Bishop Watterson uses huge first half to cruise to playoff win over Miami Trace

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ben Uhlenhake didn’t appear likely to make a big impact on the Bishop Watterson football team as a freshman after he had to sit out the Eagles’ first two games with a calf injury and then mostly played special teams throughout the majority of the regular season.

But the tailback made a name for himself in a big way on Friday night, when he rushed for 49 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries to help lead Watterson to a 44-7 victory over Miami Trace in a Division III, Region 11 quarterfinal at Ohio Dominican University.

Watterson, which is the top seed in Region 11, improved to 11-1 overall and will face fifth-seeded Bloom-Carroll in a semifinal on Nov. 10 at a site to be determined.

“I was hoping I could do something like this, but it was really hard to think that it was going to happen after the way my season started,” said Uhlenhake, who had scored only one touchdown in Watterson’s first 11 games. “I’m just really glad that I was able to play well and help our team win.”

Uhlenhake helped Watterson jump out to a 7-0 lead just 3:32 into the game when he made a 13-yard reception and then scored on a 3-yard run up the middle on the very next play.

“There was just a big hole there, so I just punched it in,” Uhlenhake said. “I’m really glad that our offensive line played so well, because they opened up great holes for us to run through all night.”

Uhlenhake also plowed his way one yard up the middle for a touchdown to put Watterson ahead 21-0 with 51 seconds remaining in the first quarter and he deftly tiptoed his way around a couple of defenders at the line of scrimmage before breaking loose for a 35-yard scoring run late in the second quarter to give the Eagles a 37-0 halftime advantage.

“Ben was banged up early on, but you could clearly see that he had the ability to be a varsity player, even as a freshman, and he took advantage of his opportunities and did a good job running the ball tonight,” Watterson head coach Brian Kennedy said. “We started fast and played well across the board.”

Jake Uhlenhake - Watterson’s leading receiver and Ben’s older brother - also made a large impact offensively, racking up five catches for 135 yards and a score.

“It’s awesome to get to play with my brother,” said Jake Uhlenhake, who has a team-best nine touchdown receptions. “Growing up playing football in the backyard, we always dreamed of this moment of having a game where we both scored touchdowns.”

Ben Uhlenhake echoed his brother’s sentiments.

“It’s really cool that we can be on the field supporting each other,” Ben said. “It was great to keep hearing our last name repeated by the announcer every time one of us scored.”

On Watterson’s second possession, the junior wide receiver caught a short pass from senior quarterback AJ McAninch, and then used his speed to weave his way through the Panthers’ secondary, en route to a 76-yard touchdown reception.

“I was able to hit Jake and let him make a big play with his speed, like he’s been doing all year,” McAninch said. “We came out hot and set the tone early.

“Our offensive line came off the ball quick and got our running game going early, and they gave us so much time and opportunity to make plays.

“(Ben Uhlenhake) was impressive, especially knowing what I was like when I was a freshman.”

While being protected by center Vance Graney, right guard Blaise Strausbaugh, right tackle Nate Kreuz, left guard Tommy Koehler and left tackle Pete Eglitis, McAninch was 11-of-15 passing for 193 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions, before sitting out the entire second half.

Senior running back Zack Weber also rushed for 40 yards on seven carries, including a 13-yard touchdown run that put Watterson ahead 28-0 with 7:26 left in the second quarter.

Despite playing under a running clock in the second half, senior tailback Ben Boyle managed to rush for 48 yards on eight carries.

Backup quarterback Zeke Taylor also was 5-of-6 passing for 32 yards, with a 5-yard scoring pass to senior tight end Ben Cottrel in the fourth quarter.

“Jake’s a tremendous weapon and a lot of teams have a hard time covering him,” Kennedy said. “And when AJ’s on, he’s hard to stop.”

Led by linemen Ben Gabrich (six tackles), Landon Purcell (five tackles), John Spencer (five tackles) and CJ Youell (four tackles), and linebackers (Max Melaragno (five tackles) and Weber five tackles), Watterson’s defense limited the Panthers to only 103 rushing yards on 28 attempts and 42 passing yards.

Quarterback Trey Robinette was 4-of-8 passing for 42 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown pass to Cody Gibbs. But he was sacked in the end zone for a safety in the second quarter by lineman Joseph DiPalma and Weber.

Tailback Asher LeBeau ran for 38 yards on 15 carries and tailback Westin Dawes rushed for 30 yards on three carries, to pace the ninth-seeded Panthers, who finished 7-5 overall after advancing to the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

“We thought we could hang with them, but Watterson’s speed and athleticism were hard to deal with,” Miami Trace coach Jerry Williams said. “They are the most well-rounded team we’ve played. We worked hard to stop (senior strong safety and Navy football recruit) Dom Purcell, but Watterson has lots of talent and depth, and a lot of other guys hurt us, too.”