Julian Baker, Miami-Trace run wild in playoff win over Monroe
By: Cale Saunders
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WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio (WOUB)- 397 yards from Julian Baker was more than enough for the Miami-Trace Panthers (9-1) to triumph over the Monroe Hornets (6-4) in round one of the OHSAA Division III playoff tournament. With the win, Trace moves to 10-1 on the year, while Monroe ends their 2026 campaign with a 6-5 record.
After getting an opening drive stop, Trace scored first when Julian Baker plunged into the endzone for a 1-yard touchdown run. On the following drive, Monroe back Prince Mabasa was used heavily, though the drive came up empty. Mabasa was the workhorse back for the Hornets on the night, carrying a mostly quiet offense until garbage time.
Baker would strike again, this time on the first play of the following drive. His 66-yard rushing touchdown moved the score to 14-0. The Hornets continued to stall on offense, constantly suffering key penalties.
As halftime approached, Trace QB Baron Phipps found Evan Parsley for a beautiful 27-yard touchdown connection on the right side. Julian Baker took the focus right back, however, as he made a 73-yard house call, once again on the first play of the drive. The Panthers lead ballooned to 28-0.
Monroe would not go down without a fight, though. Jonah Miller struck paydirt on a fourth and goal from the 4-yard line. The two teams then traded scores to make it 35-14. Julian Baker, doing his best Nuke LaLoosh impression, would continue to announce his presence with authority.
Some swift footwork led Baker to another long touchdown. The 70-yarder moved the score to 42-14. Despite this, Prince Masaba and his Hornets would not go quietly into the night. He would pick up his blocks from a huge Monroe offensive line and score a short touchdown.
Baker followed Masaba’s heroics up by hurdling a defender, planting another into the turf with a Derrick Henry esque stiff arm, and scoring from 84 yards out.
Three more late touchdowns placed the final score at 56-35. Julian Baker ran for 397 yards and five TDs.
Moving forward, Trace will go to Chillicothe for a round two clash. This is also round two of that matchup, as the Panthers took down Chillicothe 28-14 earlier this year.
Julian Baker v. Cartae Ligon once again will surely not disappoint.