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Troy football coach Matt Burgbacher got it right after Miamisburg handed the Trojans their first loss in the final seconds Friday night at Troy.
“What a high school football game, huh?” he said.
Miamisburg’s Tyler Johnson made his second touchdown catch from quarterback Tate Vongsy, covering 19 yards with just eight seconds left to stun the Trojans, 21-17. Both teams are 4-1.
HIGHLIGHTS: Tipp outlasts Fairborn; Beavers find life in fourth
SCORES: Results from WEEK 5 High School Football
HIGHLIGHTS: Mike Hartsock and Touchdown 7 with highlights from tonight's top games
COMPLETE COVERAGE: Wayne blows out resurgent Northmont | Franklin blows out Valley View in battle of SWBL unbeatens | Covington holds off Troy Christian rally in Miami County matchup | Alter annihlates Fenwick 52-3 |
Those are the deciding stats that will be recorded about this game. But it’s the intangibles that are more telling. Memorial Stadium was packed with appreciative home-side fans and it was nearly the same on Miamisburg’s side. The storied house that former Ohio State University great Bob Ferguson helped build can hold 8,000 spectators.
The contest had a playoff feel to it. That’s good, because these two teams could meet again in the Division II, Region 8 playoffs. Both are on course to qualify for the postseason. That’s the norm at Miamisburg, which has been to the playoffs three of the last four years. Troy is coming off a 2-8 season and hasn’t had a Week 11 game since the 2011 season.
“Our kids were ready for the challenge,” said Burgbacher, who previously oversaw a perennial playoff program at Fort Loramie. “I could see it in pregame. I could see it getting dressed in the locker room. They made one more play than we did. I can’t be disappointed in our kids. I loved the effort.”
• Miamisburg senior lineman Josh Myers took himself out early in the first quarter after twisting an ankle. He soon returned but appeared to be limping afterward.
At least one Ohio State University representative was on the sideline. That’s normal for high-end recruits who can’t sign binding letters of intent until February. Until then every senior is recruiting fair game. Myers committed to OSU two years ago.
• Centerville coach Rodney Roberts was asked if he was pulling his hair out during the final wacky minutes of Centerville’s 28-21 win at Springboro on Thursday. Roberts laughed and reminded his team he has no hair.
This is the season that might have been for Centerville (2-3), which lost 13-6 to Fairfield (4-1), 49-21 to Pickerington North (4-1) and 26-20 to Springfield on a Hail Mary last-second play. The Elks would have to win out to have a D-I playoff shot, unlikely with the GWOC National East play beginning this week against visiting Wayne (4-0-1).
“It’s very fulfilling as a coach to watch guys work hard and stay the course and finally have some of that success they so greatly deserve,” said Roberts.
• Piqua (3-2) is at Sidney (3-2) on Thursday to open GWOC American North Division play. Piqua has rolled over West Carrollton and Xenia to mount a two-game win streak. Sidney owns a three-game win streak and features the GWOC’s overall rushing leader in junior Isaiah Bowser (1,065 yards, 17 touchdowns). Averaging 8.5 yards in 126 carries, if he maintains that pace he’ll surpass 2,000 yards for the regular season.
The game will be shown live on ABC 22/FOX 45 channel 45.2.
• Trotwood-Madison (4-1) has found a capable go-to sub for injured running back Raveion Hargrove in William McDaniel. Just a freshman, he had just four carries in Weeks 1-2, but has rushed for 371 yards and five touchdowns the last three weeks in blowouts of Middletown, Tippecanoe and Greenville.
Hargrove, who rushed for an all-time area best 3,039 yards last season, missed his second straight game. Coaches have said he’s sidelined with a deep thigh bruise. The Rams have gotten defensive since the season-opening loss to Troy. Trotwood has allowed just 22 total points.
• Nine area football teams remain unbeaten. All are 5-0 with the exception of Wayne (4-0-1). D-III is loaded with Franklin and St. Marys Memorial. D-IV features Alter and D-V Coldwater. Mechanicsburg is perfect in D-VI and Covington in D-VII.
Suffering their first losses in Week 5 were Troy, Bellbrook, Valley View, Troy Christian and Springfield Catholic Central.
• This is the season for cancer awareness. Many schools are teaming up with football opponents for a weekly challenge in raising the most donations. Miamisburg and Troy collected a combined $10,370 last week and awarded a check to the oncology department at Dayton Children’s Hospital during Friday’s game.
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