Davis steals the show again as Orange UA rebounds

LEWIS CENTER, Ohio – With his team’s offense largely focused on the decisions he makes and the yards he produces, Olentangy Orange quarterback Levi Davis has gained a healthy edge understandingg the impact of committing a turnover or misjudging a move.

While he doesn’t downplay the potentially catastrophic outcome of such a misstep, the dual-threat standout prospect who holds nine scholarship offers has learned that it’s even more important to move on to the next game.

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During the Pioneers’ crucial Ohio Capital Conference Central Division showdown against visiting Upper Arlington on Friday, Davis threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown and lost a fumble at the goal line as he came up short of a touchdown.

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However, he also scored the biggest play of the game, a 63-yard touchdown run with 2 minutes, 15 seconds left that gave the Orange a two-point lead en route to a 28-20 victory.

“You have to know that mistakes are going to happen, and that’s how you react to those mistakes,” Davis said. “You have You just have to be resilient and find a way to achieve victory. You must Go back and find out what is go wrong and make sure they go right. We had to go out and get the win any way we could.”

The Orange improved to 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the league, one win away from securing at least a share of its first championship since winning the OCC-Buckeye title in 2019. UA fell to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the league.

Wally Swiney finds some room in the secondary ahead of Xavier Baker.

On the fourth play of the game, Davis connected with senior wide receiver Terryn Thomas for a 46-yard reception just in front of the goal line. Thomas had the ball hit out of bounds, but it was ruled that he had held onto it long enough to be counted as a catch. Orange senior running back Cohen Weaver scored on the next play, but UA responded with an 80-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Kyle Cox to tie the score at 7 .

Weaver gave the Pioneers a 14-7 lead with 41 seconds left in the first quarter when he scored from 4 yards out on a break for a 24-yard gain the game before.

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UA cut the game to 14-10 on a 23-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Edward Oakley two minutes before halftime, then increased it to 17-14 two plays into the Orange’s ensuing drive when junior defender Jake Braun a 26-yard interception returned a score.

COnnor Stephens gives Alek Dillar a big thwart.

“We talked about it at halftime that we pride ourselves on the next-play mentality,” Orange coach Wes Schroeder said. “That (pick-6) just lit a fire under us. That’s what we do a good job not to point fingers. It is never a one-person thing. It happens, and It is a learning moment. It is It’s good to learn from a win.”

Orange held the Bears to 8 yards passing and less than 4 yards per carry in the first two quarters, and those defensive efforts continued in the second half.

The Pioneers took a 21-17 lead with 4:20 left in the third quarter when Davis connected with senior tight end Beckett Miller for a 13-yard touchdown pass and the Bears on each of their firsts after halftime punted on three possessions.

In addition to a first-half interception by senior Will Musgrove, the Pioneers’ secondary of junior Treyton Schroeder prevented the Bears from consistently moving the ball downfield all night.

“We have a really good secondary,” said junior linebacker Jaxen Miller, who had a sack and a tackle for a loss. “We all came together and was play like that a great team Defense and mutual trust more and more every week. If was usually throw a deep ball You will select it. In the running game we have learned in practice every day, wherever was Fitting. It is very encouraging because that was a very good one Matchup between two really good Teams.”

After giving up a rare interception late in the first half, Levi Davis played like a man possessed when play resumed in the third quarter.

UA coach Justin Buttermore stressed to his team the importance of “not letting your player beat you” – referring to Davis – but that plan was abandoned at the game’s crucial moment when Davis spotted a hole. on third-and-six from the Orange 37 and sprinted down the left sideline to give his team a 28-17 lead.

Davis finished with 179 meters rushed for 20 carries and threw for 123 yards, and Weaver added 107 meters on the 17th leads the way Orange Attack.

Cox was limited to 10 of 23 passes for 110 yards, 49 of which came on the Bears’ final drive, which ended with a 36-yard field goal by Oakley with 5 seconds left left over.

UA failed The onside kick attempt fell and the Pioneers ran youNext time you play, pay attention to the clock.

Alek Diller rushed for 90 yards on 24 carries to pace the Golden Bears.

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“They were obviously very successful in stopping us from passing the ball and they made a lot of big plays when it mattered most,” Buttermore said. “(Davis) is really one good playerbut I thought we not Do a good job contain it, and if you leave it to the best player, It is This is going to be a hard night for you.

Kyle Cox scrambles out of his own end zone late in the 4th quarter for the Olentangy Orange.

“It was a disappointing end but it happens. That is what our whole league is like. EverywhereOdy is in our league probably go to play against each other again.”

The Orange, the Division I, Region 3 first-place team, travels to Hilliard Bradley next Friday while the Bears do attempt to bounce back at home against Dublin Coffman.

In addition to Orange and UA, Olentangy Liberty is also one of the top teams in region 3, while its OCC-Central opponent Hilliard Davidson is among the best in Division I, Region 2.

“You have those four teams and Bradley and Coffman aren’t bad,” Schroeder said. “Our league is pretty deep.”

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