Western Reserve’s Jack Darney runs the ball as Springfield’s Thomas Sheely and Salem’s David Manges provide blocks on South Side’s Slayton Williams on Thursday at Salem’s Sebo Stadium. (Photo by Ron Firth)

SALEM–The Penn-Ohio Classic is always a highly competitive all-star football contest featuring local standouts against the best from Pennsylvania. However, the 46th version of the game from Sebo Stadium in Salem was dominated by the Ohio team, which won convincingly 30-7.

The 23-point spread was Ohio’s largest margin of victory in the series. The previous best was 20 points in 2006.

Ohio tallied 341 yards in the game while holding Pennsylvania to 165. The Buckeyes outrushed the Keystoners 231 to 67 and passed for 110 yards compared to 98 for Pennsylvania.

The Ohio squad set the tone out of the gates with a quick three-and-out on defense, and then a seven-play, 42-yard drive to score at the 6:34 mark to take a 7-0 lead. Tristan Toy from South Range plowed into the end zone from 3 yards out for the touchdown.

“This was truly a blessing to be on an all-star team,” Toy said. “It is a great experience. Everyone is coachable, and everyone wants to do their best. It was awesome.”

Toy was named the Ohio offensive player of the game for his efforts. He rushed for 121 yards and scored 2 touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes. He also connected on 2 of 6 passes for 20 yards. His second scoring run was a 75-yard jaunt around right end, which put Ohio up 24-0 on their first possession of the second half.

“We call it flow, right. We actually run that at South Range, too. So, I have been running it for years, and it is one of my favorite plays,” Toy described the long touchdown run. “I saw the seam and the safety and just turned on the speed and got to the end zone.”

He added, “I have worked hard to be good at what I love to do, so it is truly an honor and blessing to get this trophy after a game like this.”

On the defensive side, D’Shawn Kirby from East Liverpool took home player of the game honors. Kirby terrorized the Keystoners with two sacks and numerous tackles behind the line of scrimmage. He also had an opportunity for a pick-six that slipped through his hands at the goal line in the second quarter.

“That is how you win championships, and that is how you win a game like this. On that pick six, I called out the play, and he threw it so fast. It hit my hands, I fumbled it and tried to re-catch it, but it slipped out. I was so mad,” Kirby said with a laugh at the missed chance.

“This means a lot to me,” he remarked about the player of the game award. “Well, maybe this is what I want to do. To go and play ball and have people watch me and my talents in college.”

Right now, Kirby is undecided about his future plans.

Austintown Fitch’s Anthony Ruggles added three field goals to help power the Ohio team with boots from 30, 29, and 46 yards. He also booted seven touchbacks on eight kickoffs to force the Pennsylvania team to drive the field length.

Ruggles first field goal made it 10-0 in favor of the Buckeyes at the 9:28 mark of the second quarter, and then when Blake Adkins from East Liverpool hauled in a 17-yard pass from Boardman’s Zach Haus with 15-seconds before halftime, the Ohio team held a commanding 17-0 lead at the break.

Following Toy’s 75-yard run, Ruggles added a 29-yard kick to stake the Buckeyes to a 27-0 advantage at the 3:22 mark of the third quarter. Ruggles would add a 46-yard boot with 6:43 remaining in the contest to finish the scoring for Ohio.

Pennsylvania got on the board early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Chris Smiley from Ellwood City connected with receiver Walter Clarit from Cornell on a 30-yard pass. The scoring pass was at the 11:06 mark of the fourth quarter, which made it 27-7. Clarit would be named the offensive player of the game for Pennsylvania.

Game notes

¯ A pair of All-Ohio running backs, Crestview’s Max Hawkins and West Branch’s Boston Mulinix, did not play due to injury.

Hawkins is still recovering from an ACL injury suffered in the ninth week of the season. He is not planning on going to college and did not want to chance further injury.

Mulinix finished up the football season and played the entire baseball season with an oblique strain. He needed time to rest it it before playing football and baseball at Baldwin Wallace University.

¯ Ruggles will walk on to the University of Toledo football team. College scholarships for kickers are hard to come by nowadays.

¯ Pennsylvania owns the largest margin of victory in the series with a 39-point win in 1986.

PENN: 0-0-0-7–7

OHIO: 7-10-10-3–30

SCORING

OH – Tristan Toy 3 run (Anthony Ruggles Kick)

OH – Ruggles 30 field goal

OH – Blake Adkins 15 pass from Zach Haus (Ruggles Kick)

OH – Toy 75 run (Ruggles kick)

OH – Ruggles 29 field goal

PA – Walter Clarit 30 pass from Chris Smiley (Robert Kelly Kick)

OH – Ruggles 46 field goal

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P O

First downs 6 16

Total Yards 165 341

Rushes-yards 20-67 28-231

Passing 98 110

Comp-Att-Int 15-23-0 8-22-2

Punts 5-36.8 0-0

Fumbles-Lost 0-0 0-0

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INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING– OHIO, Tristan Toy (South Range) 9-121, Jack Darney (Western Reserve) 12-60.

PASSING– OHIO, Toy (South Range) 2-6-20, Zach Haus (Boardman) 6-15-90

RECEIVING– OHIO, Blake Adkins East Liverpool) 4-50, Brock Severs (Beaver Local) 2-31