MANSFIELD, Ohio — Mansfield Senior coach Chioke Bradley may want to send Canton McKinley quarterback Dominique Robinson a gift basket.
Bradley and the Tygers owe Robinson a debt of gratitude.
Robinson’s 1 yard touchdown run with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter lifted the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind 30-28 win over archrival Massillon on Saturday. The McKinley win eliminated Massillon from playoff contention and allowed Senior High (8-2) to grab the eighth and final playoff spot in Division II, Region 5.
“That was a great football game,” said Bradley, who watched the game online. “We were big Bulldog fans Saturday.”
The eighth-seeded Tygers begin their postseason odyssey at 7:30 p.m. Friday at No. 1 Massillon Perry (8-2).
“It feels great to be going to the playoffs, especially for my senior year,” Senior High running back Tyquan Vickers said. “There’s no other feeling like it.”
Backfield mate Brian Benson agreed.
“It’s unbelievable,” Benson said. “This is my first year really contributing for a playoff team. It’s exciting.”
Senior High is one of three area schools to qualify for the playoffs when pairings were announced by the Ohio High School Athletic Association on Sunday. Galion earned its fourth straight postseason berth, grabbing the eighth spot in Division V, Region 16. The Tigers (8-2) will be at No. 1 seed Edison (9-1) at 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Galion was 3-2 at the midway points of the season and one of those wins came against the Columbus Crusaders, a club team. The win didn’t figure into the OHSAA computer ratings. The Tigers won their final five games to ensure the eighth playoff appearance in program history.
Sunday’s announcement was anticlimactic for Lucas. The Cubs (9-1) already had secured a home playoff game before Friday’s 70-12 win over winless Reigning Sports Academy, a club team based in Columbus.
No. 3 seed Lucas will host No. 6 West Unity Hilltop (6-4) at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Bob Wine Field.
