Host Trotwood (8-3) recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff, leading to Hargrove’s first rushing score. He ran in two more touchdowns to help the Rams take a 18-7 lead into the half.
Celina (7-4) closed the deficit with a touchdown early in the third quarter but it was all Trotwood from that point. Hargrove added a 15-yard touchdown run, Caleb Johnson scored on a 45-yard punt return and caught a seven-yard TD pass, and Rondric Bogan had a 24-yard touchdown run.
The Rams face Tippecanoe in the second round.
Cin. La Salle 52, Vandalia-Butler 14: No. 8 seed Vandalia's (7-4) second playoff appearance in three seasons ended in a loss to No. 1 La Salle (9-2) in this Division II, Region 6 playoff opener. Noah Ballard caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Chandler Craine and Nic Martin had a two-yard TD run for the Aviators.
Wapakoneta 44, Belmont 22: Elijah Malcolm had a pair of TD runs and Davion Lankford had the opening score on a one-yard carry for visiting Belmont (7-3), but the No. 8 seed Bison couldn't keep up with top-seed Wapakoneta in this Division III, Region 10 playoff opener.
Coldwater 42, Bethel-Tate 0: Chris Post tallied three touchdowns and over 200 all-purpose yards to help No. 1 seed Coldwater (11-0) defeat Bethel-Tate (6-5) in a Division V, Region 18 playoff opener. Post had two rushing scores, including a 40-yard scamper that put the host Cavaliers on the board, and also caught a 56-yard touchdown pass from Jack Hemmelgarn. Aaron Harlamert, Kraig Schoenherr and Kyle McKibben each had rushing scores for Coldwater (11-0).
Minster 37, Fort Loramie 7: No. 1 seed Minster scored 30 unanswered points to run away in this Division VII, Region 26 playoff opener. Evan Huelsman had two rushing touchdowns and Josh Nixon threw a pair of TD passes for the host Wildcats (9-2). Drew Wehrman connected with Nate Pleiman on a four-yard TD pass for Fort Loramie's (6-5) only score.
Lehman Catholic 20, Covington 16: Jake Earhart's two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter proved the winning score as No. 7 seed Lehman Catholic (7-4) upset No. 2 seed Covington (8-3) and this Division VII, Region 26 playoff opener. Owen Smith and Stephan Monnin also had TD runs for the Cavaliers. Ethan Herron had two touchdown runs for the Buccaneers.
Fort Recovery 62, Miami Valley Christian Academy 34: Will Homan had seven carries for 111 yards with four touchdowns and Jason Roessner had nine carries for 149 yards with two scores to lead No. 3 seed Fort Recovery over No. 6 Miami Valley Christian Academy (8-2) in this Division VII, Region 26 playoff opener. Caleb Martin went 12-for-15 with 215 yards and two touchdowns for the host Indians (9-2).
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