Glenville advances in OHSAA playoffs with regional quarter-final win over West Branch

(Gene Simmons - Ohsfbmedia.com)

 By Gene Simmons

Beloit, OH- Slim margin it was, for the Ted Ginn Sr. led defending state champions to advance in OHSAA playoffs over undefeated West Branch 13-0.

In a game that was a stalemate the entire first half of play, these two teams couldn't find ways to get on the scoreboard, both teams using their punters to atleast give their defenses good field position.

Glenville had a pivotal interception with 6:21 left in the first quarter by senior Christian McAlpine, hoping that would get the offense going but after a few penalties and again unable to sustain a drive nothing would come of the turnover.

In a 3rd and 10 situation, Glenville would come up short as West Branch would stop them with 2:30 left in first quarter that would lead to a drive led by senior running back Boston Mullinax that would get them in field goal position to only come up short having it blocked to end the drive with 1:46 left in quarter.

(Chuck Cordes - Ohsfbmedia.com)

The second quarter it was much of the same penalties, unsustained drives that would lead to a scoreless and uneventful 2nd quarter at one point Glenville would commit penalties that would put them in a 3rd and 32 situation at the 3:32 mark of the quarter, but failed field goal by the Warriors at 1:22 would be the story of the half.

By the 3rd quarter, Glenville special teams would prove to be the factor as return man freshman sensation Jaylen Edwards would provide a spark and put the offense in position to put some points on the board returning good punts with fellow teammate sophomore London Hearn.

"The lights are not too big for them you know what I'm saying, so they are very special," Ginn Sr. said. "I was proud of them to get the team in position for the score."

Edwards also had a key interception to stop a driving West Branch looking to get points on the board, Sophomore quarterback Grady Hirst would look to evade a blitz would fumble the ball with Mullinix, recovering but resulting in a 4th and 42 situation.

"At Least I'm on the field, being on the field making plays as a freshman, big things, especially at Glenville." said Edwards 

A couple big plays later, junior running back Chris Newell Jr. would punch in a 6 yard TD run with 3:34 left in the 3rd quarter for a Glenville first score and points in the game. A failed drive by West Branch would lead to a big punt return by Edwards that would lead to the final scores of the game with 2:35 left LaMarcus Greenwood would hit junior Pauly Sadler for a 30 yard TD to run the score up 13-0 after a failed PAT.

"We put the best two back there, we used the speed and did what we had to do," said Hearn.

The final quarter was scoreless but full of penalties, fumbles and just play that would not result in any more scores by either team.

(Gene Simmons - Ohsfbmedia.com)

With the win Glenville moved on to play Mentor Lake Catholic after they defeated Mogadore Field 35-3.

As for West Branch they are done for the 2024 season with a 11-1 record and a game that they played as if it were there last with toughness and grit.