GWOC football: Lebanon upsets Miamisburg

Lebanon kicker Billy Crago wasn’t going to let a broken arm – or bad kicking angle - sack his senior season.

“When I saw how close we were, that’s when I got nervous because I hate kicking from that (left) angle,” said Crago, whose second 23-yard field goal with less than three minutes left was the difference in a 13-12 defeat of visiting Miamisburg in Week 8 of the high school football season on Thursday night.

»PHOTOS: Miamisburg at Lebanon, Week 8 football

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Lebanon (5-3, 1-0) won its second straight and unofficially climbed four spots to No. 7 in the Division I, Region 4 computer rankings. Lebanon will have to win out against Stebbins (0-7) and Springboro (3-4) to be among the top eight D-I, Region 4 teams that qualify for the postseason.

The Greater Western Ohio Conference National West contest was a crushing setback for Miamisburg (6-2, 1-1). The Vikings unofficially dropped to No. 7 in the D-I, Region 3 computer rankings. It also was their second loss in the last three weeks.

»RELATED: Week 8 football power ratings

Miamisburg hosts Beavercreek (1-6) in Week 9 and likely will have to beat Northmont (6-1) in Week 10 to secure a spot in the postseason.

Thursday’s game was switched from Friday earlier in the week to accommodate President Trump’s rally at the Warren County Fairgrounds in Lebanon on Friday to support Republican candidates in next month’s election.

»RELATED: Week 8 football schedule

Crago connected on his initial 23-yard field goal midway through the third quarter that put Lebanon up 10-6. Miamisburg answered with Jackson Myers’ 6-yard TD run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Noah Schneider had an interception for Lebanon on Miamisburg’s next possession. Derrick Allen’s diving catch on 4th-and-12 from midfield into the red zone extended the game-winning drive. Lebanon couldn’t advance any farther than the 10 and Crago, his right arm in a cast following a fall from an off-road vehicle seven weeks ago, popped the game winner.

»PHOTOS: Springfield at Northmont, Week 7 football

“We just want to get an invitation to the (playoff) party and then we’ll see what happens when we get there,” said first-year Lebanon coach Matt Hopkins.

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Marc Pendleton