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[Rocketcorner News]

By Josh Morgret
Fremont News-Messenger
http://www.thenews-m...yde-playoff-run


FREMONT — While most eyes were on Toledo Central Catholic quarterback and Notre Dame recruit, DeShone Kizer on Friday, it was Fighting Irish tailback Tre'von Wade who made sure no one forgot about him.

Wade ran for 182 yards on 26 rushes as TCC turned a 21-13 halftime lead to a 42-13 romp over Tiffin Columbian in a Division III, Region 8 regional semifinal game played Fremont’s Harmon Field at Don Paul Stadium..

The Irish (12-0) advance to meet Clyde (11-1) next Friday at a site to be determined on Sunday.

“This is a very good football team,” said Central Catholic coach Greg Dempsey of Columbian. “They're the biggest football team we’ve faced.”

The Tornadoes (10-2) trailed just 21-13 when they took over at their own 40-yard line after an interception by Ross Pauly was returned 30 yards.

But facing 3rd-and-3, Columbian quarterback Donovan Walker threw an interception of his own. Cnetral’s Marcus Winters picked it and returned it 50 yards for a score. Patrick Schommer connected on the extra point for a 28-13 lead.

After a Columbian punt early in the fourth quarter, Wade delivered a dagger. Despite just 55 yards on his first 15 attempts, Wade picked up 11 on first down and scampered 75 yards on the ensuing play to bring Don Paul Stadium to a noisy ruckus.

“We really made some big plays at the end of third quarter to grab momentum,” Dempsey said.

Kizer added a 15-yard touchdown pass to Winters after a nearly 6-minute drive for the final score.

“That was the hardest fight we’ve sene this year,”Kizer said. "We've never played a team that hit that hard."

Kizer and the Irish got the scoring started quickly. Kizer hit Dayton Copeland-Lee for 48 yards on the second play of the game and three plays later, scored on a 4-yard quarterback keeper.

After the Tornadoes punted, the Irish fumbled it back and Columbian took advantange. Walker found Josh Flint for 18 yards and a score, which tied the game.

“Physically, we’re as good as anybody,” Columbian coach Brian Colatruglio said. “They're just so skilled. We definitely fought with them physically but skill-wise, we couldn't match them.”

The Irish responded on the ensuing drive. Kizer and Wade connected for 12 yards and after four Wade runs, Jermiah Braswell caught a 14-yard touchdown pass. Schommer, who made all of his six extra point tries on the night, made it 14-13.

The back-and-forth first half continued as it was Columbian's turn. A series of runs by Ryan Lynch set up 1st down just inside TCC territory. Lynch took another rush and this time found a large hole and out-sprinted the Irish defenders for a 48-yard score. Derek Dryfuse's extra point was blocked and Columbian trailed 14-13 with 9:31 left in the second quarter.

It only took Central Catholic 46 seconds to respond. After a kickoff return to the Tornadoes' 41-yard line. Kizer hit Braswell for 28 yards. Two runs for Wade, including the latter for five yards and TCC led 21-13.

“We really had to possess the ball and keep it out of their hands because their offense is so explosive,” Colatruglio said.

Winters finished with two interceptions on defense and two catches for 32 yards on offense.

“Marcus did a great job tonight being a spark,” Dempsey said. “We need a guy to step up and he did.”

Kizer finished 10-of-16 for 192 yards through the air. But now, Kizer, Dempsey, and Central Catholic turn their eyes to Clyde, someone Kizer knows a little about.

“It's great,” Kizer said. “We're the first-ever 12-0 team at Central Catholic but we're trophy hunting. I have some family from Clyde, so it'll be fun.”

Lynch tallied 33 rushes for 134 yards for the Tornadoes.

“Our defense kept us in it for three quarters but we couldn't finish a drive in the second half," Colatruglio said.