Van Wert Wins D4 Title With Second Half Comeback

Описание: The Van Wert Cougars won its first football state championship coming back to defeat Lake Catholic 31-28 in the Division 4 title game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Van Wert (11-1) controlled the first quarter driving inside Lake Catholic's 10 yard line twice, but came out empty both times.

Lake Catholic (8-3) then struck to start the second quarter on a reverse pass from Nick Brandt to Brady Bowser from four yards out making it 7-0.

Van Wert answered two minutes later on a two-yard pass play from Owen Treese to Maddix Crutchfield to even the score.

Lake Catholic then scored the games' next two touchdowns as Ryan Joy went in from a yard out in the second quarter and quarterback Joe Malchesky took a keeper 53 yards to start the third.

Van Wirt would come back, however, as Treece ran in from two yards out then started the fourth quarter with a 42-yard pass play to Connor Pratt to even things at 21.

Malchesky then put Lake Catholic back in front with a 50-yard run with 5:25 to play, but once again Van Wert answered on a Treece to Nate Jackson 15-yard pass play to tie the game at 28 with 2:30 left.

Van Wert then got an interception at midfield and worked their way into the red zone where Damon McCracken kicked a 25-yard field goal with nine seconds left to give the Cougars its first football title in school history.

Treese finished the game 27-of-44 passing for 274 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an interception. He also rushed the ball 19 times for 89 yards and another score.

Malchesky finished 3-of-9 passing for 55 yards and 2 interceptions but rushed 30 times for 232 yards and 2 scores.