CANTON — He’s listed at 5-foot-7 and is actually closer to 5-foot-4, but Winton Woods running back TyRek Spikes runs much bigger.

The slippery Spikes scampered for 153 yards and a touchdown as the Warriors stunned Akron Hoban 21-10 in the Division II state championship game Thursday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

  • The Cincinnati Winton Woods defense swarms to tackle Akron Hoban’s Markin McKinnie during Thursday night’s Division II state championship game in Canton.

  • Cincinnati Winton Woods running back TyRek Spikes bounces it outside against Akron Hoban during Thursday night’s Division II state championship game in Canton.

  • IMG_5738.jpeg

  • Cincinnati Winton Woods coach Chad Murphy.

  • IMG_5701.jpeg
  • IMG_5678.jpeg
  • IMG_5732.jpeg
  • IMG_5757.jpeg
  • IMG_5761.jpeg

  • Akron Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell

  • Cincinnati Winton Woods senior running back Ty’Rek Spikes strides through the Akron Hoban secondary during Thursday night’s game at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton.

  • IMG_5771.jpeg
  • IMG_5679.jpeg
  • IMG_5680.jpeg
  • IMG_5666.jpeg
  • IMG_5742.jpeg
  • IMG_5702.jpeg
  • IMG_5705.jpeg
  • IMG_5708.jpeg
  • IMG_5710.jpeg
  • IMG_5717.jpeg
  • IMG_5720.jpeg
  • IMG_5699.jpeg
  • IMG_5733.jpeg
  • IMG_5736.jpeg
  • IMG_5744.jpeg
  • IMG_5748.jpeg
  • IMG_5758.jpeg
  • IMG_5765.jpeg
  • IMG_5769.jpeg

  • Akron Hoban junior quarterback Jayvian Crable rolls to his right during Thursday night’s Division II state championship game against Cincinnati Winton Woods in Canton.

  • Cincinnati Winton Woods defenders, including Jayron Gibson (4), sack Akron Hoban quarterback Jayvian Crable during Thursday night’s Division II state championship game in Canton.

  • IMG_5787.jpeg
  • IMG_5789.jpeg

  • Akron Hoban quarterback Jayvian Crable hands the ball off to junior tailback Lamar Sperling during Thursday night’s Division II state championship game against Cincinnati Winton Woods in Canton.

  • IMG_5796.jpeg
  • IMG_5800.jpeg
  • IMG_5802.jpeg
  • IMG_5675.jpeg
  • IMG_5693.jpeg
  • IMG_5691.jpeg
  • IMG_5695.jpeg
  • IMG_5694.jpeg
  • IMG_5725.jpeg
  • IMG_5683.jpeg
  • IMG_5768.jpeg
  • IMG_5685.jpeg
  • IMG_5686.jpeg
  • IMG_5687.jpeg
  • IMG_5688.jpeg
  • IMG_5689.jpeg
  • IMG_5690.jpeg

The state title is the second for the Warriors (13-3) and the first since 2009. Winton Woods was state runner-up in 2017.

Hoban (12-4) was playing in the state championship game for the sixth time since 2015. The Knights won state titles in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020.

Operating behind a big and physical offensive line, Spikes was hard to find. His 2-yard touchdown run in late in the second quarter gave the Warriors a 14-3 lead.

“Behind my line they definitely can’t see me,” said Spikes, who rushed for 1,020 yards and 10 touchdowns in Winton Woods’ first five playoff games. “I’m going to find this hole and get through it and after that, you’re going to have to catch me.”

Hoban got back into it on the first play of the third quarter when linebacker Caleb Kepler stripped Spikes and returned the fumble 22 yards for a touchdown, but Winton Woods answered when K.C. Spears got loose for a 53-yard touchdown with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter to give the Warriors a 21-10 advantage.

“K.C. is a special dude,” Winton Woods coach Chad Murphy said. “I think we’ve got two of the most dynamic dudes in the state of Ohio. One is sitting right here (Spikes) and the other is 26 (Spears).

“It was a play that was kind of stuffed a little inside and he bounced it. He showed such strength being able to break tackles and then he has the speed to not get caught.”

After that, it was up to the stingy Winton Woods defense. The Warriors limited the Knights to 192 yards of total offense and slowed down Hoban running back Lamar Sperling, who had rushed for more than 1,000 yards and scored 20 touchdowns in Hoban’s five playoff wins.

“We got beat today, but it wasn’t for a lack of trying,” veteran Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell said. “They are very physical and at different times we didn’t match their physicality throughout the game. They were able to control the line of scrimmage on both sides.

“We had some great plays. We just couldn’t capitalize.”

Hoban took a 3-0 lead early in the first quarter, but couldn’t take advantage of a special teams miscue by Winton Woods. Spears, who doubles as Winton Woods’ punter, was ruled to have his knee down on a punt attempt late in the first quarter. Hoban took over at the Winton Woods 10 yard line, but couldn’t punch it in.

“Just a phenomenal performance by our defense,” Murphy said. “I think we’ve played championship defense since Week 1.”

The win capped a remarkable turnaround for Winton Woods. The Warriors lost two of their first three games and were 4-3 going into Week 8 before reeling off nine straight wins.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of our kids,” Murphy said. “We’ve had adversity that has happened in-house that only our guys know about that we’ve had to overcome. I just think toughness and resilience are two words that describe these guys.

“We’ve got some really good football players and football means a lot at Winton Woods High School.”