Avon and Anderson Clash for Division II State Championship Title
The excitement was palpable Thursday night in Canton as Avon and Anderson faced off in the Division II Ohio high school football state championship game. Both teams entered the matchup with perfect records at 15-0. Avon had dominated Archbishop Hoban in their previous game, while Anderson pulled off a thrilling win against Big Walnut to earn their place in the final.
This championship game was the only one scheduled for Thursday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, with other state games taking place over the weekend.
The game kicked off at 7 p.m. ET amid cold temperatures and falling snow. Avon won the toss and received the ball first. As crews worked to clear yard lines on the snowy field, Avon started their opening drive from their own 25-yard line. However, a penalty pushed them back to the 13. On a crucial third down, Avon’s quarterback Nolan Good dazzled fans with a stunning 71-yard touchdown run, putting Avon up 7-0 with just over eight minutes left in the first quarter.
After a solid kickoff return by Anderson’s Trace Jallick was negated by a penalty, Anderson began their drive at their own 14-yard line but was unable to convert a trick play due to an illegal formation penalty. Avon then pinned Anderson back at their own 4-yard line with a strong punt. Avon managed to maintain their lead at 7-0 as the first quarter came to a close.
As the second quarter began, Avon advanced to the Anderson 33 but faltered on fourth down, turning the ball over. Anderson capitalized with a strong drive, culminating in a touchdown from quarterback Justice Burnam to Aiden McClanahan to tie the game at 7-7. Avon responded quickly with a touchdown pass from Good to Matt Maxey, bringing the score to 14-7 before the half.
By halftime, Avon had dominated possession time, holding the ball for over 16 minutes compared to Anderson’s 7 minutes. Good had amassed 161 rushing yards and a touchdown at this point, while Burnam had contributed 76 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The second half kicked off with Anderson attempting a bold fake punt that worked out in their favor, allowing them to drive down the field and score again, narrowing Avon’s lead to 14-13 after missing the extra point. Avon quickly answered back with a touchdown of their own, making it 20-13.
As the game wound down, Anderson battled hard to get back into scoring territory. With just seconds remaining and trailing by seven, Anderson faced a critical fourth down but could not convert, securing the state championship win for Avon with a final score of 20-13.
Overall, both quarterbacks displayed impressive performances, with Good finishing with 190 rushing yards and 143 passing yards, while Burnam recorded 148 rushing yards and 150 passing yards. The strong defensive efforts were showcased by multiple players, highlighting their resilience throughout the intense competition.
With this win, Avon celebrated a remarkable season, crowned as the new Division II state champions.
