UNIONTOWN — Green’s perseverance appears to have been rewarded.
We’re not just talking about what the Bulldogs did in Week 10 of the high school football regular season. We’re talking about their body of work over the final four games.
They needed everything to go right to make Week 11 a reality.
Green beat Lake 34-27 in overtime on Friday, Oct. 24 to clinch an OHSAA playoff berth in Division II, Region 5, according to joeeitel.com. The website has the Bulldogs locked in as the No. 11 seed and playing at Garfield Heights next week.
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The Bulldogs won their final four games to a create a glorious finish to a season that was teetering on the brink. They will head to the playoffs with a 5-5 record.
“They put pressure on themselves, but just the experience of the season, to be able come back after starting 1-5 just shows a lot,” Green head coach Mark Geis said. “They do deserve to go on.”
Four of Green’s five losses were by seven points or less. After a 21-3 loss to McKinley in Week 6, the Bulldogs responded with wins over GlenOak, Louisville, Perry and Lake.
“It means everything, man,” Green running back Evan Reed said. “We lost a couple of close games early in the year, but we knew we were a good team. We knew what we could do. We’ve just been working our butts off trying to prove that. We’ve been doing good and just excited for Week 11.”
Quarterback Tyson Hunka scored the go-ahead touchdown in overtime for the Bulldogs on a 1-yard keeper. Lake drove to the 5 on its overtime possession. Alex Quior threw a pass to Ty DeGeorge on fourth down, but Green’s defense was able to keep DeGeorge out of the end zone.
“Once I got into the end zone, I knew our defense was hot,” Hunka said. “I trusted they would get that stop at the end of the game.”
Reed and Hunka ran for two TDs apiece. Logan Noirot also kicked a pair of field goals for the Bulldogs.
Green’s running game was a force. The Bulldogs rolled up 281 yards as a team.
Reed had a monster night with 211 yards on 30 carries. Hunka rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries.
“Shout out to our O-line. They played awesome,” Hunka said. “Evan Reed, he just played one of the best games of his high school career. It’s the time to play.”
Davis Matson rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns for Lake. Quior ran for a TD, and JP Moorhead kicked two field goals.
Despite the loss, joeeitel.com still slots the Blue Streaks (7-3, 3-3) as the No. 4 seed in Division II, Region 5. They are in line for a first-round bye and a home game in two weeks.
Meanwhile, Green will be a 5-5 team no one should overlook in the postseason.
“We’re coming in hot,” Hunka said. “We’re ready for the playoffs. One game at a time obviously, but it feels great to be here.”
Here’s how the game unfolded through our live scoring updates and highlights.
Green football holds on to beat Lake in overtime
Green holds on defense. The Bulldogs beat Lake 34-27 in overtime.
With its fourth straight win, Green (5-5, 3-3) has put itself in a position to earn a playoff spot in Division II Region 5, depending on results elsewhere. The Blue Streaks (7-3, 3-3) already had clinched a playoff berth in Division II, Region 5.
Green scores first in overtime
Tyson Hunka’s 1-yard touchdown run and Logan Noirot’s extra point on the first possession in overtime gives Green a 34-27 lead.
Lake and Green are heading to overtime
The running of running back Evan Reed and quarterback Tyson Hunka puts Green into field goal position. Logan Noirot’s 31-yard field goal attempts as time expires is wide left. We’re tied at 27-27 going into overtime.
It was Noirot’s first missed field goal of the season.
Lake’s JP Moorhead ties game with 20-yard field goal
Lake’s JP Moorhead ties the game at 27-27 with a 20-yard field goalLa with 4:24 left. Alex Quior’s 41-yard pass to Zach Novak sets it up.
Back and forth night continues with second touchdown run from Green’s Evan Reed
Evan Reed scores his second touchdown of the night, this time from 5 yards out. And for the second time tonight, he helps Green regain the lead. It’s 27-24 Bulldogs.
Davis Matson touchdown gives Lake lead entering the fourth quarter
Davis Matson’s 5-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter pushes Lake back on top 24-20.
Evan Reed touchdown run gives Green lead
Evan Reed’s 12-yard touchdown puts Green back on top 20-17. He is having a big night for the Bulldogs.
Second field goal from Green’s Logan Noirot slices Lake’s lead
Green’s Logan Noirot nails a 34-yard field goal early in the second half. His second field goal of the night slices Lake’s lead to 17-13.
Lake leads Green 17-10 at halftime
Green’s Logan Noirot chips away at Lake’s lead with a 39-yard field goal with 19 seconds left in the first half. The Blue Streaks lead 17-10 at halftime.
First an inteception, now a fumble recovery Green’s Kam Worner
A Kam Worner fumble recovery gives the Bulldogs the ball at their own 46. He had an interception in the first quarter.
Lake takes advantage of Green turnover, extends lead
Lake quarterback Alex Quior eludes a tackle and scores on an 8-yard toucdhown run to give the Blue Streaks a 17-7 lead.
Zach Novak fumble recovery quickly gives Lake football back
Just like that, the Blue Streaks have the ball back. Lake’s Zach Novak recovers a Green fumble on the kickoff at the Bulldogs 17-yard line.
Lake regains lead on Davis Matson touchdown
After the two teams exchanged interceptions to start the game, we’ve had scoring on three straight drives.
Lake regains the lead at 10-7 on Davis Matson’s 1-yard touchdown run.
Tyson Hunka keeper puts Green on top
A Tyson Hunka keeper from 7 yards out on the first play of the second quarter gives Green a 7-3 lead. The senior quarterback also had a key 21-yard completion to Ben Brauneck during the drive.
Green threatening as second quarter begins
Green will open the second quarter with a second-6 from the Lake 7. The Blue Streaks lead 3-0.
Kicker JP Moorhead opens scoring for Lake
Lake elects to kick a field goal on fourth-and-goal from the Green 6. JP Moorhead sails it through the uprights from 24 yards out for a 3-0 Blue Streaks lead. It’s his longest field goal of the season.
Chase Fuller interception quickly gives ball back to Lake
Just like that, Lake has the ball back thanks to Chase Fuller’s third interception of the season. It’s the 13th pick as a team for the Blue Streaks.
Kam Worner interception stops first Lake drive
Green’s Kam Worner intercepts a tipped pass in Bulldogs territory, stopping Lake’s first drive. It’s the fifth interception of the season for the Bulldogs.
Ty DeGeorge returns for Lake
Ty DeGeorge is back this week for Lake. The all-everything junior has been sidelined since Week 3 when he suffered a broken ankle against Rock River.
DeGeorge returned the opening kickoff to the Lake 26 and lined up as a receiver on the third play of the drive.
Federal League standings
Green Bulldogs football scores, schedule
Lake Blue Streaks football scores, schedule
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This article originally appeared on The Repository: OHSAA football scores, OT win over Lake pushes Green into OHSAA football playoffs
Reporting by Mike Popovich, Canton Repository / The Repository
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