For the third time in five seasons, the Ohio State Club Football Buckeyes are National Club Football Association National Champions.
The Buckeyes secured a 20-13 win over Clayton State on Saturday with a goal line stop on fourth-and-goal as time expired. Linebacker Christian Allen highlighted the stop by deflecting a Sire Hardaway pass attempt into the end zone.
Tight end Aidan Donovan was named Most Valuable Player after scoring all three of Ohio State’s touchdowns on the ground, including the go-ahead score with 4:57 remaining in the game. Donovan finished with eight carries for 14 yards and three touchdowns to go along with three receptions for 38 yards.
Despite trailing 13-0 midway through the second quarter, Ohio State was able to scratch its way back into the game thanks to a tenacious defensive performance. The Buckeyes forced four Clayton State turnovers – three fumbles and one interception – to help set up the offense with short fields on multiple occasions. Junior defensive end Trey Jones forced a pair of fumbles with two strip sacks.
Despite just 202 yards of total offense, Ohio State made just enough plays offensively when it needed to in order to collect the win.
After Clayton State took its two-score lead, Ohio State responded with an 11-play, 61-yard scoring drive that saw the Buckeyes convert a pair of third downs and was capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Donovan. The Buckeyes trailed 13-7 at the half after the Lakers’ final drive of the first half was thwarted by a Ryan Globokar interception.
Ohio State’s defense forced fumbles on each of Clayton State’s first two possessions of the second half. The Buckeye offense failed to cash in the first fumble, however after the Lakers fumbled inside their own five yard line on their second possession of the third quarter, Donovan plunged in from three yards out to tie the game. Ohio State though, missed the extra point, leaving the game tied 13-13.
The game would stay tied until late in the fourth quarter when Ohio State’s defense once again created big plays. After the Clayton State offense had moved the ball near midfield, the Buckeyes sent the Lakers back 22 yards on three plays, recording a pair of sacks in the process. After forcing a punt, Ohio State started its ensuing drive on the Laker 48-yard line. On second-and-five, quarterback Chris Atkins connected with tight end Ian Gecse for a 34-yard gain to set the Buckeyes up with first-and-goal. Three plays later, Donovan cashed in the go-ahead score.
After trading punts, the Lakers got the ball back with just under two minutes left. Hardaway led Clayton State inside the five yard line, however the Buckeye defense stiffened for the second time in the second half in a goal-to-go situation. Hardaway was pressured immediately before Allen deflected his last second pass, which fell incomplete as the clock hit zero.
The win gives Ohio State its third national title, the most in NCFA history. The Buckeyes were previously tied with Oakland and Coppin State for most in the NCFA at two apiece. Ohio State finishes the season with nine wins, tying the program record which was set in 2019 and matched in 2022.
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