Carlisle grabs historic win over North College Hill

Defense dominates in the second half on the way to school’s first-ever playoff win.

Photos: Carlisle vs. North College Hill

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By John Bombatch, Staff Writer Updated 2:07 PM Sunday, November 8, 2009

CINCINNATI — History was made Saturday night, Nov. 7, at North College Hill Stadium, but it wasn’t the kind of history the host Trojans (10-1) wanted to experience.

Carlisle High School football coach Bill Jewell cited a bit of history from his high school football playing days at halftime, and the Indians rallied around the coach’s words for a 21-13 win in the Division IV regional quarterfinals.

It’s the first playoff win in Carlisle school history.

“I told them I played in a game where we were down 21-0 at halftime and we came back and won the game 32-21,” Jewell said. His Indians trailed 13-7 at the break.

“I could see that they were kind of down, and that surprised me. Heck, we were down six to a very good North College Hill team. A score and an extra point and we were back in the lead. I was feeling pretty good about our chances,” he added.

As the two teams kept the other from scoring in the third quarter, Carlisle (9-2) stopped a Trojans drive on its own 45-yard line. Nine plays later, Indians quarterback Jake Gibson plunged in from a little more than a yard out to tie the game. Kris Garrett’s extra point gave Carlisle a 14-13 lead with 10:18 left to play.

The Indians defense forced another NCH punt, and Carlisle drove the ball 44 yards on 12 plays to score. This time, Nick McGill bashed his way in from a yard out. Another Garret PAT and the Indians bought some breathing room, 21-13.

Carlisle held the speedyTrojans to 2 yards rushing and only one first down in the second half.

McGill and Jordan Jacobs combined for all but 13 yards of Carlisle’s 288 rushing yards.

“Thanks to Thomas Cooper, Tyler Jewell, Dylan Parsons, Joe Downey and Seth Everhart,” McGill said, crediting his offensive line. “We just wore them down in the second half.”

Big plays were the keys to the first-half scoring.

NCH got on the board first when Lucien Kidd sprinted to his left and down the sideline untouched for an 86-yard run and an early 7-0 lead.

Carlisle responded on the next play from scrimmage. Jacobs took the handoff, spun through the NCH line and found himself wide open and in the Trojan secondary. Jacobs hit the afterburners and went untouched the rest of the way for an 80-yard game-tying romp.

Carlisle advances to face defending state champion Alter, the No. 1 seed, in the D-IV regional semifinals, Saturday, Nov. 14, at a neutral site that will be determined today.

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