Glenville Falls to Sandusky Perkins, 13-11, in Division IV State Semifinal
CLYDE, Ohio – Turnovers proved costly for Glenville as the two-time defending state champions fell to Sandusky Perkins, 13-11, in the OHSAA Division IV state semifinal on Friday at Robert Bishop Stadium. The victory propels Perkins (14-1) to the state championship, where they will face Gnadenhutten Indian Valley next Saturday in Canton. Glenville ends their season with an 11-4 record.
In a rematch of last year’s Region 14 final, both teams struggled offensively, but the Pirates capitalized on Glenville’s four turnovers, converting those miscues into 10 critical points.
The Tarblooders had opportunities to seize the game in the second half. Late in the third quarter, a shanked punt and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave Glenville a prime scoring chance at the 10-yard line. Facing fourth-and-goal from the 3, they opted against a field goal, and the Pirates’ defense held firm, stopping the run to regain possession. This was the closest Glenville would get to a lead for the rest of the night.
The game began with Perkins opening the scoring with a 21-yard field goal. Glenville quickly responded as Romell Phillips’ 62-yard run set up a red zone opportunity, but a fumble handed the ball back to the Pirates.
Glenville’s defense remained resilient, forcing a safety on a third-and-long to make it 3-2. However, Perkins capitalized on a short field following an interception, with senior running back Isaac Bunts scoring a 10-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 10-2.
Special teams provided a spark for the Tarblooders as Demetrius Harper’s 80-yard kick return set up a 5-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback LaMarques Greenwood. Perkins added a 39-yard field goal just before halftime to take a 13-8 lead into the break.
The second half was a defensive battle. Glenville managed the only points with a 34-yard field goal by Emiere Lemons in the third quarter, narrowing the deficit to 13-11. Greenwood’s 23-yard scramble, the Tarblooders’ sole first down in the half, set up the score.
Defensively, Glenville limited Perkins to just 13 yards and one first down in the second half. However, the Tarblooders’ offense struggled against the Pirates’ defense, managing only 58 total yards after the break.
With one final chance and just over a minute remaining, Glenville took over at their own 15-yard line but suffered two sacks, ending any hopes of a comeback.
The loss marks the end of Glenville’s 16-game postseason winning streak, but their strong defensive effort and resilience throughout the season underscore a promising future.
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