ASHLAND — Crestview senior Hayden Kuhn doesn’t know his time in the 40.
“Not very good,” he said.
But the 6-0, 155-pound QB/DB knows his time in the 97.
“Good enough to get a touchdown,” Kuhn said with a smile.
Kuhn’s electrifying 97-yard interception return for a TD Friday night helped the unbeaten Cougars (12-0) seal a 31-22 win against Hamler Patrick Henry (7-5) in the Division VI regional quarterfinals.
The pick-6 came with 5:17 remaining and Crestview hanging onto a 24-14 lead against a Patriots’ team that had won three in a row and was one of six Northwest Ohio Athletic League teams to make the postseason.
1st quarter
Crestview — Clete Rogers 11-yard pass from Hayden Kuhn (PAT Devin Holloway kick) 7-0
Patrick Henry — Aiden Behrman 34-yard pass from Nash Meyer (PAT pass failed) 7-6
2nd quarter
Crestview — Adison Reymer 41-yard run (PAT Holloway kick) 14-6
Crestview — Holloway 39-yard field goal 17-6
Patrick Henry — Meyer 2-yard run (PAT Behrman pass from Meyer) 17-14
Third quarter
No scoring
Fourth quarter
Crestview — Michael Mays 10-yard run (Holloway kick) 24-14
Crestview — Kuhn 97-yard interception return (Holloway kick) 31-14
Patrick Henry — Meyer 8-yard run (PAT Meyer run) 31-22
The win at Scott Bailey Memorial Field advances Crestview back to the regional semifinals for the second straight year with a date next week against Columbia Station (12-0) at a neutral site that will be announced on Sunday afternoon.
One thing is certain. There will be a new regional champion this year. Defending state champion Carey (11-1) fell to Colonel Crawford (10-2) on Friday night, moving the Eagles into the other regional semifinal against Columbus Grove (10-2).
On his interception, Kuhn said he saw the pass from junior QB Nash Meyer (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) get tipped at the line of scrimmage. The tip was crucial because Nash completed 25-of-34 passes for 339 yards and a TD in the game, while also rushing for a score.
“Thankfully it got tipped to me and I was able to catch it,” Kuhn said. “I waited for my blockers to get out in front of me. I was just going to follow them down the field.
“I was able to find a lane and make it all the way to the endzone.”
Kuhn also led an offense that put up 24 points against a Patrick Henry defense that allowed 14 or fewer points in eight of 11 games.
Kuhn completed five of six passes for 55 yards and rushed for 46 yards on seven carries.
Crestview coach Steve Haverdill, whose team won games by an average score of 37-9 this season, saw his Cougars pushed on Friday night in the final home game for a proud group of 10 seniors.
A crucial moment came in the third quarter when the Patriots took the kickoff to start the second half. Patrick Henry drove the ball down the field on a 15-play, seven-minute march and had a first-and-goal at the Crestview 10, trailing just 17-14.
But the Cougar defense stiffened and a Meyer pass sailed harmlessly out of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal from the 9.
What did Haverdill learn his about team?
“Heart. Guts. When their backs were against the wall, they made plays. That’s what champions do,” Haverdill said. “That’s the experience … these guys have been in playoff games before.
“This group of seniors … they just made plays.”
Haverdill and defensive coordinator Tim Scheid counseled their pass rushers to make life tougher for Meyer even if they couldn’t get to him — which led to the key interception.
“One of our D linemen got a hand up. (Patrick Henry) was doing a good job of taking the pass rush away a little bit. So we talked about it … if you don’t get in there, get your hands up … make him get it higher and maybe be able to get a tip,” Haverdill said.
Meanwhile, Crestview senior running backs Adison Reymer and Michael Mays combined to rush for 157 yards and two TDs. Mays’ contribution was especially important since Reymer continues to battle nagging injuries that limited his carries on offense.
“Adison has got bumps and bruises. He has had them all year,” Haverdill said. “That’s where Michael Mayes stepped up. He has become a heckuva player on both sides of the ball.
“It’s just that next-man-up mentality that we have. Adison will be fine, but for Michael to be able to spell him tonight was good.”
Up next: Located in Lorain County, Columbia Station blew out Bascom Hopewell-Loudon on Friday night, 36-6.
The Raiders, who were taken into overtime twice during the regular season, opened the playoffs with a 42-22 win against Mapleton. Crestview ended its regular season with a 47-16 win against the Mounties.
“They are a very well-coached team, very disciplined, very good running back,” Haverdill said. “They are pretty balanced. Good defense. We will have our hands full, but you expect that at this point in the season.”
