Prep Tracker: Historic Day for Weber, Burrow Shines Again and Nordonia Wins Nailbiter

WARD LEADS NORDONIA TO UPSET WIN OVER PERRYSBURG

Nordonia may have been the higher-ranked seed in the Divison II playoff game against Perrysburg, but the Yellow Jackets entered the game with a pretty remarkable stat: they hadn't trailed in a game yet this season. On Friday night in Sandusky, 46 minutes had passed and it appeared that streak was bound to continue. The Yellow Jackets had kicked a field goal to take a 52-49 lead over the Knights. On the ensuing kick, the Jackets kicked to the Knights' Alex Alders and everything changed.

Alders returns kickoff for TD!!!!!!! @Cle_HSSports

— Joe Clark (@DrJoeClark) November 15, 2014

Now trailing 56-52, the Yellow Jackets fell short on a fourth down conversion attempt with a little over a minute to play and the Knights ran the clock out on the game and advanced to 12-0.

It was the final big play of the night for 6-foot-2 senior. Alders was a thorn in the side of Perrysburg all night finishing with 10 receptions for 104 yards and three touchdowns to go along with his enormous kickoff return. When it wasn't Alders doing the damage, it was Ohio State commitment Denzel Ward who was. Ward, playing cornerback and wide receiver, once again put on a show, illustrating why he's regarded by some as Ohio's most under-appreciated player. He finished with five receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns to go along with two pass breakups and an interception, his ninth of the season, on defense. Getting closer to the ultimate goal — a state championship — keeps Ward and his teammates focused.

"We know our overall goal is the state championship," Ward told Eleven Warriors. "So we're just taking it day-by-day working on what needs to be fixed Monday through Thursday so when Friday comes where well prepared for the teams we're about to go against."

ANOTHER WEEK AND ANOTHER TEST ANSWERED BY BURROW, BULLDOGS

The voices don't even bother whispering anymore, they say it loud and clear: yes, Athens plays ok football, but they play against terrible competition and they'll lose when the playoffs come around. Joe Burrow has heard for the last few years, and he's still hearing it now.

"We haven't proven anything yet," Burrow said after the Bulldogs topped Tri-Valley to advance to next week's big showdown against Columbus St. Francis DeSales. "We've been here as a group the last two years and came up short both times. We're a highly motivated team."

On Friday night, the Bulldogs went back-and-forth with Tri-Valley, eventually wearing down their opposition thanks to a stifling defense and the steady hand of Burrow. The Ohio State commitment was his usual self in a 41-20 win, completing 13-19 passes, for only 180 yards but managed three touchdowns. He contributed with his legs as well, grounding out 70 yards rushing for another score – he also intercepted a pass on defense to close out the game for good measure.

He's now caught as many interceptions (1) as he's thrown this season.

MIKE WEBER HAS AN OK NIGHT

One of the last remaining running back targets for the Buckeyes in 2015, Detroit Cass Tech star Mike Weber, had a fairly good Saturday afternoon against Chippewa Valley (Clinton Township, Michigan). On 33 carries, in the final game he'd play at Cass Tech's home field, Weber racked up 404 yards and five touchdowns. Next week, the Technicians will take on Saline (Michigan) in a state semifinal game. 

Weber confirmed with 11W that he'll be making official visits following his senior season. Don't expect to see him anywhere until December.

JAMEL DEAN GOES GAGA

The second commitment in the Ohio State 2015, Jamel Dean, doesn't get nearly the attention most Ohio State pledges do, but that could change if he has another performance like he did on Friday. Dean and his Cocoa teammates ran roughshod over Avon Park 67-0 with the 6-foot-1 future Buckeye doing much of the early damage.

In a quarter of play Dean caught three touchdown passes — of 37, 50 and 56 yards — and also returned a punt for a touchdown. The Tigers have now outscored their two playoff opponents 114-0.