COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOUB) — One of the biggest stories of the playoff has been the injury to star Granville (12-0) quarterback Carsyn Crouch. That injury led to Tyler Ernsberger starting in Granville’s 19-12 win over Desales in the week prior. This week, even against unlikely circumstances, Carsyn Crouch took the field again for the Aces last night in their playoff game against the London Red Raiders (10-2).

Defenses were in control to start the game as each team traded empty possessions. At the very end of the first quarter, Crouch found wide receiver Christian Hilton on a 55 yard deep strike for a Granville touchdown to go up 7-0. London would have an answer late in the second quarter on an Isaiah Jones run from seven yards out. On the point after try, the Red Raiders attempted a fake field goal that was shut down by the Granville special teams unit leaving the score at 7-6. Those missed points ended up playing a major factor in this game. 

Two of the most electric plays in the game came after that London drive. Granville seemed content to run the clock out with just twenty seconds left, but running back Devon Haley had other plans as he took the ball 60 yards behind great blocks from his receivers downfield to reach the end zone. The Blue Aces’ head coach, Wes Shroeder, took a huge risk on the point after try by going for two to try to gain a two possession lead on the Raiders and his gamble payed off as Granville dialed up a shovel pass to increase their lead to 15-6 at half.

The second half was all about key defensive stops as each team traded punts and turnover on downs for a majority of the second half. Eventually, midway through the fourth quarter, London found the end zone on a short Dylan Combs touchdown pass. London would convert the two point attempt this time as the scoreboard now read 15-14. Although the Red Raider defense forced a punt, Granville’s defense proved impermeable the rest of the game as they forced a turnover on downs to end the game for good. The final score was 15-14 in favor of the Blue Aces.

Carsyn Crouch played a quarter and a half while Tyler Ernsberger played the rest of the game for Granville at quarterback. Carsyn Crouch finished with 3 completions on the night and a touchdown while Ernsberger made the key shovel pass to Christian Hilton on the ultimately game winning two point conversion. Devon Haley once again topped 100 yards and added a critical touchdown for the Aces as he has been a lethal weapon for the Aces against opposing defenses. Indiana commit Isaiah Jones led the way for London as he scored a touchdown and caught a two point conversion for the Red Raiders.

Granville (13-0) will look to continue their school record playoff run against the Western Brown Broncos in the next round of the playoffs. As for London, they finish their season with a solid 10-3 record.