Mansfield Senior's quest to win the first football championship in Richland County history came up just short in Canton, dropping a wild 14-7 overtime slugfest to Trotwood-Madison in the Division III State Final at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

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Both sides were incredible defensively throughout the contest, keeping each other's star playmakers in check for most of the night. Some key penalties and physical play kept the game scoreless for the entire first half, but the Tygers ignited the third quarter with an explosive play.

 

Senior running back Terrance Flickinger brought all 5,700 in attendance to their feet with a 94-yard touchdown run just over a minute into the second half for the first points of the contest, putting Senior High in front 7-0. The Tygers carried their advantage into the final eight minutes of action before a 13-yard Rams scoring run by Ke'Shawn Huguely squared things up at 7-7.

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Trotwood would later drive down to the Mansfield Senior 2-yard-line in the closing seconds to attempt a game-winning field goal, but the Tygers blocked Carter Mims kick on the final play of regulation to force overtime.

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It appeared as though Senior High's defense would hold the Rams without any points in the first extra session with Trotwood facing a 4th & 8 situation, then Cincinnati commit Keon'Tae Huguely made what would prove to be an 18-yard championship-clinching TD grab in the corner of the end zone. A pair of botched snaps to start their drive put the Tygers in a hail mary situation on their final play which nearly ended with a heroic catch by Angelo Grose that was instead ruled as an interception to secure a Rams victory.

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Trotwood (12-3) seniors will graduate with 3 State Championships while Mansfield Senior (13-2) ends the best run in program history with a school record for wins.

 

  

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