Quarterback AJ Bower was a touchdown machine in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference this year. This continued in the regional quarterfinals of the OHSAA Division VI, Region 23 football tournament, throwing three touchdown passes to lead No. 4 Northmor (10-2, 6-1) to a 31-6 win over No. 12 Trimble (6-5, 2-2).
The Golden Knights led 7-0 after one quarter on a one-yard touchdown run by Carson Campbell with seven minutes on the clock, followed by Caleb Schnuerer nailing the extra point. The Tomcats scored in the second quarter at the eight minute mark to make it 7-6 on an Owen Sikorski 22-yard pick-six. Bower responded with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Fulk with three minutes left, and then a 29-yard pass to Bo Landin just two minutes later. With both extra points it was a 21-6 game at halftime.
In the third quarter, it was first down at the Northmor 37-yard line when Campbell took a long run down to the Trimble 19-yard line. Bower then hit Jax Wenger for a 19-yard touchdown with seven minutes left in the third quarter, and Schnuerer’s kick made it a 28-6 lead for Northmor. Schnuerer drilled a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter with 10 minutes left for insurance points and the Golden Knights walked away with a convincing 31-6 win.
Bower was 12-for-19 for 154 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Landin had four catches for 53 yards and Wenger had two receptions for 40 yards, and both scored. Fulk’s lone catch was a touchdown. Cameron Goldbach added two catches for 30 yards.
Campbell continued his excellent running, going for 125 yards on 13 carries with a touchdown. Paul Cramer had 14 yards, Cowin Becker had 10 yards and Bower tallied nine yards to give the team 158 yards on 28 attempts.
Schnuerer was 4-for-4 on extra points and hit his only field goal. He also had a 55-yard punt. On defense he picked off a pass. Ashton Clark had a sack in the game.
The top Tomcat performer was Xavier Cunningham with 19 carries for 49 yards on the ground. He also caught two passes for nine yards.
The Golden Knights allowed only 15 passing yards and 95 rushing yards, and controlled time of possession 23:37 to 21:54.
This was the seventh straight win for the Golden Knights, who have now outscored opponents 450-150.
Nov. 10 is the regional finals and Northmor will face No. 1 Garaway (12-0, 5-0) for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Garaway beat No. 9 East Knox 49-7 in the regional quarterfinals, and won 45-7 in the opening round over No. 16 Rock Hill.
