OHSAA state football finals: Sean Carr, Chardon drive to Division III state championship, beating Hamilton Badin

Chris Easterling, The Independent
·4 min read

CANTON – For the second year in a row, the Chardon Hilltoppers needed a late score to claim the Division III state championship. This time, they defeated the Hamilton Badin Rams 21-14 in the title game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Sean Carr's 2-yard touchdown run with 1:05 remaining in regulation lifted the Hilltoppers to their second consecutive state championship. Last year, Chardon needed double overtime to beat Columbus St. Francis DeSales for the title.

The Hilltoppers, 16-0, win their third state football championship with the victory. The Rams, 14-1, suffer a loss in their first title-game appearance since 1990.

Chardon twice led by a touchdown in the game, at 7-0 and 14-7. Both times Badin managed to tie the game.

Here’s a look at some of the key things to know about the game:

Chardon's Sean Carr works his way through Badin's defense during the OHSAA Division III State Final game between the Badin Rams and The Chardon Hilltoppers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday Dec. 3, 2021. The game was tied 7-7 at halftime.
Chardon's Sean Carr works his way through Badin's defense during the OHSAA Division III State Final game between the Badin Rams and The Chardon Hilltoppers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday Dec. 3, 2021. The game was tied 7-7 at halftime.

Player of the Game: Sean Carr, RB, Chardon

It's hard to go against the player who scored the championship-winning touchdown. That's what Carr, one of the few returnees who played significantly on Chardon's state title team from a year ago, provided with his 2-yard TD run with 1:05 left in the game. It was Carr's 13th carry on the night, as he finished with just 33 yards rushing. However, after Chardon got the football on the Badin 29, he had the final three carries, netting 11 yards and the score. Carr also had a one catch for 5 yards, plus one tackle.

Chardon players and staff embrace and celebrate after winning the OHSAA Division III State Final game between the Badin Rams and The Chardon Hilltoppers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday Dec. 3, 2021. Chardon won the game with a final score of 21-14.
Chardon players and staff embrace and celebrate after winning the OHSAA Division III State Final game between the Badin Rams and The Chardon Hilltoppers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday Dec. 3, 2021. Chardon won the game with a final score of 21-14.

Play of the Game: Sean Carr's 2-yard TD run

Again, let's not overthink this one. In a game where every yard seem to require a battle just to gain, those final 2 yards that gave the Hilltoppers the lead for good with 1:05 left were absolutely precious. Really, you could almost put the final defensive and offensive series for Chardon here. It was the defense which helped to put Badin in a position to be punting out of its own end zone, from which it hit a short punt to give the Hilltoppers great field position at the Ram 29. From there, it was a matter of four quick plays to give Chardon its third, and final, lead of the night.

Nathanael Sulka, left, of Chardon celebrates his touchdown with Alex McDonald, center, and TJ Altman, right, during their DIII state championsip game against Hamilton Badin at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.
Nathanael Sulka, left, of Chardon celebrates his touchdown with Alex McDonald, center, and TJ Altman, right, during their DIII state championsip game against Hamilton Badin at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.

Three stats to a title

16-0: That's Chardon's final record on the season. The Hilltoppers, who have now won 28 consecutive games over the last two seasons, are the first Ohio high school football team to ever post a 16-0 record. Marion Local became the second Saturday.

143 yards: That was Badin's total yardage output for the game. The Rams actually ran two more plays than Chardon, 51-49, but were outgained by 90 yards and, most importantly, outscored by seven. The Rams had six three-and-outs, including their next-to-last possession to set up Chardon's winning score.

Minus-3: That's how many net yards Badin had after it tied the game 14-14 with 6:33 to go in the third quarter. That covers 16 total plays. Badin was sitting at minus-20 yards after tying the game until netting 17 yards in four plays on what became the Rams' final possession, which ended in an interception by Chardon's Heath Fetchik.

Alex Ritzie of Hamilton Badin targets a receiver during their DIII state championsip game against Chardon at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.
Alex Ritzie of Hamilton Badin targets a receiver during their DIII state championsip game against Chardon at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021.

They said that

Chardon running back Sean Carr on the go-ahead drive: "We felt the weight of the world ... but we knew we were ready for that moment. I mean, the work we put in, the culture. We knew we were ready for that moment."

Chardon coach Mitch Hewitt on pressure on Badin sophomore QB Alex Ritzie: "That was a tough spot for that sophomore to be in. We felt that if we put him in a position to have to win it, we liked our odds. That was the two best teams in Division III."

Badin coach Nick Yordy on the challenge of Chardon: "A lot of misdirection. I mean, they're a big and physical team. We knew that. We could see that off the film. They are a physical team. Everything they do is very physical."

Reach Chris at chris.easterling@indeonline.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: Sean Carr late TD lifts Chardon football to OHSAA state championship