After an injury to normal starting quarterback Landyn Vidourek, Badin sophomore Alex Ritzie stepped up in his place. But in the 14-0 Division III semifinal win over Granville Friday night, Ritzie didn't even need to step on the field for either Badin touchdown.
A pair of direct snaps to senior running back Jack Walsh ended with Badin scores, sending the undefeated Rams to the Division III state finals.
Walsh was the offense for the Rams, running 43 times for 226 yards and the two touchdowns. A third score with seconds left in the game was called back after a penalty.
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"You can do anything when you have a guy running like Jack Walsh on your team," Ritzie said. "That dude makes my job so easy."
Already leading 7-0 with less than a minute left in the first half, Badin faced a fourth down from the Granville 22-yard line. Walsh took the snap, broke through the middle and ran easily in for the score.
Walsh's first score was a three-yard run, set up by a 37-yard pass from Ritzie to Braedyn Moore. Ritzie was 7-for-13 for 64 yards on the night after going 5-for-6 for 70 yards and a score as the backup in last week's win.
"Last week he stepped up big," Walsh said of Ritzie. "I knew he was talented coming in. I'm impressed with how he stepped up. I knew it was going to be him in a couple of years, but it's him right now. He's done great."
Moore, who had five catches for 58 yards, intercepted Granville quarterback Carsyn Crouch on the drive after his big reception set up the first Badin touchdown. The pick then led to the second Rams score.
The Blue Aces, who were also undefeated entering the semifinal meeting, had only 178 yards of offense.
Badin's defense sacked Crouch five times. Junior Kaden Starks had 2.5 sacks, including two on consecutive-plays in the fourth quarter.
Those Starks sacks forced the Blue Aces to punt from their nine-yard line with less than eight minutes left in the game. The Rams ran the clock down to 2:59 when a missed field goal gave Granville the ball.
Badin's Eric Rawlings intercepted the pass from Tyler Ernsberger, but his touchdown return was called back on a personal foul. Badin kept the ball, running the clock down to just 37 seconds.
"I think (Badin's defensive line) was the big difference in that game," Rams head coach Nick Yordy said. "Especially late when they were trying to throw the ball around, chuck it. They were able to pin their ears back a little bit and go after (Crouch).
"Credit for that quarterback for playing. I know he was hurt, but once we got in his face a little bit, I think it kind of threw him off."
Crouch was 14-for-26 for 171 yards, playing with an ACL that was torn in Granville's first playoff game.
The Division III state final will kick off at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3. Waiting for the Rams will be the undefeated and defending state champion Chardon Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers beat then-unbeaten West Holmes 41-7 in the other semifinal.
Badin has reached the state championship game three times before, winning in 1990 with runner-up finishes in 1978 and 1980.
Granville - 0 0 0 0 - 0
Badin - 0 14 0 0 - 14
B- Walsh 3 run (Niesen kick)
B- Walsh 22 run (Niesen kick)
Records: B 14-0; G 13-1.
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