By Skip Weaver
ST. CLAIR TWP. – While recent memory may make it seem like Edgewood and its second-round playoff opponent Trotwood-Madison are strangers when it comes to the postseason, there is a brief but favorable history between the two.
They first met in 2002 when the Cougars defeated the Rams 24-6 in the Division II first round. Four years later, they matched up again in 2006 and for a second time Edgewood was victorious 35-12. However, in 2007 – the last time these two faced each other in the playoffs – the Rams eked out an overtime win 33-27.
All that truthfully has no bearing on this game, but there is nothing more important to this year’s 11th-seeded Cougars than upsetting the higher-seeded team for a second straight week. They defeated No. 6 Columbus West 41-12 last week.
“It’s been a long time ago, but it was a really good rivalry,” EHS coach Matt Root said. “We talked to our kids about the history and tradition of Edgewood football, how we do things and the guys that came before them. It does matter. We talked about some of rivalries and big games we have played in and been underdogs before and been able to go in and come out with a win. Our guys are ready for the challenge and are going to go in and be ready to play.”
As the No. 3 seed in Division II, Region 8, Trotwood-Madison had a first-round bye last week. The Rams (7-2) are primarily a passing team with quarterback Jayden McClain throwing for 1,290 yards and 13 touchdowns. The senior has three receivers with double-digit receptions including junior Zye’Air Fields (38 catches, 466 yards and two touchdowns), freshman Tyree Thomas (23-294-2) and senior Mike Keith (15-351-6).
But Trotwood-Madison does have a running game with senior Daylan Dennis (99 carries, 475 yards and eight touchdowns).
“Trotwood has a really big athletic team,” Root said. “Their QB is athletic and can throw it, but he can run it too so we have to make sure to not let him out of the pocket and keep big plays from happening. Defensively, they are physical and do a great job creating turnovers so we have to run the clock and have long drives that finish in touchdowns and keep them off the field. They want to create big plays so we have to force them to make mistakes. It is a big challenge for us and we are excited for it.”
Edgewood (7-4) has the firepower to do just that with the two-headed monster at running back in Carter Breedlove and Brody O’Banion. The duo both rushed for over 1,000 yards this season and ranked third and fourth respectively in rushing yards in the Southwestern Buckeye League. Breedlove, who had the huge game in the regular season finale at Monroe with setting new school records in yards (413) and touchdowns (7) in a single game, has 1,341 rushing yards through 11 games while O’Banion has 1,306 yards. Together they have 34 rushing touchdowns.
“Me and Carter have been like brothers since I moved here in fifth grade,” said O’Banion, who was the big gun in last week’s win over Columbus West. He ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns while Breedlove did his share of damage as well with 127 yards rushing and a score.
“It’s been hard the last few years, but getting our first playoff win since 2022 is pretty awesome,” O’Banion said. “It was definitely different playing on grass for the first time since Pee Wee. It was a pretty fun experience.
“I wouldn’t say we are relaxed now that we got a playoff win,” he continued. “We are always excited to get back on the field, but pressure is always there. We just have to get out there and play our best ball and see how it goes. Anything is possible. We just have to go do our best and push forward to be successful.”
Root said the team hung a wall ball in the fieldhouse on Wednesday marking its playoff victory.
“I think early on Columbus West gave us some things we hadn’t seen on film and it took us time to adjust, but we responded quickly with the offensive line opening holes for Brody and Carter,” Root said. “It meant a lot. It was a massive goal for our seniors and the team to get a playoff win and hang a wall ball up in the fieldhouse. Our staff and players all put in a lot of hard work for it and now they get to say they won a playoff game forever. That’s really hard to do.”
