Oak Harbor and Gibsonburg Advance in Playoffs

GIBSONBURG, Ohio (AP) — On October 31, Oak Harbor‘s football team secured its spot in the next round of the playoffs, defeating Eastwood 32-26 at Jerry Rutherford Stadium. This Division V first-round matchup showcased Travis Bouyer’s outstanding performance, as he rushed for 126 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Following Oak Harbor’s victory, No. 5 Gibsonburg dominated No. 12 Morral Ridgedale 61-8 in a Division VII match at Robert E. Krotzer Field. Both teams will advance to the regional quarterfinals, where Oak Harbor will face No. 1 Liberty Center, and Gibsonburg will take on No. 4 Columbus Grove.

Bouyer praised his offensive line, stating, ‘Our offensive line blocks their tails off every play. If they’re not stopping the run, we’re just going to keep running it down their throats.’ Oak Harbor’s quarterback, Breydan Porath, threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Schultz in the fourth quarter to extend their lead to 32-7.

Eastwood’s head coach, Sam Cotterman, took responsibility for the loss, saying, ‘It’s on me. I didn’t have us ready. Unfortunately, we waited too long to start playing.’

Despite being behind, Eastwood mounted a late comeback. Trace Johnson scored two touchdowns, narrowing the gap to 32-26. However, Oak Harbor’s defense held strong and secured the victory. Oak Harbor’s defense limited Eastwood to just 19 rushing yards and recorded two interceptions.

Meanwhile, Gibsonburg’s Grant Smith rushed for 176 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Golden Bears against Ridgedale. Defensively, Gibsonburg restricted Ridgedale to only 136 total yards, showcasing their dominance throughout the game.

For Clay and Woodmore, both faced elimination in the first round. Clay lost 20-7 against Brecksville-Broadview, while Woodmore fell 15-13 to Seneca East in a hard-fought matchup.

With Oak Harbor and Gibsonburg moving forward, fans remain optimistic about their chances for a state title.