DEFIANCE – An inspiring halftime speech from senior quarterback/defensive back Blake Reynolds left an impression on his Columbus Grove teammates and coaches on Saturday night in the Division VI, Region 22 championship game at Defiance High School.
The Bulldogs outscored Fairview 28-7 in the final 24 minutes to break a 14-14 halftime deadlock on the way to a 42-21 triumph.
Columbus Grove, which is now 5-0 in regional championship games, will play state power Coldwater in the state semifinals next Saturday at a site to be determined today by the OHSAA. The top-ranked Cavaliers rolled past Mechanicsburg, 35-14, in the Region 24 championship game Saturday night. The victory was the 600th in program history for the MAC juggernaut that’s won six state championships, finished state runner-up six times and is making its 16th Final 4 appearance.
Grove is playing in its first state semifinal since 2014 following three straight appearances from 2001-03.
“I can’t talk highly enough about our seniors,” said Grove headman Andy Schafer. “I wish I had a recording to capture the moment in the locker room when Blake – really for the first time ever – shared his heart. He got up in front of the team at halftime and shared his heart. There were tears, there was leadership.”