Laugh Now Cry Later

Chapter 15: The Sibling Rivalry

As both teams ran out of the tunnel it was finally time to see who was going to take home the championship! Once SCT won the coin toss, and deferred possession to the second half, giving Ohio State the opening kickoff. After a promising start to their opening drive, Ohio State was forced to punt giving SCT the ball on their own 7-yard-line. SCT opening drive was far less productive, as they punted after three plays totaling a net loss of four yards. Ohio State opened their ensuing drive on the Grizzlies 45. Another three- and out - followed, but the Buckeye's punt coverage team again came up big, downing the ball at the 3-yard-line. While the next SCT drive resulted in positive yards, a punt was the result, and Ohio State took over at their own 33 and scored in five plays, opening the scoring with a Chris Sullivan rushing touchdown! SCT opened their next drive with a touchback, and recorded a first down for the first time, but again punted, giving Ohio State the ball at their own 23; Ohio State punted right back, and SCT took over at their own 29. On this drive, the Grizzlies offense moved the ball seventy yards in just 4 plays, capped by a long Lawrence Sullivan pass to wide receiver Yogi Jordan tying the game at seven with 2:00 remaining in the opening quarter. Ohio State had possession for the remainder of the quarter, and made it to the SCT's 44 before time expired. As the second quarter begin with Ohio State running three additional plays in the second quarter before settling for a 52-yard field goal, converted by the placekicked, Junior Mendoza, giving them a 10-7 edge. Following SCT's fourth punt of the evening, Ohio State started with their worst field position yet, as they got the ball at their own 4. This did not deter the buckeye offense, as they covered the ninety-six yards ahead of them in only four plays, capping the touchdown drive with a long run by Chavez Carter this extended Ohio State's lead to ten. SCT quickly responded with a quick drive of their own, scoring in five plays to narrow the lead to three on a touchdown run by Lawrence Sullivan. Ohio State's next drive ended in a punt, and SCT capitalized with another long touchdown drive to take their first lead of the contest, by four, with just over four minutes until halftime on another touchdown pass to Yogi Jordan. Ohio State was unable to respond on offense; they punted and SCT got the ball on their own 5-yard-line. Lawrence Sullivan and the Grizzly offense continued to build their momentum with their third consecutive touchdown drive of 77-plus yards to increase the lead to 11, 28-17, on a pass to Javier Broadax heading into halftime. Ohio State opened the second half by receiving the kickoff; their ensuing drive resulted in a three-and-out, and SCT took over on the 49-yard-line. For the first time in nearly an entire quarter, the Buckeye's offense found the end zone, as Marques Higgins capped a 6 play drive with his first touchdown of the day. Chris Sullivan completed a pass to Corbin Timberline for the two-point conversion, cutting the lead to three points. Lawrence Sullivan's offense was again unable to produce on offense, and the second half (as did the first half) began with two three-and-outs for the Grizzlies. The Buckeye's next drive finished similarly, as a punt followed four plays totaling 14 yards. SCT took over on their own 30. On the fifth play of SCT's ensuing drive, Ohio State's starting outside linebacker Jayceon Smith was ejected from the game for a late hit penalty on the quarterback which allowed SCT to score a touchdown on the very next play! The Grizzly touchdown pass from Lawrence Sullivan to Yogi Jordan gave Lawrence Sullivan a school record and it increased their lead to ten. Ohio State couldn't produce on their next drive, and punted for the seventh time; SCT got the ball on their own 29. They drove to the buckeye's 27 before attempting a 45-yard field goal, which Jason Foote missed wide right. Chris Sullivan and the offense were unable to capitalize on the mistake, however; they went three-and-out and punted to the Grizzlies 43. The quarter expired several plays later; SCT entered the fourth quarter which a huge lead! The team came out firing in the fourth quarter; they scored for just the second time this half on a Lawrence Sullivan pass to Pj Robinson, his first receiving touchdown of the contest. For the fourth drive in a row, Ohio State punted; the ball was downed at the SCT's 8. After taking 5:00 off the clock, SCT punted the ball back, and Ohio State took over with just under five minutes left, on their own 10. However, three plays later, Chris Sullivan fumbled at the end of his rush; it was recovered by SCT's cornerback Richland Smith with 3:00 to go. As Coach Gillis pulls Pj Robinson to the side he told him to put the game away, SCT was able to run the remaining time off the clock and finish the season as undefeated national champions!!!