Olentangy Liberty dethrones St. Edward, advances to D1 Ohio football state championship: Live updates recap

Patriots play smash-mouth football on a snowy night to end St. Edward's streak of state titles

Olentangy Liberty is going on to the Division I Ohio high school football state championship game. / Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

It's Northeast vs. Central Ohio for a spot in the Division I high school football championship game.

St. Edward is no stranger to state semifinals — the Eagles have won the last three Division I state football titles — and Olentangy Liberty stands in their way of making it four in a row.

A rocky regular season rife with injuries hasn't prevented St. Edward from peaking during the playoffs, including a 13-7 Division I Region I win over Mentor.

Olentangy Liberty is coming off a 21-9 victory over Pickerington North.

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Follow along below for live updates from the Division I semifinal, which starts at 7 p.m. ET Friday, Nov. 29, at Mansfield Senior High School.

Olentangy Liberty vs. St. Edward state semifinal game live updates

PREGAME

It's snowing in Mansfield as game time approaches.

St. Edward wins the toss and elects to take the ball first.

1ST QUARTER

Olentangy Liberty kicks off for a touchback, giving St. Edward the ball on its own 20 to start the game in 20-degree weather.

INTERCEPTION! What would have been a pick-six on the first offensive play of the game gets called back by a penalty, so Olentangy Liberty takes over in St. Edward territory. Carter Kuhn got the pick for Liberty.

Christian Moulton with a big first-down grab for Liberty, and the Patriots are in the red zone.

TOUCHDOWN LIBERTY! Andrew Leonard calls his own number and runs for a 17-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 with 9:42 left.

FUMBLE! St. Edward gives it right back to Liberty after coughing it up on the kickoff return. Carter Cole with the recovery and the Patriots are in business again.

FIELD GOAL NO GOOD! A 43-yard field goal attempt by Sean Hendricks goes wide right and St. Edward dodges a bullet. Liberty still up 7-0. 7:42 left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Lincoln Gardner crushes St. Edward QB Thomas Csanyi on fourth and 5, and the Patriots get it back on the St. Edward 26, leading 7-0 with 2:42 left.

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Olentangy Liberty 7, St. Edward 0

2ND QUARTER

Olentangy Liberty will start with a first down in St. Edward territory after a big run by QB Andrew Leonard to finish the first.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Nate Gregory crushed Leonard on third down, then put pressure on him on fourth down to force an incomplete pass. St. Edward takes over on its own 32, trailing 7-0 with 9:45 left.

Olentangy Liberty forces a punt and takes over on its own 20. Patriots now into St. Edward territory in the waning minutes of the quarter.

St. Edward gets called for defensive pass interference on fourth and 16, giving Liberty a fourth and 1.

FIELD GOAL NO GOOD! Liberty's 35-yard attempt with 16 seconds left goes wide right, so the score remains 7-0 Patriots.

HALFTIME: Olentangy Liberty 7, St. Edward 0

HALFTIME STATS

Olentangy Liberty outgained St. Edward 130-84 in the first half. The Eagles had just 13 yards passing. Andrew Leonard had 49 yards passing and 38 yards rushing for the Patriots. Bradley Eaton had 53 yards rushing for the Eagles.

3RD QUARTER

Olentangy Liberty starts the second half with the ball on its own 26, leading 7-0.

St. Edward forces a quick three-and-out and takes over on its own 22 after the punt took a friendly Liberty bounce.

FUMBLE! Lincoln Gardner falls on a Thomas Csanyi fumble, and Liberty takes over in St. Edward territory, leading 7-0.

TOUCHDOWN LIBERTY! On the next play after the turnover, Jake Struck takes off for a 39-yard touchdown and it's 14-0 Patriots with just over nine minutes left in the quarter.

St. Edward punts and then touches the ball while the ball was still rolling, giving Liberty an extra 10 yards at least. 7:20 left.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Leonard's pass on fourth and 3 falls incomplete and St. Edward takes over on its own 40, trailing 14-0.

Tyler Thornton with a nice pass breakup for Liberty to force fourth-and-long.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! St. Edward completes the fourth-and-12 pass but it's short. Liberty takes over on its own 16 leading 14-0 with 2:23 left.

TOUCHDOWN LIBERTY! Leonard hits Moulton for an 80-yard touchdown catch-and-run and the Patriots' lead is up to 21-0 late in the third. The extra point hit the crossbar and went in.

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Olentangy Liberty 21, St. Edward 0

4TH QUARTER

St. Edward faces second-and-long on its own 27 to start the fourth trailing 21-0.

Nate Gregory gets a huge first down on fourth and 1 to keep St. Edward's hopes alive. Eagles are in Olentangy Liberty territory with nine minutes left, trailing 21-0.

TOUCHDOWN ST. EDWARD! Nate Gregory scores from 3 yards out to cut the Eagles' deficit to 21-7 with 7:14 left.

St. Edward gives up one first down but then forces a punt. Eagles get the ball back on their own 28 with 3:31 left, trailing 21-7.

TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Thomas Csanyi's pass on fourth and 6 falls incomplete, and St. Edward needs a miracle now.

FINAL: Olentangy Liberty 21, St. Edward 7

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports