Bloom-Carroll claims eighth straight MSL-Buckeye title
By: Cameron Crego
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOUB) — The Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs (7-2) clinched the MSL-Buckeye Championship in Columbus on Friday night after a 28-17 win over the Hamilton Township Rangers (7-2). Both teams entered this game undefeated in MSL-Buckeye play, posting a 4-0 record, and with only two games remaining in the season, the winner would be able to secure the conference title.
Historically, this conference and matchup had both been dominated by Bloom-Carroll. The Bulldogs had won at least a share of the previous seven titles, and Hamilton Township hadn’t won the conference since 2016. The Bulldogs had won seven of the previous eight matchups, so they had long been a thorn in the side of the Rangers.
However, the Rangers would open this game with a statement drive, resulting in senior Kal-El Beverly-Akin punching it into the end zone from 5 yards out to put the Rangers up 7-0. The Rangers’ defense would get off to a hot start as well, forcing a three-and-out on the Bulldogs’ first drive and stopping the Bulldogs on fourth down on their next drive to keep the score 7-0 after the first quarter.
The game would shift in Bloom-Carroll’s favor in the second quarter. They stopped the Rangers on fourth down to open the quarter, and after a run-heavy drive, the Bulldogs’ Aidan Scholz ran it in from 16 yards out to tie the game 7-7. A Hamilton Township fumble would let the Bulldogs get the ball back on the next drive, and the senior would punch it again as Scholz put the Bulldogs up 14-7. Hamilton did get a chance to score at the end of the half, getting into Bulldogs territory, but Bloom-Carroll’s Deven Ash intercepted a Rangers pass to preserve the 14-7 lead entering halftime.
Hamilton Township would be granted an opportunity to score following the break after a Bloom-Carroll fumble, which they would capitalize on, as Beverly-Akin scored his second touchdown of the night to tie the game at 14-14. Bloom-Carroll would strike back on the following drive, as junior Kyson Cline stormed to the house on a 54-yard rush to put the Bulldogs up 7 again.
Hamilton Township nearly evened the score on the following drive, even getting the ball to the 1-yard line from a Daviace Packnett reception, but a fumbled snap gave the ball back to Bloom-Carroll. The Rangers would tack on a field goal on their next drive to trim the deficit to 21-17 entering the fourth quarter.
The Rangers looked to come back in the final quarter, but to no avail. A Bulldogs passing touchdown and two Rangers turnovers in the fourth would seal the game and conference title for Bloom-Carroll, 28-17.
While the conference race comes to a close for both teams, the season is still far from over. Both teams sit at 7-2 and have a good chance to make the playoffs. They will look to finish the regular season 8-2, as Bloom-Carroll will return home to face Circleville, and Hamilton Township will head to Logan Elm next week.