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Just out of reach for Ohio

Salem’s Jax Booth and United’s Keaton Baker try to track down a catch on Thursday during the Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic at Patterson Field in East Liverpool. (Photo by Ron Firth)

EAST LIVERPOOL — The 42nd annual Penn-Ohio Stateline Classic didn’t disappoint as both teams traded big plays at crucial times, but ultimately the Keystoners prevailed, 20-17, on Thursday at Patterson Field.

With 2:33 left in the fourth period and already down 17-13, Penn’s Dawson Snyder picked off Buckeye quarterback Brutus Ogilvie and ran it back for a 55-yard touchdown and the eventual game-winning score. Snyder of Moon was named the defensive MVP for the winners.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Ohio. The Buckeyes did stop Keystoner Rashawn Reid at the 1-yard line as Springfield’s Clayton Nezbeth and Columbiana’s Xathon Cross led the charge with 8:38 remaining in the game.

Then, on Ohio’s next offensive play, Leetonia’s Marco Ferry dodged a would-be tackler and sprinted up the middle of the field for a 56-yard run, which got the Buckeye crowd on their feet.

“I thought for sure I was going to get a safety, but I ran hard and luckily my guys kept blocking. They never quit, never quit for a second. But, I’m glad I got the spark going,” Ferry said.

Toronto’s Garrett Dozier later dashed through the Pennsylvania defense for a 15-yard score, handing Ohio the aforementioned, 17-13 advantage with 5:44 to go.

Ohio did contain Penn’s offense for most of the night and even intercepted their QB Aden Almashy twice in the contest.

William Hardenbrook, of Crestview, had a sack and a pass deflection in the game and was named the defensive MVP. He said the Buckeye defense really showed up this week.

“We’re all super physical and work really hard,” he said. “We know how to work off the edge and get on the inside. We try to work our hands, too.”

Despite Ohio falling to the Keystoners for the second straight time in the Penn-Ohio game, Hardenbrook said it’s been a joy to be a part of the star-studded group.

“It was great to come together with all these guys. You hear about them, but you really don’t get to see them in person a whole lot, because you’re off playing on Friday nights, too,” the Crestview linebacker said. “It really is a great time and a great experience to play this game.”

West Branch quarterback Brock Hillyer earned offensive MVP honors for Ohio.

Western Beaver’s Elias Bishop was the offensive MVP for Pennsylvania.

Game notes

• Paid attendance was 2,500.

• East Palestine High School Hall of Famer Chaney (Wales) Nezbeth won the 50-50 drawing. Her share was $432. Her son, Clay, played in the game and the last two Division VI state finals for Springfield Local.

• Rochester running back Deshawn Reid’s dad, Tom, played in the 1991 Penn-Ohio game before going to the University of Minnesota.

The Pennsylvania All-Stars had three NCAA Division I running backs in that game — Reid, Hopewell’s Craedel Kimbrough (Cincinnati) and New Brighton’s Vaughn Mosely (Kent State). Pennsylvania head coach Jeff Beltz also was on that team.

PENN: 0-7-6-7–20

OHIO: 0-10-0-7–17

SCORING

P–Josh Hathaway 12 run (Garrett Paxton kick)

O–Austin Tindell 82 pass from Brock Hillyer (Clay Medvec kick)

O–Medvec 41 field goal

P–Elias Bishop 34 pass from Cole Beck (kick blocked)

O–Garrett Dozier 15 run (Medvec kick)

P–Dawson Snyder 55 interception return (Paxton kick)

P O

First downs 12 13

Total Yards 226 301

Rushes-yards 29-147 24-136

Passing 79 165

Comp-Att-Int 5-16-2 13-32-2

Punts 3-40 3-40

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1

Penalties-Yards 4-45 5-110

——

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Penn, Rashawn Reid (Rochester) 14-90, Josh Hathaway (Blackhawk) 8-43; Ohio, Marco Ferry (Leetonia) 7-91, Garrett Dozier (Toronto) 4-20.

PASSING–Penn, Aden Almashy (South Side) 4-9-45-2, Cole Beck (Freedom) 1-7-34-0, Ohio, Brutus Ogilvie (United) 4-11-35-2, Brock Hillyer (West Branch) 8-17 130-0.

RECEIVING–Penn, Elias Bishop (Western Beaver) 1-34, Rashawn Reid (Rochester) 1-30; Ohio, Austin Tindell (Springfield) 1-82, Andrew Coffee (West Branch) 6-54, Keaton Baker (United) 3-19.

INTERCEPTIONS–Ohio, Xathon Cross (Columbiana), Matt Schaefer (Indian Creek).

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