HAMILTON, Ohio – Max Orlando delivered a long touchdown run and a critical goal-line fumble recovery as #24 McNicholas shut out #19 Badin 14-0 on Friday night at Matandy SportsPlex to claim the outright GCL Co-ed championship.
The Rockets finished the regular season 8-2 overall and a perfect 5-0 in conference play, winning their seventh consecutive game. The loss dropped Badin to 7-3 and 3-2 in the league, ending the Rams’ streak of eight consecutive seasons with at least a share of a conference title.
McNicholas’ defense provided the foundation for the championship-clinching performance. The Rockets allowed just 14 points across their five conference games, holding every league opponent to seven points or fewer.
Max Hamilton set the tone with a sack on Badin’s opening possession. The Rams were unable to turn their first-quarter opportunities into points, including a possession that ended on downs with 29 seconds remaining in the period.
McNick finishes the regular season with the an unblemished conference record and the GCL Co-Ed title.
@WLWT https://t.co/nMwooC2DAi
— Jaron May (@jaron_may) October 24, 2026
After a scoreless opening quarter, McNicholas struck quickly in the second. Orlando broke loose for a 54-yard touchdown run with 11:42 remaining, putting the Rockets ahead 7-0.
Orlando’s next major contribution came on defense.
Hudson Heid intercepted Evan Sandfoss with 8:36 left in the half, giving Badin an opportunity to answer. The Rams advanced into scoring position, aided by a 37-yard run, but Orlando recovered a fumble at the McNicholas 1-yard line with 7:34 remaining to preserve the lead.
Badin’s defense kept the Rams within reach, forcing the Rockets to punt from their own 2. McNicholas answered with another defensive stop, forcing a punt and regaining possession with 3:19 left before halftime.
The Rockets then extended their advantage. Two Badin personal fouls assessed at the end of the same play helped McNicholas’ possession, and Joseph Reuss finished with a 10-yard touchdown run at the 1:04 mark.
McNicholas carried a 14-0 lead into halftime with a 180-125 advantage in total yardage.
Neither team scored after the break, but the Rockets still had to turn away another Badin threat. The Rams reached the McNicholas 31 by the end of the third quarter before their possession ended on downs at the Rockets’ 22 with 10:59 remaining in the game.
McNicholas protected its two-score advantage the rest of the way, completing a shutout on Badin’s Senior Night and securing the conference crown without a co-champion.
Badin entered with a chance to extend its championship streak to nine seasons. Instead, the night belonged to a McNicholas team whose defense finished league play with its strongest possible statement.
Both teams now turn their attention to the Ohio postseason, with McNicholas competing in Division III, Region 12 and Badin in Division II, Region 8.
POSTGAME INTERVIEWS
SCORING BY QUARTERS
McNicholas: 0-14-0-0 – 14
Badin: 0-0-0-0 – 0
SCORING PLAYS
M: Max Orlando 54-yard run (Bobo Iliev kick good)
M: Joseph Reuss 10-yard run (Iliev kick good)
RECORDS: McNicholas 8-2, 5-0 GCL Co-ed; Badin 7-3, 3-2 GCL Co-ed.
UP NEXT: Both teams await their final playoff seeds and postseason matchups.
Get the complete scores from all of this week’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
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