Glenville advances to Canton after stunning Indian Valley in thrilling finish

Glenville's Da'Von Williams (31) celebrates with Marquis Whipple on one of his three touchdowns in the game. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

MINERVA, Ohio - Glenville makes another appearance in Canton as they walk off a win over the defending state champion Indian Valley Braves 26-21.

"I'm just proud of the kids, they persevered through that, you know, the calls, the missed tackles, jumping offsides, whatever it was, but you know God gets the glory of all that," said Dr. Ted Ginn

This state semifinal was one for the ages and had all the excitement from Dr. Robert Hines Stadium in Minerva.

Glenville gained an early advantage, seizing the opportunity to score after Indian Valley failed to convert on a possession, granting Glenville favorable field position. They advanced the ball over several possessions before Da'Von McDougle executed a 45-yard run for the game's opening score, gaining a 6-0 lead following a mishandled snap during the PAT. To end the first quarter.

Indian Valley would get a break as Glenville would fumble the ball after entering the red zone, being recovered by Titan Peterman in the second quarter. After a Ryker Williams throws an interception, the Braves would still fail to get into the endzone and get the Ohio Mr. Football Finalists going. 

The Tarblooders would see the endzone again during the half as Arvell Nelson drops a dime to Pauly Sadler with 43 seconds left in the half to go up 12-0 after another failed 2-point conversion attempt. 

Wide receiver Joseph Saffold of Glenville attempts to catch a pass from quarterback Arvell Nelson, but it is deflected and dropped, while being defended well by Carsen Hostetler in the end zone. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

"We knew coming out the gate they were going to be on fire, so we knew the defense was going to have to lock in," said McDougle. During the third quarter of the game, Glenville stayed with running the ball with a full house backfield, successfully reaching the end zone again with 8:11 remaining. McDougle executed a 2-yard plunge, increasing the score to 20-0 after Glenville finally secured points following a touchdown.

We are a band of brothers, we are family, that's our motto 

- McDougle

The game would have a lot of intense moments for Indian Valley as they finally got into the end zone following a tipped pass that landed in possession of Carsen Hostetler, courtesy of a throw from Ryker Williams, with 6:37 left in the quarter, still trailing 7-20.

Grady Kinsey scores on a 3-yard rush to take the lead in the game. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

Indian Valley would get the momentum as they would score multiple touchdowns and an onside kick to eventually take the lead 21-20 at the top of the fourth. Ohio Mr. Football finalists Grady Kinsey would carry the load from the third quarter into the fourth. First scoring a 13-yard touchdown with 5:32 to go in the third and then a fourth-quarter go-ahead touchdown with 10:56 left in the game that would give them the lead 21-20. 

With a series of penalties down the stretch of the game, Glenville would have its back against the wall and give Indian Valley a chance to win this game.

Arvell Nelson would find a streaking London Hearn down the middle of the field that would take the ball to the Braves' 39-yard line and eventually set up the final deciding touchdown by Da'Von McDougle on a 31-yard run with 7:29 remaining to regain the lead 26-21 after another failed 2-point conversion after converting on a 3rd and 13. 

Indian Valley would have a shot as they drive the ball down to Glenville territory, but to only turn it over on downs after failing to convert on a 4th and 9 at 5:47, but an unusual horse collar was called against Glenville that would keep the Indian Valley drive alive. 

With Indian Valley out of timeouts and unable to convert with 1:43 left in the game, Glenville's defense would hold and take them to a trip to Canton for a state title showdown against the Shelby Whippets. 

"We always talked about finishing, and we had our little issues during the year, we not finishing games so you know we prepared for that well, we knew it was going to be a tough game," said Ginn. 

The Tarblooders will attempt to win another state title for the neighborhood team after winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023.