With the pressures of winning Mr. Football squarely on his shoulders,
Piqua senior running back Brandon Saine heard
the whispers as other talked about Jordan Mabin being more deserving of
Ohio’s top
honor. By the time the final gun sounded on the Division Two Championship game
Saine turned those whispers into cheers and proof he was worthy of being called
the top prep football player in Buckeye land.
Rushing for 240 yards on 30 carries while scoring three touchdowns, Saine
used his size, strength and speed to do what Jordan Mabin couldn’t do just a
week before. Beat one of the
hottest teams in Ohio, Pickerington Central. Just one week before Central shut down
Mabin to advance to the title game they’d have no such luck on this night.
On this night Central looked ready to run away from Piqua as they took the
opening kickoff and marched 61 yards on seven plays for the early lead. J.D Cecil did the rest with a 7-yard
score.
But things didn’t go Central’s way the rest of the night and Mr. Football
showed why he was bestowed such a hefty honor as fans watched him go 80 for a
score.
This was just the start of a night the senior will remember as he pilled
up 195 yards on 14 carries in the first half alone.
But Piqua
wasn’t a one-man show on this night as others looked to ensure the Indians their
first state title. With a speedy
defense Piqua gave Central fits and forced
Anderson into
three interceptions when all was said and done.
The affair had an Ohio State feel as the Ohio State committed Saine
watched Jafe Pitcock, younger brother of current Buckeye defensive lineman Quinn Pitcock get into the action by taking an interception in for an 8 yard score.