PERRYSBURG — A 25-yard field goal by A.J. Bibb with 20 seconds remaining in the first half proved to be the difference as Perrysburg defeated Findlay, 17-14, in a first round Division I playoff game at Steinecker Stadium Friday.
Findlay sees its season end at 5-6, including two losses to Perrysburg.
Perrysburg (10-1) advances to the regional quarterfinals, where the Yellow Jackets will host Delaware Olentangy Berlin (8-3) at Steinecker Stadium next Friday. Berlin defeated Delaware Hayes (7-4), 42-24, on Friday.
Against Findlay, Perrysburg opened the scoring on a pass from senior quarterback T.J. Takats to Jack Borer, with Bibb adding the conversion kick with 4:02 remaining in the first quarter.
However, Findlay’s Dallas De La Cruz scored on a five-yard with 2:11 remaining until halftime, and Owen Cleavenger’s conversion kick tied the game at seven points apiece.
After Bibb’s field goal, Perrysburg’s University of Toledo-bound senior running back Connor Walendzak scored on a four-yard run, putting the Yellow Jackets up 17-7 with 11 seconds remaining in the third.
Findlay added a one-yard TD run by quarterback Ryan Montgomery with 9:04 remaining in the game.
Perrysburg held a 326-239 advantage in total yards, including 231 yards rushing to the Trojans’ 113. The Yellow Jackets had two turnovers, both interceptions by Tucker Oliver. Perrysburg had a 20-16 advantage in first downs.
Walendzak ran for 133 yards on 19 attempts, Takats ran for 60 yards on 16 carries and Nick Oros had five carries for 41 yards to lead Perrysburg’s rushing attack.
Takats threw 17 passes, completing 11 for 95 yards. He threw six to Borer for 58 yards, one to Andrew Hunt for 18 yards, three to Walendzak for 11 yards, and one to Landon Graham for eight yards.
Defensively, Matt McEwen had a sack for the Yellow Jackets.
For Findlay, Montgomery completed 13-of-28 passes for 113 yards, including four to Donovan Harris for 40 yards, five to Austin Hasselbach for 33 yards, two to Reece Little for 11 yards, and one to Brady Allen for 10 yards.
De La Cruz also ran for 109 yards on 21 carries and Montgomery ran for 31 yards on eight carries.
