LEBANON 27, CHARDON 21

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Warriors win state title on trick play

Saturday, December 5, 1998

BY JOHN FAY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kelton Lindsay races down the sideline to the winning TD, then ... (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

MASSILLON, Ohio -- It's a play they'll talk about up at the Golden Lamb for years and years.

They'll talk about how Lebanon won the state title in 1998 with a little razzle and a lot of dazzle. The winning touchdown came when Brady Merchant threw a 10-yard pass to David Linville, who then pitched it to a streaking Kelton Lindsay, who ran the last 38 yards for the touchdown with 46 seconds left in the game.

The old hook-and-ladder play.

It cemented a 27-21 Lebanon victory over Chardon Friday night before a crowd of 9,710 at Paul Brown Stadium to win the Division II state championship. It was Lebanon's first team championship in any sport.

"You can't beat this feeling," Linville said. "We've worked for this since sixth grade."

Lindsay exults in the end zone, and a few minutes later ... (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

Said Lebanon coach Dave Brausch: "It's a great win. It means everything. These seniors are 33-4 in their four years. It's the best class in school history."

The hook and ladder is something Lebanon practices all the time. The Warriors used it to score a touchdown on Celina last year in the playoffs. They tried it earlier in the game, but Merchant had to throw it away.

"I saw it was open again," Merchant said. "I told Coach during a timeout that it was there."

Brausch decided to try it.

"I didn't want to go overtime," he said. "I rolled the dice. I guess it came out all right."

Yes it did.

Merchant was 0-for-7 in the second half until he hit Linville. "I don't care," Merchant said. "Stats don't mean anything. I'll take that one."

The ball hit Linville in the pads.

Bob Faulkner (87) and teammates celebrate ... (Michael Snyder photo) | ZOOM |

"I was fumbling with it," Linville said. "The guy wrapped me up. I just saw Kelton out of the corner of my eye. I didn't even think the pitch was any good."

It was good enough for Lindsay to gather it in stride and zip down the left sideline.

"The play has always been a favorite of mine," Brausch said. Now, it is the favorite.

The Warriors won the game with big plays.Another of their touchdowns came on a 53-yard pass play, another on a 52-yard run. They also forced four turnovers.

Chardon outgained Lebanon 369 to 255 in total yards. Lindsay had only 40 yards rushing on eight carries. Nick Singleton led Lebanon with 99 on 15 carries. Merchant was only 3-for-13 for 106 yards. "It's an old cliche," Merchant said, "they won a lot of the battles, but we won the war."

Lindsay, the Ohio State-bound star, had two interceptions, a fumble recovery, broke up a potential touchdown pass and completed a halfback pass on third-and-22 to keep a drive alive before the final TD.

Lebanon's Andrew Gottfried also had two interceptions.

David Linville (81) set Lindsay on his way. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

"We've been a big-play team all year," Brausch said. "We're plus-27 on turnovers. If you do that, you're going to win."

Chardon, 13-1, came in ranked No. 1 in the state. The Hilltoppers won their games by an average score of 38-6. They dominated early, but Lebanon turned it around on those big plays.

The Warriors finish 13-1. Lebanon played in the 1980 Division II title game, but lost 50-0 to Youngstown Mooney.

This game was as good as that one was bad. Afterward, the Warriors danced and hugged at midfield to celebrate.

Linville kissed the Tiger painted at the 50-yard line.

"It tasted like sand," he said. "But I'll always remember it."

With the score tied 7-7, two big plays turned the game around:

• Big Play I: Linebacker Gottfried stepped in front of a Chardon pass at the Lebanon 41 and picked it off.

• Big Play II: One play after the interception, Singleton took a pitch from Merchant and burst through the left side of the line. Fifty-two yards later, he was in the end zone.

Coach David Brausch and players show off the championship trophy. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

Before Singleton's burst, Lebanon had a total of nine yards rushing. Josh Eldridge's kick made it 14-7 Lebanon with 1:58 left in the half.

The Warriors had to feel pretty good about themselves. They had been outplayed most of the half, but they went in with a touchdown lead on Chardon team that had only been tested once all year.

Chardon would erase that lead with an eight-play, 67-yard drive to start the second half. Mitch Hewitt scored from a yard out.

Lebanon responded with an equally impressive drive. The Warriors went 64 yards in 11 plays. Merchant scored on quarterback sneak from the 1. He was stopped, but got in with second effort.

The key play of the drive was another trick play. Lindsay hit Linville for 40 yards on third-and-22.

Chardon came back with a big-play drive of its own. Hewitt took over from three yards out for the TD. But key plays were a 29-yard scramble by Davis and a 21-yard run by Hewitt.

Scott Mackar's extra point tied it at 21 with 2:36 left.

Lebanon went three-and-out, giving Chardon the ball back at its 40 with 1:43 left

But the defense sacked Davis on two of Chardon's three plays. After a 28-yard punt, the Warriors got the ball at their own 48 with 58 seconds left.

The big play came three seconds later.

"(Chardon) knew it was coming," Lindsay said. "They're a great football team. But I got free."

Said Merchant: "David made a great pitch. Kelton made a great run."

Chardon 0 7 7 7 -- 21
Lebanon 0 12 7 6 -- 27

C -- Mackar 5 pass from Davis (Mackar kick)
L -- Jones 53 pass from Merchant (Eldridge kick)
L -- Singleton 52 run (Eldridge kick)
C -- Hewitt 1 run (Mackar kick)
L -- Merchant 1 run (Eldridge kick)
C -- Hewitt 3 run (Mackar kick)
L -- Lindsay 38 run following lateral from Linville (kick wide) Records: L 13-1, C 13-1.

Lindsay does it all
Thrilling day for Lebanon fans
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