Alter vs. Clinton-Massie: A clash of great ground games

Defense will also be tough in D-IV Region 16 final

Alter High School running back Justin Winters runs for a score against Jonathan Alder on Nov. 7 at Roush Stadium in Kettering. The Knights have won every game this season by at least 15 points.

Staff photo by Jim Noelker Alter High School running back Justin Winters runs for a score against Jonathan Alder on Nov. 7 at Roush Stadium in Kettering. The Knights have won every game this season by at least 15 points.

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By Kyle Nagel, Staff Writer Updated 12:46 AM Friday, November 20, 2009

KETTERING — Now that the Clinton-Massie High School football team got past the state’s top passer, the Falcons can get back into their comfort zone: Running and defending the run.

It’ll be a contest of ground games at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, when top-seeded Clinton-Massie meets second-seeded and state top-ranked Alter in a Division IV, Region 16 final at Centerville Stadium.

Both undefeated, the teams have stayed at the top of the Dayton Daily News area D-IV poll for much of the season, and many wondered what would happen if they played.

Alter has paved the easier path to the final, shutting out Jonathan Alder (42-0) and Carlisle (41-0) in its first two playoff games. After topping Waynesville 43-0 in its opener, Clinton-Massie last weekend faced fourth-seeded Kenton, which boasted sophomore quarterback Maty Mauk, the state’s top passer.

Even though Clinton-Massie’s 27-6 lead to start the fourth quarter shrunk and Mauk passed for 363 yards, the Falcons won 30-22 to set up the regional final.

“There was a lot of talk that Kenton had the edge,” said Alter coach Ed Domsitz. “It was tough to say, because there aren’t a lot of common opponents. Kenton is a solid football team, and that illustrates how good Clinton-Massie is.”

Clinton-Massie running back Jordan Scanlon has totaled 317 yards on 63 carries in the first two playoff games, and Alter counters with a running game that produced 335 yards last weekend against Carlisle.

The Knights have won each of their 12 games by at least 15 points, and the defense has produced three straight shutouts and four in the past five games.

“They prepare well, and they take each week as a new challenge,” Domsitz said. “They’ve done a great job of being focused.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com