Badin tops Wapakoneta to advance to regional final

Unbeaten Rams will face Tippecanoe next Friday night
Badin's Zach Yordy, left, jumps to celebrate his touchdown with teammate Patrick Ray in their Division III Regional Semifinal football game against Wapakoneta Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 at Trotwood-Madison High School. Badin won 16-9. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Credit: Nick Graham

Credit: Nick Graham

Badin's Zach Yordy, left, jumps to celebrate his touchdown with teammate Patrick Ray in their Division III Regional Semifinal football game against Wapakoneta Friday, Nov. 11, 2022 at Trotwood-Madison High School. Badin won 16-9. NICK GRAHAM/STAFF

Top-ranked and top-seeded Badin used a rugged running game and a stout defense to advance Friday night in the Division III state playoffs.

The Rams (13-0) rushed for 230 yards and didn’t allow a touchdown on their way to a 16-9 win over fourth-seeded Wapakoneta (11-2) in a Region 12 semifinal at Trotwood-Madison High School.

Carter Russo rushed for 159 yards on 28 carries to lead the Badin ground game.

Zach Yordy’s 1-yard touchdown run with 7:26 to play in the first quarter put Badin on the board first. Nick Warner’s PAT made it 7-0.

The Rams, ranked No. 1 in Division III in the final Associated Press state poll of the season, upped their lead to 13-0 at the 8:28 mark of the second quarter when Alex Ritzie connected with Carson Cheek for a 31-yard touchdown pass.

Wapakoneta made it 13-3 with 3 seconds left in the first half on Kyle Beach’s 38-yard field goal.

Warner’s 34-yard field goal made it 16-3 with 8:25 to play in the third. Wapak added two more Beach field goals (34 and 41 yards) for the final margin.

Ritzie finished 10-of-15 for 99 yards. Cheek caught six passes and had an interception on defense. Drew Enginger added a pick for the Rams.

Badin will face Tippecanoe (12-1) in the regional finals next Friday at a neutral site. Tipp beat Western Brown, 41-30, Friday.

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