MANSFIELD — Rob Mahaney has not enjoyed driving past Mansfield’s Arlin Field for the past year.
That all changed Friday night.
After Ontario stunned Shelby 49-48 at Arlin Field last season in a Division IV, Region 14 semifinal, the Whippets left the Mansfield Tygers’ home stadium with a much better memory this year.
One of Ohio high school football’s oldest rivalries, No. 1-ranked Shelby (13-0) and second-seeded Galion (11-2) was renewed for the 123rd time on Friday night — this time with a trip to the Final Four on the line.
Determined to leave last year behind, the Whippets rolled to a 41-7 win — claiming a regional championship and earning their ticket to a state semifinal matchup next week against Indian Hill (13-0).
This marks only the second time Shelby has reached the Final Four — the first coming in 2017.
The Whippets’ 13 victories also tied the program’s single-season wins record.
“We wanted to get back here,” Mahaney said. “After what happened here on this field (last season), I met with all our seniors in the offseason and we (said) we want to get to Thanksgiving and we want to do these kind of things.
“For about a year I’ve had to drive by this stadium (Arlin Field) with like this cringe. Now, this is the memory we’re going to have. It’s a pretty special thing,” he said.
Below are Tom Theodore’s photos from Friday’s Division IV, Region 14 championship game between Shelby and Galion. The story continues below.
Bend but don’t break
Rain began to fall steadily right before Friday’s opening kickoff. But that didn’t slow the playmaking ability of Shelby senior Brayden DeVito or the Whippet offense.
Shelby scored twice in the opening quarter and once in the second period. Galion scored its lone TD midway through the second quarter to make it a 21-7 ballgame at the break.
It was all Shelby in the second half. The Whippets scored two more offensive touchdowns in the final 24 minutes and senior Michael Shepherd returned an interception 27 yards for a score with 5:10 left to play.
“I saw the ball, tipped it to myself and made sure I got six on it,” Shepherd said. “I took in the moment as good as I could.”
An Air Force signee, DeVito completed 18-of-28 passes for 249 yards and 4 TDs. On the ground, he ran for 151 yards and a score. Junior Brady Bowman was DeVito’s top target, catching seven passes for 104 yards and a pair of TDs.
Shepherd, Kayden Paz and Travis Slone each had more than 40 yards receiving. Paz and Slone added a touchdown reception apiece. Freshmen Luke Blevins was Shelby’s second-best rusher, picking up 46 yards on two carries.
After surrendering 34 points to the Tigers in September — the most any opponent has scored against Shelby this season — the Whippet defense was hungry for a chance to prove itself.
Shelby’s defense limited Galion to 211 yards of total offense and 10 first downs. The Whippets also forced four turnovers, including three interceptions.
Senior Sam Gwirtz, a Division IV Defensive Player of the Year in the Northwest District along with Galion’s Zach Sallee, said hearing the community support echo down from the bleachers provided fuel for the Whippets.
“When you’re out on that field and you look at the community that is supporting you, we are going to bend but we are never going to break,” Gwirtz said.
Below are more photos from Tom Theodore. The story continues below.
Galion still made history
Despite Friday’s loss, Galion fans have much to be proud of. Since winning a state championship in 1985, this year marked the Tigers’ first regional final appearence in four decades.
Senior Ayden Schmidt completed 17-of-26 passes for 191 yards, one TD and three picks.
Six different Galion receivers caught at least one pass Friday. Kurt Hay and Jamesen Glew led the Tigers in receiving, each with more than 60 yards. Dominic Capretta scored Galion’s lone points on a 12-yard reception.
“(Schmidt) found guys open all night and made plays,” Mahaney said.
After their lone loss of the regular season at the hands of Shelby in September, the Tigers rattled off eight straight wins en route to a historic season.