The Showdown is set ... 9-0 Tipp at 9-0 Xenia

Tipp had one more game to get through before the big showdown. That time is now.

The Red Devils dominated Stebbins 51-0 on Friday night to move to 9-0 overall. Now they head to Xenia on Friday night for the MVL title as the 9-0 Buccs also look to claim the league championship.

“I was worried coming into this week, you got that big game next week and a lot of stuff going through these kids’ heads,” Tipp coach Matt Burgbacher said. “I love the way we came out tonight and it was one of those night where the guys came out on fire.”

“It was offense, defense, and special teams. It was good to see, and we are playing our good football right now. These guys have earned the opportunity to do this on Friday, nobody has given us anything this year and not many people thought we would be in this situation, but the kids in the locker room believed and they have gone out and done it.”

Tipp opened the scoring just three minutes into the game when Larkin Thomas hit Jackson Davis from 39 yards out giving Tipp a quick 7-0 lead. That connection would later set a record in the game.

Those two players made it 14-0 at the 6:03 mark of the quarter as Thomas connected with Davis from 26 yards out.

Davis caught his third touchdown from Thomas at 4:18 of the first period when he hauled in a 35-yarder to give the Red Devils a comfortable 21-0 lead.

The defense also got involved when Chris Preece picked off a pass and scampered in for a touchdown, pushing the Tipp lead to 27-0.

Early in the second quarter, Thomas connected with Cade Havill from 20 yards out and with 11:09 left in the half, the Red Devils led 34-0.

Six minutes later, Davis caught his fourth touchdown pass of the game, setting a new school record for most touchdown catches in a game, giving Tipp a 41-0 lead.

Owen Baileys added a field goal and Logan Butera took it home from 20 yards to close out the scoring.

“Jackson is a very good player, but none of that would be able to happen if we don’t get the snap back there, we have to have the blocking and have a quarterback to be able to get him the ball,” Burgbacher said, adding that Thomas also broke the school record for touchdown passes in a season in this game. “It is a great tribute to our offense, and it all starts up front.”

“Those guys up front have to take great pride,” he added, crediting Alex Shellhammer, Jeffrey Martin, Ian Bickert, Cal Connors, Mason Dungan and Bryson Singleton for doing the job on the line.

Now the big game is set, Tippecanoe at Xenia, 7 p.m. on Friday.

“This is what you dream of and we are playing for all the marbles,” Burgbacher said. “When you see that schedule come out, you kind of think how neat it would be if two teams are 9-0 and we get that.”

*Parking is at a premium so it recommended to carpool or get there very early to get a parking spot.

*According to JoeEitel.com, the Red Devils have clinched the #1 overall seen in Division 3, Region 12. That means their first two playoff games would be played at the City Park, regardless of what happens on Friday. However, nothing is official until the OHSAA announces the tournament pairings next weekend.