ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — There were plenty of smiles to start homecoming weekend in front of the bleachers at Charles L. Brown Stadium Friday night.

Anderson rallied from an eight-point deficit with eight minutes remaining to defeat Winton Woods 28-21 in an Eastern Cincinnati Conference football showdown.

"It was remarkable how our kids came back," Anderson coach Evan Dreyer said.

It was Anderson's first win over Winton Woods since 2009, according to Dreyer.

"It was the most fun I've ever had playing a game," Anderson senior wide receiver Evan Upchurch said.

"The energy from our team and the energy from their team - it just added up and it was a great game."

Upchurch was part of a two-point conversion play when he threw the football to junior quarterback Griffin Scalf in the end zone to tie the game at 21 with 6:47 left.

"That is just Evan Upchurch and Griffin Scalf having some fun before and after practice," said Dreyer. "They wanted to run it and it was really, really cool as a coach to see those guys succeed."

Scalf connected with junior wide receiver Santos Alvarez for a 29-yard touchdown pass a play earlier to close the gap on the Warriors' lead.

After the two-point conversion, Anderson senior linebacker Casey O'Toole recovered the onside kick to give the Raptors another scoring opportunity.

The Raptors converted a fourth down from the Warriors' 12-yard line and three plays later Scalf eluded two defenders to find senior tight end Brody Foley in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown pass connection with under two minutes left.

"He's a big target," Scalf said of Foley. "Just throw it up and he goes and gets it."

Foley, who is verbally committed to the University of Tennessee, said he saw Scalf look away and he found an open space in the end zone.

"It was a great play by him and a great play by our offense," said Foley, who also scored a first-half touchdown.

The Anderson defense was strong on the Warriors' final drive to seal the victory.

"I've been here six years now and the curse of beating Winton Woods," Dreyer said. "They're a great ball club. (Coach) Chad Murphy took over and it's one of those things to get over a little bit of a hump as we head toward the last three games. It's going to be really, really crucial to finish these three games strong as we end ECC play and head toward the playoffs in November."

Foley said he won't soon forget Friday night's game.

"It's amazing," Foley said. "It's a great feeling. I love coming out here every Friday with my boys and playing. It's special at home, it's homecoming, the fans are all out. It's an awesome feeling."

Anderson senior kicker Hayden Brooke had two field goals - including a 38-yarder and 29-yarder to help the Raptors (5-2, 4-1 ECC), who play at Milford Oct. 8.

Winton Woods senior running back Tyrek Spikes scored two rushing touchdowns and senior wide receiver Tai'je Frazier scored on a 48-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter for the Warriors (4-3, 3-2 ECC), who play at Turpin Oct. 8.

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Anderson High School football coach Evan Dreyer avoids field goals and punts (the team punted 15 times all last season) when he can.

Having a long snapper is a luxury he rarely indulges, but when he does, he knows he’s in the good hands -- some of the best in the country, in fact -- of Zach Zoglio.

“I just don’t remember us thinking about long snapping in four years,” Dreyer said. “Now he’s going to graduate and we’re thinking, how do we develop a long snapper?”

It’s a problem Dreyer never anticipated.

Zoglio is nearly a self-made success story. With the help of his dad, Bob, a former specials teams coach at Walnut Hills and Turpin, Zach has made himself into one of the best long snappers in the country.

In the latest Kohl’s Long Snapping Rankings – considered the gold-standard of the industy – Zoglio is the eighth best snapper in the 2021 class.

“Snapping is a skill,” he said. “Not a lot of people can grip the ball, snap it the same way in the same spot.”

It’s a skill where perfection is the expectation. In addition to Anderson’s practices, Zoglio estimates he does 10 hours of extra individual work. Snap, after snap, after snap.

“Our motto is ‘No days off,’” Bob Zoglio said. “On Thanksgiving Day – it was a nice day – we were on the Anderson field snapping, before turkey.”

Zoglio knows the work he puts in away from all the eyeballs will prevent eyeballs focused on him during games.

“A snapper, their job is to be perfect,” said Kohl’s Kicking Camps long snapping coach Casey Casper. “When Zach steps up there and grabs the football, he doesn’t have mistakes. He doesn’t put it on the ground or left or right. Always a clean rotating ball that’s easy to catch.”

College recruiters are increasingly trying to snag skilled long snappers.

“It’s not a position everyone hoots and hollers about,” Zoglio said. “Usually long snapper is the last position, if not the last position, that (coaches) will look at.”

He’s getting his share of looks – Eastern Michigan just offered him a spot on their roster.

Zoglio has become a name to know at an anonymous position, even at the Blue-Gray All-Star Game in Dallas, where he was questioned by his teammates.

“I told people I’m a long snapper and they’re like, ‘Oh … ‘” Zoglio said.

His next step – becoming some college coach's non-worry.