Titans fall to unbeaten Comets BOWLING GREEN - Ottawa-Glandorf's run through the OHSAA playoffs came to a screeching halt Friday night.
On a drizzly night at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Genoa Area used a strong running game and aggressive defense to defeat the upstart Titans 40-21 in a Division IV, Region 14 regional final contest.
Genoa (13-0) advances to the state semi-finals next Friday night to play an undetermined opponent at a site to be determined Sunday by the OHSAA. The Titans saw a successfulcampaign end at 8-5.
Ottawa-Glandorf came out of the gates Friday night looking to pick up some early momentum. After stopping the Comets initial drive, O-G drove 80 yards in 11 plays to the Genoa 10.
On a third down play from the Comet 10, Taylor Kuhlman's pass over the middle was picked off by a Genoa defensive player.
Genoa then went on a 14 play, 81 yard drive that end with Greg Hillabrand scoring on a two yard run early in the second quarter.
The Comets defense quickly thwarted the Titans second possession with another interception at their own 39. However, the O-G defense returned the favor two plays later when Zach Buckland grabbed a deflected pass and raced 65 yards to the endzone to tie the game at 7-7.
However, O-G was unable to stop the Comets offense. Behind their ground game, which ran for 298 yards on the night, and an occasional pass play Genoa added two more second quarter touchdowns for a 21-7 halftime lead.
Marcus Vicars broke the tie with 4:37 left in the second quarter when he scored on a seven yard run. Matt Bassitt then directed a late second quarter scoring that ended with the junior signal caller hitting Blair Skilliter with a 10 yard scoring strike.
Ottawa-Glandorf came out in the third quarter as they put together a drive that reached the Genoa 16. On fourth down, Nolan Croy came on to attempt a field goal that was blocked.
The Comets put the game away with two scoring in the quarter as Vicars scored on a 24 yard run and Skilliter had the back breaker with a 78 yard scoring run. Their final score came late in the fourth quarter as Skilliter scored on a 27 yard run.
Skilliter finished the night with 126 yards on just seven carries for an 18 yard per carry average. Hillabrand had 75 yards on 17 carries and Vicars 54 yards on 10 carries. Bassitt was 10-of-12 passing for 152 yards. Connor Wendy caught six passes for 90 yards.
Ottawa-Glandorf scored twice in the fourth quarter as Jacob Lugo scored on a three yard run and Nathan Kahle hit Jacob Moening with a 13 yard scoring pass.
Despite being sick most of the week, Taylor Kuhlman rushed for 100 yards on 13 carries and Lugo had 87 yards on 14 carries. Kahle was 6-of-12 passing for 82 yards and Kuhlman completed just 1-of-6 passes. Ryan Kuhlman had three catches for 46 yards and Moening two for 29.
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