Roundup: Utica football edges Centerburg in final minutes
Zach Heckman's 5-yard touchdown run with 1:55 left in the game Friday lifted the Utica football team to a 26-19 victory against visiting Centerburg in the season opener.
Heckman threw a 73-yard TD pass to Gavin Chinn to cut the Centerburg lead to 9-6 at halftime. Tyler Collura then had a 3-yard TD run, and Heckman connected with Hayden Piper for an 82-yard score in a back-and-forth third quarter.
Heckman finished 8-for-10 for 197 yards, and he added 69 yards rushing. Justin Giffin ran for a team-high 73 yards on 11 carries, and Chinn caught three passes for 103 yards.
Collura made a team-high 12 tackles, and Zachery Cyphers added eight. Utica held Centerburg quarterback Tyler Johnson to 9-for-24 passing.
Granville wins on road
Tyler Ernsberger threw a pair of touchdown passes, leading Granville to an 18-7 victory at Whitehall in the season opener.
Ernsberger connected for scores with Miles Eckenrode and Matt Chaykowski, and Noah Musick added a 32-yard field goal to clinch the victory. Maxton Messner recovered a fumble, and Dante Varrasso intercepted a pass to lead the defense.
Watkins falls late
Visiting Worthington Kilbourne scored the final 21 points to slip past Watkins Memorial 32-21 in the season opener.
Patrick Carney threw for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Warriors, connecting with Jaeden Ricketts for 23 yards and 35 yards, and Tommy Ischy also threw a 24-yard TD pass to Jude Wise. DaaVion Long added 110 yards rushing.
Logan Fitch made 11 tackles for the Warriors. Ben Bartram and Nash Biglin combined for 307 yards rushing and three scores for the Wolves.
Lakewood edged at home
Adam Crawford threw a pair of touchdown passes for Lakewood in a 19-13 loss to visiting West Muskingum in the season opener.
Crawford threw a 12-yard TD pass to Isaiah Mitchell and a 3-yard TD pass to Josh Hicks, rallying the Lancers from a 13-0 deficit into a 13-13 tie. Ty Shawger's 2-yard TD run late in the third quarter, however, was the difference for West.
Crawford threw for 144 yards with Mitchell catching four passes for 62 yards and Nate Lee three for 47 for the Lancers.
BOYS SOCCER
GCA ties Genoa
Jayden Leija made 12 saves to preserve Granville Christian's 1-1 tie at Genoa Christian.
Landen Pound scored for the Lions (0-1-1) off assists from Andrew Benvie and Noah Tice.
Liberty ties West M
Brennan Fox's goal with 2:30 left in the match pulled Liberty Christian into a 1-1 tie Thursday at West Muskingum.
Caleb Reichert recorded the assist for the Eagles (0-1-1).
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Utica football edges Centerburg in final minutes
