OHIO — Avon had one more defensive opportunity standing in the way against Cincinnati Anderson from its first state championship trophy.
Leading 20-13, Eagles senior quarterback Nolan Good threw an interception at Anderson’s 3-yard line with 4:28 left to play in the fourth quarter, flipping possession and pitting the Raptors 97 yards from the end zone.
Senior quarterback Justice Burnam and Anderson marched 80 yards down the field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium converting six first downs and moving 17 yards away from the goal line. Avon had already stopped the Raptors at the 2-yard line earlier in the quarter on a turnover on downs following a 4th down and 2 stop. After a false start against Anderson backed the Raptors to the 22-yard line, Avon’s defense forced three-straight Burnam incompletions to secure the win for the Eagles.
“That's a heck of a football team,” Avon head coach Mike Elder said. “Well-coached. We watched countless hours of film on them and knew exactly what we were up against. And for our defense to hold them to 13 points was remarkable because they're that talented.”
The title is the first in Avon school history. Thursday’s game was the Eagles’ second appearance in the state championship game and first since 2011. “I couldn't be more proud,” Elder said. “I will tell you this that I'm humbled to sit here with these guys and representing our coaching staff because this is done by numerous guys who've dumped their heart and soul into this, and so couldn't be more proud for our coaches and players.”
Good broke off a 71-yard touchdown run on the game’s opening drive to give Avon an early 7-0 lead. After giving up 140 rushing yards in the first quarter, Anderson responded in the second when Burnam connected with Aiden McClanahan on a 12-yard touchdown tying the game at seven. Less than four minutes later, Good recorded his first touchdown pass of the contest on a 44-yard throw to Matt Maxey allowing Avon to lead 14-7 at halftime. Good, a Mr. Football finalist, finished 8-of-15 for 143 yards through the air, though was arguably more impactful on the ground rushing for 168 yards in the first half alone.
“I feel like that's a gift that I was given by God,” Good said. “Just with my athletic ability, I feel like I was able to make plays on the ground all night, and kudos to my coaches for calling my number and just giving me that opportunity.”
Anderson opened the second half with an 87-yard, 13-play drive that resulted in a six-yard rushing touchdown by Burnam. Avon defensive back Jakob Weatherspoon blocked the extra point attempt keeping the Raptors at bay 14-13.
The Eagles saw junior running back Quiante’ Smith punch in a 10-yard rushing touchdown with 3:54 left in the third quarter giving them insurance behind a 20-13 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Burnam surpassed 4,000 passing yards this season in the second quarter, becoming the 34th quarterback in OHSAA history to reach the mark. Burnam finished 19-of-33 for 150 passing yards, one touchdown and an interception.
He also had 148 rushing yards and a score on the ground.
“There was big moments, and I think that was really, really cool,” Anderson head coach Evan Dreyer said.
“You saw kids fighting and clawing the way high school sports should be, and it was really, really cool. Hopefully you guys enjoyed it. I enjoyed it till the very end. Twenty-two yards away, got stopped at the 3, and this is heartbreaking but I think as time goes on I’m going to look back at this moment and say it was really, really special for our program to see our kids compete at the highest level.”
