Tyler Harris, Staff Writer
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
FRANKLIN FURNACE — It was a historic night in Franklin Furnace on Friday as Green hosted its first-ever playoff game.
CREDIT: Baylee Harris/SOSA
But unfortunately, a familiar opponent came to spoil all the fun.
In a game that was back and forth for all 48 minutes long, and one that featured three onside kicks recovered and six plays that went for over 40 yards, Notre Dame emerged victorious on the back of a defense that, while porous most of the night, showed up in the biggest spot possible in the fourth quarter.
That defense eventually slammed the door shut on a 45-36 win and the school’s first playoff win since 2000.
“We just made a couple of little adjustments,” Notre Dame coach Bob Ashley said of his team’s fourth quarter effort. “We just started to focus on our keys, mixed up our fronts, and that was the key for us and our kids responded to our coaching.”
The night’s scoring started on just a four-play, 52-yard drive that was capped by Dylan Seison’s scamper from nine yards out just two minutes into the game. And while an early lead is good, getting the ball right back is better, which is what the Titans (6-5) did when an onside kick bounced off a Green jersey and was recovered.
That led to Gavin Hart’s first touchdown run of the night from two yards out.
PHOTOS: Images from Notre Dame’s playoff win over Green
Just like that, it was 14-0 less than halfway through the first quarter and Green (6-5) hadn’t even played and offensive snap yet.
But the Bobcats weren’t hosting a playoff game for just any reason They responded in a big way as Landan Lodwick took a second down carry 56 yards to the house, closing the gap to 14-6. That’s when the real battle began and the track meet started.
Seison added to his monster first quarter with his second touchdown run of the night, this time, from 12 yards away to put the Titans up 21-6 in the first with just over a minute to play. It was a quarter that saw Notre Dame dominate time of possession with 11:46 under its belt.
“[Dylan] came up big for us tonight,” Ashley said, “He’s a heck of an athlete and a weapon any time he touches the ball and it seems that in every big game, he seems to always show up and play his best.”
Who needs time of possession, anyways?
Green had a weapon of its own — a young man named Abe McBee.
The moment that Green got the ball back early in the second quarter, McBee used his lightning speed and elite vision to slash through the Titans’ defense for a 63-yard trip to pay dirt. That scored was followed by a second straight possession off an onside kick and it was quickly finished off with a 54-yard house call. A successful two-point conversion put Green in front for the first time at 22-21 with nine minutes left until halftime.
After the only field goal of the night put the Titans back in front at 24-22, they forced a fumble at their own 37-yard line with a chance to steal all of the momentum heading into halftime. Seison ended the half with a 28-yard touchdown catch and an interception on the defensive end, closing a wild first half at 31-22 in ND’s favor.
The second half was a complete role reversal.
An abysmal third quarter allowed Green to control time of possession, ten and half minutes of it, and four Titan penalties allowed the Bobcats to seize control of the game on back-to-back touchdown runs from McBee, his third and fourth of the night, making it 36-31 to start the fourth and final stanza.
“We know that is a problem for us,” Ashley said of his team’s penalties. “We talk about it every day and it’s bit us at times. We know we have to correct some mistakes in crucial moments and get better every day.”
Just when Notre Dame needed a play, who else did they turn to but Seison? Why not number 2?
Seison took the ensuing kick and weaved through the coverage 73 yards to the house and put an absolute dagger in the Bobcats. As all of the momentum swung back to the Titans, they pinned their ears back and came after Green’s offense.
Notre Dame held Green to just 16 yards throughout the rest of the quarter and Seison’s second interception set up Hart’s second touchdown run, putting away a 45-36 final.
Hart led Notre Dame with 22 carries for 147 yards and two scores while Seison did it all, piling up 227 all-purpose yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. Wyatt Webb led ND through the air, going 7-of-12 passing for 147 yards and a touchdown.
McBee took 14 carries for 164 yards and four scores and Lodwick had an efficient 77 yards on just seven carries alongside a touchdown.
While Green’s season comes to an end, Notre Dame advances to play at Newark Catholic in Week 12. The Green Wave earned a 49-0 win over Bishop Rosecrans to advance.
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