No. 11 Utica (7-4, 3-2) traveled to No. 6 Columbus Academy (10-1, 4-1) in the first round of the Region 19 state football tournament, and the Redskins trailed early and could never recover in a 34-18 loss despite Hayden Piper running for two touchdowns and passing for one.
The Vikings took a 13-0 lead in the first quarter with a six-yard touchdown run by Mikey Jauchius and a 55-yard punt return, with both extra points made by Abe Ulbrinch. Hayden Piper put the Redskins on the board with a two-yard touchdown run and it was 13-6 after one. The Viking tacked on two more touchdown runs in the second quarter to go up 27-6 at halftime.
With four minutes to go in the third quarter, Piper took it in from five-yards out to make it a 27-12 game. With eight minutes on the clock in the fourth quarter, Piper completed a pass to Tyler Collura for a nine-yard score and it was 27-18. With about two minutes left in the game Columbus Academy tacked on another score and took the win.
No. 6 Columbus Academy moves onto the Regional Quarterfinals against No. 3 Barnesville on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m.
