Alter repeats as Division IV champs

CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- Tony Taulbee and Thomas Armstrong scored 49 seconds apart to spark Kettering Archbishop Alter to a second straight Ohio Division IV championship, 37-7 over Chagrin Falls on Saturday.

The Knights (15-0) lost four of six fumbles, threw an interception, and completed only one pass, but forced five Chagrin Falls turnovers.

"If you asked me what our chances were if we turned the ball over five times, I'd probably say slim," Kettering Alter coach Ed Domsitz said. "But we played great defense to keep them from scoring on our mistakes."

Taulbee's 22-yard run capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive for a 16-7 lead with 5:15 left in the third quarter. Armstrong returned an intercepted pass 29 yards to score three plays later.

"It was good to get some momentum there," Armstrong said. "That's what I was happy with. We were playing well, but it was close until then."

Taulbee also had a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter and raced 31 yards to score in the fourth. He gained 126 yards on 16 carries.

Kettering Alter attempted only four passes.

"If people want to see us throw, then get to the game an hour early," Domsitz said. "We throw it all over the place then. But we're going to run it in the game."

Chagrin Falls (14-1) scored after Jared Peizer recovered a fumble at the Knights' 16 on the second play of the second half. Four plays later, Chris Gorman bulled through the left side from 5 yards to make it 9-7.

Coach Mark Iammarino said his defense did a good job forcing turnovers, but the offense didn't capitalize.

"Then it was a matter of their (Kettering Alter's) athleticism taking over," he said. "In every game this season, we held a speed advantage. Not today. It's no mystery why they won."

Cody Byers, co-defensive player of the year by The Associated Press in Division IV, said a second title feels good.

"There was probably a little more pressure this year to repeat because everybody was out to get us as the champions, so this one may be a little more satisfying," he said. "Our goal all year was to get back to the top."

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)