Alex Materni was always going to play an important role as a junior for Genoa this season.
When senior Luke Clement broke his leg midway through the season, however, Materni no longer had to wait his turn in many ways. Materni immediately stepped up in Clement’s shoes and did Clement proud Friday with three rushing touchdowns in a 34-33 overtime victory over Wooster Triway in the third round in Division V.
Genoa (11-1), which won its last 11 games, plays unbeaten Liberty Center in a regional final at a site to be determined.
High school football Genoa’s Alex Materni has decided he will refuse to be tackled
Materni opened the first possession in overtime against Triway breaking a 16-yard run to the outside to the 4. He ran in from 1 yard for a 34-27 advantage.
Triway capped the ensuing possession with a touchdown, before Evan Millner and Gavin Grigson combined to stop a reverse on the conversion attempt. Grigson blocked an extra point to prevent Triway from taking a 28-27 lead in regulation.
Materni busted a 61-yard scoring run for a 27-21 advantage early in the fourth quarter. Materni had 125 yards on 19 tries overall.
Logan Routson returned a fumble 48 yards as the Comets led 21-14 at the half. Routson collected 10 tackles and forced two fumbles, Materni had 12 tackles, including eight solo, and Millner and Hunter Bickel had 11 tackles apiece.
Materni, Millner and Bickel each had one sack. Adam Knight intercepted a pass.
Materni ran in from the 1 and Ryan Routson caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Myles Mollenhauer as Genoa led 14-0. Jaxon Magnone had seven receptions for 90 yards and Ryan Routson added six catches.
Clement, who remains a huge part of the heart and soul of the team, was able to walk out to the center of the field in a boot for the coin toss before overtime.
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Genoa football advances in OHSAA postseason