CANTON, Ohio — For the third straight season, the St. Edward Eagles had to go through the Springfield Wildcats in order to win a state football crown. And for the third straight year, they were up to the task.
On Friday, St. Edward used their running game to power past Springfield, 31-21, in the Ohio High School Athletic Association's Divison I state championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. The Eagles rushed for 305 yards as a team, including 235 yards on 32 carries by sophomore running back Brandon White.
White scored three touchdowns on the night, including a 3-yard run with 1:27 to go to put the finishing touches on the Eagles' seventh state championship overall and the fifth under head coach Tom Lombardo.
The Eagles jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on scoring runs by White and quarterback Casey Bullock. Springfield would march back into the game with 21 points in the second quarter, highlighted by a 93-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Jayvin Norman.
Norman's touchdown return was the longest in Division I state championship game history and tied the game at 21 with 1:24 to go in the first half. The Wildcats seemed poised to add to their momentum after executing an onside kick. Springfield drove the ball down to the Eagles 1-yard line but were stopped short of a touchdown as time expired.
The game remained tied at 21 until the final quarter, when Kellen Moyer connected on a 36-yard field goal with 6:54 left to give St. Edward a 24-21 lead.
It has already been a banner weekend for Northeast Ohio teams at the state championships with victories by Massillon in Division II and Kirtland in Division VI. On Saturday, Perry, Dalton, and Glenville will all look to bring home titles.
