COLUMBUS – Since Wednesday’s announcement that Massillon Perry’s Keishaun Sims, not LaSalle’s Jeremy Larkin, was Ohio’s Mr. Football, frustration and anger ran rampant in southwestern Ohio.
After days of complaining about the perceived slight, LaSalle’s football team let its play do the talking against Perry Friday night at Ohio Stadium.
Larkin rushed for a pair of touchdowns as the Lancers won a second straight state championship, 42-0.
For the game, Larkin rushed for 62 yards on 11 carries while catching 3 passes for 57 yards.
In Sims’ defense on this night, he accounted for 120 of Perry’s 187 yards of offense. But that was one of the few positives for the Panthers.
LaSalle took the opening drive to the end zone. A 7-play, 64-yard drive ended with a Jarrel White rush that he fumbled into the end zone. Luke Doerger fell on the fumble for the Lancer touchdown.
Perry made its first critical mistake of the game later in the first quarter. On fourth and 6 from midfield, Max Baker punted the ball into the rear end of his teammate. John Willcox scooped it up and returned it to the Perry 11.
Two plays later, Larkin was in the end zone and LaSalle led 14-0 with 1:49 left in the opening quarter.
Larkin scored again the second quarter. After starting from its own 8, LaSalle drove 92 yards in 3:02 and 8 plays. Larkin finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run. It was 21-0 LaSalle at halftime.
A more conventional blocked punt put the game away in the third quarter.
After LaSalle recovered the blocked punt at the Perry 27, it took 6 plays to capitalize. Nick Watson found Jarrel White for a 9-yard touchdown. It was 28-0 LaSalle.
Watson finished with 131 yards passing to go with the touchdown. White finished with 93 yards rushing and the 9-yard touchdown reception.
LaSalle was efficient in victory. Perry had the ball for 30:46 to LaSalle’s 17:14. LaSalle ran 12 fewer plays than Perry, yet outgained the Panthers 347-187.
The fewest points Perry had scored in a game this season was 10, in a 14-10 loss to Uniontown Lake. Against LaSalle, the Panthers crossed midfield only once. It ended a 73-yard, 17-play drive that ended in a turnover on downs at the LaSalle 8.
Summary
OHSAA Division II State Championship
Friday, Dec. 4, 2015
@ Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio
LaSalle 42, Massillon Perry 0
P…0.0.0.0…0
L…14.7.7.14.42
1st Quarter
L – Luke Doerger fumble recovery in end zone (Drue Chrisman kick) 8:24
L – Jeremy Larkin 7-yard run (Chrisman kick) 1:49
2nd Quarter
L – Larkin 10-yard run (Chrisman kick) 8:29
3rd Quarter
L – Jarrel White 9-yard pass from Nick Watson (Chrisman kick) 6:46
4th Quarter
L – Watson 32-yard run (Chrisman kick) 8:59
L – TreSean Smith 47-yard interception return (Chrisman kick) 4:26
Team Stats
PLAYS: P 54; L 42. FIRST DOWNS: P 11; L 18. RUSHES-YARDS: P 41-166; L 29-216. PASSING YARDS: P 21; L 131. COMPLETIONS-ATTEMPTS-INTERCEPTIONS: P 4-13-1; L 9-13-2. TOTAL YARDS: P 187; L 347. PENALTIES-YARDS: P 3-22; L 1-13. FUMBLES-LOST: P 2-0; L 2-0. TIME OF POSSESSION: P 30:46; L 17:14.
Individual Stats
Rushing (carries-yards): P Keishaun Sims 28-117; Max Baker 7-42; Tevion Cleveland 5-9. L Jarrel White 9-93; Jeremy Larkin 11-62 2 TDs; Nick Watson 4-44; Marcus Woodward 1-14; Justin Standifer 1-5; Chris Turner 1-1.
Passing (completions-attempts-interceptions): P Max Baker 4-13-1 21 yards. L Watson 9-13-2 131 yards TD.
Receiving (catches-yards): P Cleveland 2-13; Shaun Myers 1-5; Sims 1-3. L Larkin 3-57; Turner 3-39; Joshua Gebing 2-26; White 1-9.
