EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally published by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
CANTON – Avon quarterback Nolan Good ran for 190 yards and a score and passed for 143 yards and a touchdown to lead his team to a 20-13 win over Cincinnati Anderson in the 2024 Division II state championship game on Thursday night.
Avon capped a perfect 16-0 season with its first state title, while Anderson (15-1) finished runner-up for the second time (2008) to go along with a state title in 2007.
Avon posted 437 yards of offense on a frigid, snow-covered field at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, and the Eagles’ defense came up with two fourth-quarter stops to seal the win.
Quiante’ Smith scored on a 10-yard run with 3:54 left in the third quarter to give Avon a 20-13 lead, and Anderson drove inside the Avon 10-yard line on the ensuing possession. A goalline stand by the Eagles’ defense included a fourth-down stop at the 2-yard line and gave Avon the ball back with 10:18 remaining.
Avon moved the ball inside Anderson’s 20-yard line and drained nearly six minutes off the fourth quarter clock, but an interception ended the drive and Anderson took over at its own 3-yard line with 4:28 left. Eighteen plays later, Anderson faced fourth-and-9 from the Avon 22 with 8 seconds left; a throw into the end zone was broken up as time expired.
Good scored on a 71-yard run on third-and-10 on the game’s opening possession and Avon took an early 7-0 lead. Avon punted on its second possession, and Anderson embarked on a 14-play, 70-yard drive that culminated in a 12-yard scoring pass from Justice Burnam to Aiden McClanahan. Lucas Callahan’s point-after tied the score at 7-7 with 6:01 remaining in the first half.
Avon regained the lead less than three minutes later when Good connected with Matt Maxey on a 44-yard touchdown pass. Maxey caught the pass in stride at the 5-yard line, shook off a tackle and dove across the goal line for the score.
The teams traded touchdowns to open the second half. Anderson drove 87 yards in 13 plays with the second half kickoff, and Burnam scored on a 6-yard run. The extra-point kick was blocked. Avon then answered with Smith’s 10-yard run.
Good’s 190 rushing yards came on 19 carries, while he completed 8-of-15 passes for 143 yards. Maxey caught three passes for 83 yards and a score.
Burnam ran 32 times for 148 yards and completed 19-of-33 aerials for 150 yards and a score for Anderson. Trace Jallick caught six passes for 52 yards and McClanahan had five receptions that covered 50 yards.
