LEXINGTON, Ohio — Lexington coach Taylor Gerhardt held his breath as the visiting stands at Bellevue’s First National Bank Field fell silent.
Hunter Biddle, Lexington’s 1,000-yard rusher, had just crashed into a portable trainer’s table set up along the Lex sideline after being forced out of bounds on a run late in the third quarter. The force of the collision sent the water jugs resting atop the table flying and Biddle was slow to get to his feet.
“He’s a little skinny-butt, but he’s a tough kid,” Gerhardt said of the 6-foot, 175-pound Biddle. “We knew we had some other weapons, but I certainly want No. 30 out there.”
The Richland Bank Athlete of the Week, Biddle returned a few plays later and scored the clinching touchdown in Lexington’s 30-19 win over Sandusky in the Division III, Region 10 semifinals. Biddle rushed for 164 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. His 31 yard TD run with 6:38 remaining in the third quarter cut Sandusky’s lead to 19-17. His 46-yarder with 2:42 left in the fourth after a Sandusky turnover on downs sparked a wild celebration along the visiting sideline.
“We came out and wanted to make history,” Biddle said. “We came out with a goal and we were able to accomplish that goal.”
So how did he end up crashing into the table?
“I got a little momentum,” Biddle joked afterward, “and there was nothing there but the table.”
The evening didn’t start out especially well for Biddle and the Lex offense. In fact, the first eight-plus minutes could best be characterized as disastrous.
The Minutemen turned the ball over on their first three possessions.
“We just don’t get upset by (the turnovers). We know we’ve got to settle down and go out and make plays. We’ve got guys everywhere who can make plays.”
Quarterback Logan Pfizenmayer completed 12 of 19 passes for 156 yards and ran for a pair of touchdowns. Receiver A.J. Nickoli caught eight passes for 125 yards. And Lexington’s rugged defense limited Sandusky’s high-octane offense to 89 rushing yards. Ja’Vez Alexander, Sandusky’s wildly talented dual threat quarterback, was held to minus-1 yard rushing after rumbling for more than 1,000 yards on the ground in the first 11 games.
“We knew (Alexander) is an amazing athlete, an amazing runner. We knew we had to shut him down,” Biddle said. “We go out every week and our defense is sound. Everyone does their job and tries to make plays. Just do your job and good things happen.”
The sixth-seeded Minutemen will take on highly-regarded Toledo Central Catholic in the regional championship game Saturday in Tiffin. The Fighting Irish (12-0) are the region’s No. 1 seed.
It will take another monumental effort by Lexington, but Biddle isn’t ready for a record-setting season to end.
“No team from Lexington has ever made it past the second round of the playoffs,” Biddle said. “It feels amazing.”
