Centerville loses heartbreaker on final play of the game

Lincoln started the winning drive on its own 20-yard line with 1:49 to play and converted several fourth downs on the way to the winning score, while also taking advantage of two penalties.

One of the penalties was a pass-interference call at the goal line with one second to play. Centerville senior linebacker Grant Martin suffered a leg injury on that play and was taken off on a cart to an ambulance with an inflatable cast on his leg. Coach Brent Ullery said they would hear more about the injury from the hospital later in the evening.

Martin’s injury resulted in a long delay before the final play, and the Elks had to quickly turn their attention from their injured teammate to getting a stop to preserve the victory. But Cummings ran to his left and then cut inside to reach the end zone as the Elks (2-1) lost for the first time this season.

“They’re emotional,” Ullery said. “It’s an emotional game. This team is very close. They stick together. If one’s guy, they all hurt.”

Centerville, which beat Fairfield and Mason in its first two games, was trying to reach 3-0 for the first time since 2017. That season, it won its first seven games on its way to a 10-2 season.

Against Lincoln, Chase Harrison completed 15 of 26 passes for 216 yards. He threw three touchdown passes: two to Ryan Keifer in the first half and one to Cameron Smith with 4:51 to play. Smith’s 33-yard touchdown gave Centerville a 24-20 lead.

Harrison, who committed to Marshall in March, entered the game as the leading passer in the Greater Western Ohio Conference with 374 yards and three touchdowns. Smith caught nine passes for 140 yards and now leads the GWOC with 295 yards.

Until Smith’s touchdown, Centerville’s only score of the second half came on a 37-yard field goal in the third quarter by Jackson Courville, who kicked a game-winning 46 yard-field goal with 15 seconds remaining to beat Mason 15-14 in Week 2.

“Our offense is really good,” Ullery said. “We had trouble finding rhythm. When we’re in rhythm, we’re tough to beat. Same thing goes for our defense. Our defense played out of its mind. Our offense put them in some bad spots. But our defense played really well. I know it doesn’t look like it because they scored on the last play of the game, but that’s not indicative of how they played.”

After the touchdown by Smith, the Elks forced a three-and-out and got the ball back but were stopped on three plays themselves. They punted the ball away with 1:58 left, giving Gahanna Lincoln (2-1) one more chance.

“It doesn’t ever come down to (penalties) or anything like that,” Ullery said. “It just comes down to them executing one play better than we did. They’re a really good football team. I think we’re a really good football team. That’s why you play the game. They did a good job preparing. It’s just an unfortunate way to end the game.”

Centerville plays at MIamisburg (3-0) in Week 4.