Special teams touchdown helps West Branch get past Streetsboro, 31-28, in state playoffs

BELOIT — West Branch’s Joey Jackson returned a fourth-quarter kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown in leading the Warriors to a 31-28 win over Streetsboro in a Division IV regional quarterfinal playoff game in 5,200-seat Clinton Heacock Stadium Friday night.

“I thought I was going to have a shot to get to the right side,” said Jackson of his winning kickoff return. “And hopefully, I did.”

After the score, the West Branch defense sealed the deal by stopping Streetsboro on downs at the Warriors’ 20 with just 3:33 left in the game after tackling Streetsboro quarterback Cohen Klimak two yards shy of the line to gain on a fourth-and-four at the Warriors’ 22.

“I think our defense did a phenomenal job,” said West Branch head coach Tim Cooper. “They (the Rockets) wanted to throw the hitch to (running back Preston) Hopperton (on the winning defensive stop) and No. 7 (quarterback Cohen Klimak) is an amazing athlete too and we were able to get him out of the pocket and we were able to press him with our backers and they did their job to execute that.”

West Branch’s offense then churned out several first downs and ran out the clock for the three-point triumph.

“At the end, our run game was awesome (running out the clock),” said Cooper. “I’m super proud of those guys.”

Boston Mulinix led West Branch

West Branch was led offensively by running back Boston Mulinix, who tied the school record for rushing touchdowns at 42 as he rushed for 170 yards on 20 carries with one touchdown.

Meanwhile, West Branch senior quarterback Beau Alazaus threw for 184 yards and a touchdown pass of 24 yards to Jeremiah Thomas.

West Branch to play Canton South Nov. 10

West Branch (11-1) will now face its old Eastern Buckeye Conference foe Canton South in a regional semifinal next Friday at 7 p.m. at a site to be announced by the OHSAA. Canton South defeated Akron Buchtel 27-26 in its quarterfinal playoff game Friday night.

As advertised, West Branch and Streetsboro’s explosive offenses combined for just under 900 yards in the playoff showdown.

“I was proud of our guys for battling,” said Streetsboro head coach Pete Thompson. “(West Branch) was a team that had lit up the scoreboard and kudos to our defense which fought. It is what it is, they (the Warriors) are a good football team and we had our chances.”

West Branch trailed 7-0 after one quarter, outscored the Rockets 21-7 in the second to take a 21-14 halftime lead and led 24-21 entering the fourth quarter after kicker Aliza Hirst hit a 25-yard field goal for the Warriors’ only scoring in the third quarter.

But Streetsboro (11-2) was led by star running back Preston Hopperton, who rushed for 197 yards and three rushing touchdowns of six, 58 and 58, the last one giving the Rockets a 28-24 lead with just 8:19 left in the game.

But that’s when Jackson took the kickoff and raced 79 yards to the end zone, giving the Warriors the lead for good in the comeback.

“We just want to keep winning and see where we can go with this,” said Jackson.

CONNECT WITH US

WEB SITE ► https://www.mahoningmatters.com

DAILY NEWS EMAIL ► https://www.mahoningmatters.com/customer-service/newsletter-signup/

FACEBOOK ► https://www.facebook.com/mahoningmatters

TWITTER ► https://twitter.com/mahoningmatters

YOUTUBE ► https://www.youtube.com/@mahoningmatters2814

INSTAGRAM ► https://www.instagram.com/mahoningmatters

SUPPORT US ► https://givebutter.com/vNfzEW