Gahanna opens stadium with a 46-28 come from behind win over Olentangy Liberty

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David Burnworth | September 2, 2023

In front of one of the biggest crowds I have seen in a long time in Ohio, Gahanna opened their new stadium with a thrilling come-from-behind win that left one side of the stadium deathly quiet, while the other side was still yelling and screaming when I left the stadium as they relished the win.

Things got off to a poor start for the Golden Lions when Carter Kuhn picked off a Brennen Ward pass. Later in the quarter, Alex Rucker hauled in an Andrew Leonard pass for a 31-yard gain. Christian Moulton would end the Patriots drive on a 4-yard touchdown catch on a nicely throw Leonard throw. Freshman Braden Scanlon calmly nailed his point after kick to make this a 7-0 game, with 6:41 left on the clock.

Following a long kickoff return the Golden Lions needed just one play to answer with Jalen Scott racing into the end zone. Max Huliba locked things up at seven with his point-after kick, with 6:25 left on the clock. Gahanna has a plethora of weapons making it virtually impossible to key on any one player.

Moulton would have a 14-yard catch to help set up his 2nd touchdown catch of the game making this a 14-7 game, after Bliss Archbald was true on the point-after kick, with 1:59 remaining on the first quarter clock. Moulton, who wears number 88 looked a lot like a famous former Dallas Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin, who also wore number 88.

The exciting quarter would have just eight seconds left when Diore Hubbard took in a pass for 14 yards. The drive would end without any points as the Liberty defense regrouped to force a punt a short time later. Once the offense got back on the field Liberty pulled off a big screen pass to Jake Struck, who rambled to a 62-yard gain. Struck runs as hard as any back I have watched this year. The drive came to a close when Leonard found Evan Nelson for the 19-yard score to make this a 21-7 game at the 6:26 mark of the 2nd quarter.

After Ward was sacked by Cameron Cole and Carter Kuhn for a loss of three Ward would compose himself just a short time later by hitting Cameron Fraizer Jr. for the 35-yard score making this a 21-13 game. Ward was hit a lot in this one and forced to move in the pocket due to the pressure from the Liberty defense but he never seemed to hesitate in what he was supposed to do nor did he appear to get to up or to down.

Struck picked up 20 yards on another catch but the Lions defense clamped down to record back-to-back big plays. First, it was a sack by 6-6, 240-pound super talented Elijah King. Then it was an interception in the endzone by Frazier Jr. with twenty-four seconds left in the half.

The Patriots kept things going in the third quarter with a 9-play, 73-yard drive that ended on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Leonard to Toby Gage making this a 28-13 game. Gahanna would go 80 yards on 8-plays to make this a 28-19 game. The score came on a long touchdown pass to Scott. After getting the ball back in quick fashion the Lions would get a sweet 40-yard run from Hubbard, who has been the best back I have watched all season. A 14-yard run from Scott, along with two passes from Ward made this 28-25 games. Both passes were to Scott. The first brought a 20-yard gain, and the latter brought a 6-yard touchdown. The point after attempt was blocked by Antonio Kish.

Hubbard picked up 26-yards with 8:39 left in the game and a short time later Tayshawn Parm gave Gahanna a 28-25 lead Madden Vieta was brought on to kick the point after kick and he was spot on to make this a 32-28 game. This became a 39-28 Fraizer Jr. picked up a Wilson Roberts fumble and took it 64 yards for the score. Wilson had just caught a 21-yard pass before he fumbled on his next catch. King would get a sack at the 2:41 mark of the final frame and then it was a pick-six by Quan Rhodes-Mckee to bring us to the final score 46-28.

Some thoughts on this game. The Gahanna defense regrouped after a long first half that would see them getting beat a lot. As powerful as their offense is, I think their defense will be as dangerous, especially after the 2nd half they had in this one. Sometimes you need to be punched in the mouth a few times before you get back up and show the state what you are made out of.

Libert drops to 0-3 but kid yourself not, this team is going to win some games and be a factor in the league before all is said and done. With weapons like Moulton and Struck the offense is in good hands. The defense won’t see a better offense this season and that alone will make it easier for them to become dangerous.