Finalists: Orrville vs Chagrin Falls
Bishop Hartley vs Kettering Alter
Recap of last years final:
Division IV – Kettering Archbishop Alter 37, Chagrin Falls 7
Canton Fawcett Stadium – Saturday, December 5, 11:00 a.m.
Kettering Archbishop Alter Downs Chagrin Falls 37-7 for Second Straight State Title
Knights Defense Dominates in Div. IV Championship Game
CANTON, Ohio – Top-ranked Kettering Archbishop Alter used a suffocating defense and a strong ground game to claim its second consecutive Division IV state title and complete an undefeated season after downing third-ranked Chagrin Falls 37-7 Saturday at Canton Fawcett Stadium.
Leading 9-0 at the half, Archbishop Alter fumbled on its opening drive of the second half, which Chagrin Falls turned into a five-yard touchdown run by senior running back Chris Gorman to pull within two points. The Knights responded by dominating the rest of the game, exploding for 28 points to pull away for the victory.
The Alter defense, allowing just over six points a game all season, was the story in this game. The Knights defense held Chagrin Falls, who averaged 33 points entering the contest, to 144 total yards, allowed only seven first downs, forced five turnovers, and had an interception return for a touchdown by senior defensive lineman Thomas Armstrong. Senior defensive back Nolan Plate led the defense with nine total tackles, while Armstrong had 6.5 and two sacks.
Offensively, the Knights were led by senior running back Cody Taulbee, who rushed for 126 yards on 16 carries and scored three touchdowns. Alter averaged 5.5 yards per rush and racked up 210 of its 318 total yards in the second half.
In its first state title appearance in school history, Chagrin Falls suffered its first loss of the season to finish 14-1. Despite five turnovers by the Knights, Chagrin Falls was unable to move the ball, converting only five times on 17 third or fourth downs.
### OHSAA ###
