Centerville captures first regional title since ‘91

DAYTON – The third time might just be the charm for the Centerville Elks.

Centerville captured their third regional title in school history, knocking off Greater Western Ohio Conference rival Wayne 23-14 in a hard-fought OSHAA Division I, Region 2 title game Friday night at Dayton’s Welcome Stadium.

It was the Shane Cole show for the Elks, with the junior QB running for 62 yards and two scores on 13 carries, along with tossing one touchdown, to lead the Centerville offense.

Cole led off the scoring for Centerville, scrambling for a 7-yard TD less than three minutes into the game to give the Elks an early 7-0 lead. That lead would hold until the second quarter, when Wayne knotted the score with a 39-yard touchdown toss from QB Tyrell Lewis to widout Jamier Averette-Brown. Centerville would fire right back, however, as Cole would hit wide receiver Josh Becker on a 71-yard bomb to put the Elks up 14-7 going into the half.

The Warriors were hardly out of the fight, though, and quickly tied it right back up in the third quarter, as running back Isaiah Thompson rumbled for a 47-yard score with 7:38 left in the third to make it 14-all.

That’s how the fourth quarter would begin, with the longtime rivals knotted at 14 apiece and a regional title on the line. Cole would rise to the occasion and provide more heroics for the Elks, driving Centerville deep into Warrior territory and capping the drive with a 4-yard touchdown with 4:12 left in the game to give the Elks a 21-14 lead.

The Centerville defense would then put the nail in Wayne’s coffin, forcing an intentional grounding by Wayne with under a minute left in the game – resulting in a safety and a 23-14 Elks lead – and capturing the third regional title in school history.

Centerville RB Parker Johnson added 102 yards on the ground, and senior linebacker Jacob Taylor had 11 tackles – three of them for loss – and one sack to led the Elks defense.

Centerville advances to the Ohio Division I state semfinals next Friday against Moeller – the same school they won their first-ever playoff game in school history against in 1984.

BOX SCORE
Centerville 7-7-0-9 -23
Wayne 0-7-7-0-14

SCORING PLAYS
C: Shane Cole 7-yard run (Leland Gantz kick)
W: Jamier Averette-Brown 39-yard pass from Tyrell Lewis (Carson Limberg kick)
C: Josh Becker 71-yard pass from Shane Cole (Gantz kick)
W: Isaiah Thompson 47-yard run (Limberg kick)
C: Cole 4-yard run (Gantz kick)
C: Team Safety

RECORDS: Centerville (11-3); Wayne (8-6)
UP NEXT: Centerville will face Moeller (13-1) in Ohio Division I state semifinals; Wayne’s season is complete

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