State Football: Comeback bid falls short for Wayne

The Wayne High School football team fell short of the ultimate prize.

The Warriors mounted a valiant fourth-quarter comeback before dropping a 45-35 decision to Lakewood St. Edward on Saturday in the Division I state championship game at Ohio Stadium.

Wayne trailed 31-14 early in the fourth before reeling off 21 straight points to grab a 35-31 lead. St. Ed answered with a touchdown to regain the lead, then recovered a squib kick on the ensuing kickoff that bounced off a Wayne up man. On the next play, the Eagles put it away on a 51-yard TD run 1:09 to play.

Daryl McCleskey rushed for 156 yards and a touchdown and Matt Wilcox had two TDs for the Warriors. St. Edward quarterback Jimmy Keefe tied the Division I state title game record with 419 yards passing.

It’s the fourth time Wayne (14-1) has finished as state runner-up, including three times in the last six years — all to St. Edward.

It was the third state championship for the Eagles (14-1) and the second straight.

About the Author