Through three quarters, it was everything you thought a regional title game would be between two teams that were 12-0 and defensive powerhouses. London took a 9-7 lead over Tippecanoe with 4:00 minutes left in the third quarter on a 38-yard field goal by Eli Noble. The top seeded Red Raiders followed that up with a 12-yard touchdown run by Bryston Toronto to make it 16-7, 15 seconds into the final stanza.
With their backs against the wall, Tippecanoe responded in a hurry. Red Devils quarterback Larkin Thomas busted through with a 25-yard touchdown run less than two minutes after the Toronto score. Larkin finished with a game high 82 yards on the ground to go along with his 139 yards through the air.
Tippecanoe defensive back Max Deckard stole the show after that. The senior ruined the Red Raiders next drive returning a fumble 21-yards for a score. Four turnovers played a large role in London’s demise this evening. Deckard would strike again five minutes later, returning his fifth interception of the season 49 yards for a touchdown. Deckard touched the ball six times and had 160 all-purpose yards.
The Red Devils would score 26 unanswered points in the game’s final 10 minutes to seal the program’s second regional title (2022 was the other).
SCORING BY QUARTERS
Tippecanoe: 7-0-0-26-33
London: 0-6-3-7-16
SCORING PLAYS
T: Grant Titley 45 pass from Larkin Thomas (Owen Baileys kick)
L: Bryson Toronto 2 run (kick failed)
L: Eli Noble 38 field goal
L: Toronto 12 run (Noble kick)
T: Thomas 25 run (Baileys kick)
T: Max Deckard 21 fumble recovery (pass failed)
T: Xavier Melton 6 run (kick failed)
T: Deckard 49 interception return (Baileys kick)
RECORDS: Tipppecanoe (13-0); London (12-1)
UP NEXT: Tipppecanoe vs. Bishop Watterson (12-0), OHSAA Division III, Region 12 State Semifinals
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.*Stay updated on high school football updates by following @TSFootball on X.
