Warren JFK defeats Minster, 24-6, for Division VII title
Running back Evan Boyd and a stout defense were enough for Warren John F. Kennedy to defeat Minster 24-6 in the Division VII state football title game Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
By CRAIG MERZ
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Running back Evan Boyd and a stout defense were enough for Warren John F. Kennedy to defeat Minster 24-6 in the Division VII state football title game Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
Boyd ran for 166 yards on 36 carries, each a record for the four-year-old Division VII title game, and scored two touchdowns for the Eagles (14-1).
"Obviously it's a special day, being in the state championship game in Ohio State's stadium," he said. "I just treated it like every game I play and just leave it up to the line to make great blocks and do what I can do to find the hole."
His 39-yard run with 3:10 to play in the game for the final score capped an 11-play, 92-yard drive that consumed 5:09. The possession, which was sustained due to a roughing-the-kicker penalty, began after Minster (10-5) was stopped on downs at the JFK 8.
Boyd also scored on a 1-yard run with 1:22 remaining in the third quarter for 17-6 lead.
Yards were tough to come. The combined total offense of 392 yards (233 for JFK, 159 for Minster) is a Division VII-record low, as is the 299 rushing yards (JFK 219, Minster 80).
JFK, who won its second title (1991), allowed 6.5 points per game this season, including 5.8 in five playoff games.
"Man, they fly to the football, they blitz, they stunt, they move, they attack and that rattled us," Minster coach Geron Stokes said. "That team deserves a state championship."
Minster, who started the season 2-4, took a 6-0 lead in the first quarter when quarterback Jared Huelsman ran in from the 1 with 1:51 left in the first quarter. The extra point was missed.
"I really thought that they punched us in the mouth early, and our kids were a little nervous," JFK coach Jeff Bayuk said. "This is my first time here, I was a little nervous, but we got our feet underneath us."
In the second quarter, a JFK interception gave the Eagles possession at the Minster 8. On third down, JFK quarterback Greg Valent rushed for a 1-yard TD and a 7-6 lead with 6:02 left.
Minster fumbled the kickoff at its 30 and Justin Bofenkamp recovered for JKF. The Eagles drove to the Minster 12, but had to settle for a 29-yard field goal by Bofenkamp with 1:40 left in the half for the 10-6 lead.
"Those guys were really fast to the ball, they were always hitting you every play," Minster linebacker Bryce Schmiesing said.
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