No. 5 seed Hudson jumped on No. 4 seed Jackson from the opening kickoff and cruised to a 44-14 win in a Division I, Region 1 quarterfinal on Friday night, Nov. 6, at Fife Stadium in Jackson Township, according to The Repository of Canton. It was Hudson’s second win at Fife this season, and the more decisive one after a 55-35 victory there in Week 2.
Hudson (9-3) led 3-0 four plays into the game after Reno Ferri’s 77-yard return on the opening kickoff set up the first of three Xavier Pallo field goals, The Repository reported. By the 7:28 mark of the second quarter the Explorers led 27-0, having run 29 plays to Jackson’s 14.
Quarterback Hayden Lipinski was sensational with his arm and his legs, completing 13 of 16 passes for 122 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions — all of that damage done in the first half — while running for 106 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, according to The Repository. Ferri added 144 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries.
Hudson’s defense did the rest. The Explorers limited the explosive Polar Bears to 174 total yards while gaining 398 themselves, The Repository reported. Linebacker Trent Smith recorded two sacks and a tackle for loss in the first quarter alone, and Carter Markey and Jack Williams each intercepted a pass, with both picks leading to Hudson touchdowns.
Jackson (8-3), which entered on a seven-game winning streak after a first-round bye, clawed back before halftime. Max Leech ran for a 1-yard touchdown and Chase Maurer, who finished with 102 rushing yards, scored from 8 yards out to cut the deficit to 27-14 with 1:48 left in the half, according to The Repository. But Lipinski directed a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Ferri’s 2-yard touchdown run with nine seconds left, restoring a 34-14 halftime lead.
“I think that drive won us the game,” Lipinski told The Repository. Jackson drove to Hudson’s 27 to open the third quarter but turned the ball over on downs, Ferri finished the ensuing drive with a 7-yard touchdown run, and another Pallo field goal after a squib-kick recovery activated the running clock, The Repository reported.
Jackson’s season ends at 8-3 with the program’s first outright Federal League championship in 25 years, a title The Repository noted coach Jay Rohr was quick to credit to his players despite Friday’s disappointment. Hudson, which opted up to Division I this season after six straight playoff exits against Hoban or Walsh Jesuit in Division II, advances to a regional semifinal at No. 1 seed St. Edward (10-1) next week.