Ohio high school wins first playoff football game since 2016 after week-long saga
· Yahoo Sports
To say the last week has been lengthy for the University Preppers (OH) would be a massive understatement.
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Despite committing no transgressions, the Preppers were embroiled in the controversy surrounding Glenville (OH) and the OHSAA after the organization banned the program from postseason play for using ineligible players.
Court cases ensued, judges made decisions, and University was left wondering who and when it would play its first postseason game. Thankfully, on Thursday, the program learned it would play Salem (OH) Friday night after an appeals court upheld the OHSAA's original decision.
Given the opportunity to play, the Preppers made the most out of it.
University beat Salem on the road Friday, 14-10, to advance to the Division III Region 9 regional semifinals. The win also marked a significant moment for the program as it was their first playoff win since 2016.
From initially refusing to play Glenville to not knowing whether that decision would cost them their season, the Preppers went into Friday leaning on a defense that struggled in their previous two games.
Early on, it looked like the Preppers would be in trouble as Salem jumped out to a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter. With just over six minutes remaining in the half, senior Tylar Robinson put the Preppers on the board with a 10-yard run.
That three-point deficit did not last long into the second half. Junior quarterback Nico Morelli connected with Robinson on a 60-yard touchdown pass just over a minute into the third quarter.
Salem had an opportunity late facing a fourth-and-goal situation deep inside University territory. However, they batted down the pass with 26 remaining to secure their long-awaited playoff win.
Now with this win out of the way, they can turn their attention to a Division III Region 9 regional semifinals road showdown with Ursuline on Nov. 13.
Follow Sports Reporter Joe Spears on X at @joe_spears7 or via email: [email protected]. For additional high school sports coverage, be sure to follow USA TODAY High School Sports on Instagram and X.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio high school wins first playoff football game since 2016 after week-long saga