Carrollton‘s playoff-caliber season comes to an end at the hands of a 38-9 loss against the St. Clairsville Red Devils in a rematch that both teams were so eagerly anticipating.
The two teams met in week one, and it was a battle for the ages, but the St. Clairsville won by a touchdown in the first meeting.
In the second meeting between the two squads, it was all St. Clairsville from the first whistle.
“I don’t think they had us figured out, we just didn’t block well up front and we didn’t tackle well,” said Carrollton Head Coach Jim Tsilimos.
Saint Clairsville was in control from the first possession, driving the ball down the field and scoring on a 14-yard Jacob Jordan run to put the Red Devils in front 7-0 early.
St. Clairsville quarterback Drew Sefsick used his legs to go 25 yards for another Red Devil touchdown to put the home team ahead 14-0.
Carrollton left many points off the board and the Red Devils used those opportunities to their advantage.
“At times we didn’t execute on both sides of the ball, but that stuff happens,” said Coach Tsilimos.
With 5:16 left in the second quarter, Jordan scored his second TD of the night on a six-yard run to put St. Clairsville up 21-0.
St. Clairsville’s offense got right to work with under a minute left, taking on another TD to take a 28-0 lead into the half with Carrollton receiving the second half kick off.
The Red Devils activated the mercy rule (running clock with a 30-point advantage) early in the third quarter on an 18-yard field by Lucas Otto. The Red Devils held a 31-0 lead.
Late in the game, Carrollton junior running back Chase Oehlstrom scored a touchdown late for the Warriors – that would be Carrollton’s only score of the game.
Tsilimos, who turns 68 in a few weeks, says he’s been thankful to have the opportunity to coach such a fun group of kids.
“Most guys my age don’t get to do this, but like I told them, we could have got beat 100-0 but it doesn’t matter. I love them,” he said. “They played hard and I’m glad I’m apart of it.”
Carrollton finishes the season with a total of eight wins and four losses.