The season ended too soon for coach Kerry Coombs and Kevin Sablosky. (Ernest Coleman photos) | ZOOM |

        DAYTON, Ohio — Colerain coach Kerry Coombs wanted to play a little longer.

        “We had a great run,” Coombs said. “We just ran out of time.”

        The clock ran out on Colerain in a 10-7 loss to Upper Arlington in the state Division I semifinals before 6,281 on a rainy Saturday night at Welcome Stadium.

        “We were no better than them,” Upper Arlington coach Darrell Mayne said. “They're no better than us. I told the kids it would come down to a few plays.”

        Upper Arlington's Jeff Backes made the biggest one. His 30-yard cutback run for a touchdown with 52 seconds left in the third quarter gave Arlington the lead.

Maurice Johnson sets up Colerain's only TD. | ZOOM |

        Colerain drove into position for a 55-yard field goal attempt by Josh Crosby on its next possession, but the kick was short and to the left. The Cards got the ball back only once more. They punted it away at their own 25 on fourth-and-5. UA picked up a first down and ran out the clock.

        The game was about as even as could be: Colerain had 241 yards total offense, UA 239.

        In a game between two of the state's most powerful offenses, defense ruled. Both sides made big plays and forced turnovers all night.

        That made Backes' TD run huge.

        “Their defense was overrunning plays all night,” Backes said. “They're very fast. The cutback was there.”

Doug Monaghan makes a diving tackle on Jeff Backes. | ZOOM |

        Backes, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound senior, surpassed the Ohio single-season rushing record in the game. He had 158 yards on 28 carries, giving him 3,170 yards for the year.

        Arlington advances to the state finals at 8 p.m. Saturday at Canton's Fawcett Stadium. The Bears will play Solon for the state title.

        Colerain and Upper Arlington both came into the game 13-0.

        Colerain had never won a state semifinal game — technically. The Cards beat Brunswick to advance to the state championship game in 1995, only to discover they had used an ineligible player.

        In Colerain's only official trip to the state semifinals, the Cards lost to Westerville South in 1994.

        “Everyone wants to get to the final game,” Coombs said. “That's why this hurts so much.”

Sablosky sacks UA's Brian Ramey. | ZOOM |

        Defense controlled the game from the start. Two of the first three passes were intercepted. Colerain had only one possession in the first quarter. Upper Arlington took a 3-0 lead with 2:26 left in the half.

        That seemed to awaken Colerain's offense. Five plays later, the Cards were at the UA 5.

        But on the next play, the handoff between quarterback Sean Jones and Jon Mohr ended up on the ground. Rory Pfisterer of Upper Arlington recovered.

        “We played as hard as we could,” Mohr said. “But we made a lot of mistakes — fumbles and things.”

        Despite two turnovers, the Cardinals had to be happy it was only 3-0 at the half. UA held the ball 15 minutes, 41 seconds to 8:19 for Colerain, and nearly the entire half was played on Colerain's end of the field.

        “They took us out of our game in the first half,” Coombs said.

        Colerain looked like a different team to start the second half.

        The Cards went 88 yards in seven plays. Jermaine and Maurice Johnson, who had combined for 7 yards in the first half, got nearly all 88.

        Jermaine went 28 yards on his first carry of the game. Maurice went 15 and 12. Then Jermaine took it another 21 for the TD.

        Crosby's kick made it 7-3 with 9:15 to go. It was only the second time all year Upper Arlington was behind.

        The Colerain defense then came up with a big play, recovering Brian Ramey's fumble at the UA 42. Colerain drove to the 29, but Mohr was stopped on third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 at the 21.

        “I should have kicked a field goal there,” Coombs said. “That's on me.”

        The Colerain defense held on the next series, but on the Cardinals' first play from scrimmage, Jones fumbled and Backes recovered.

        Three plays later, Backes scored the TD, and UA led 10-7.

        With Colerain's offense, it didn't look like that would hold up.

        But it did.

        “We had a great season,” Mohr said. “I just wish it didn't end this way.”

        Colerain ....... 0  0  7  0-7

        Upper Arlington ....... 0  3  7   0-10

        UA - Tarpy 34 field goal

        C - J. Johnson 21 run (Crosby kick)

        UA - Backes 30 run (Tarpy kick)

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