnovers by the Bulldogs sealed their faith.

In the state championship versus Hoban it was the Warriors who coughed the ball up three times. The Knights even returned a fumble for a touchdown. The Winton Woods defense would rise to the occasion not allowing the Hoban offense to get into the end zone the entre night and help nail down the title.

Pressure was the name of the game for the Winton Woods defense. The Warriors had 44.0 sacks, 14.0 of them from OPSWA Division II Ohio Defensive Player of the Year. Defensive backs Cameron Calhoun (nine INTs, one FR) and Jermaine Matthews Jr. (five INTs, two FRs) accounted for 17 of the team’s 37 takeaways.

Murphy finishes his first campaign at Winton Woods, 13-3. He is now 46-61 in 10 years as a head coach. This is the third time in the last 13 years that the Warriors have been named the TriState Football Cincinnati Teams of the Year.

TriState Football Cincinnati Teams of the Year
2021 – Winton Woods
2020 – St. Xavier
2019 – La Salle
2018 – Wyoming
2017 – Winton Woods
2016 – La Salle
2015 – La Salle
2014 – La Salle
2013 – Loveland
2012 – Moeller
2011 – Kings
2010 – McNicholas
2009 – Winton Woods
2008 – Elder
2008 – St. Xavier

 

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