Alter’s defense delivers knockout shot in D-IV final
CANTON – Area 51, Fort Knox and Kettering Alter’s defense. What are things that are impenetrable.
During its season long trek back to the Division IV state championship game, Alter’s defense deservedly stole the headlines. Saturday in the state final, the Knights “D” delivered again as Alter claimed its second straight state championship and wrapped a perfect season (15-0) with a 37-7 win over Chagrin Falls at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium.
While the Knights usually consistent offense sputtered against a solid Chagrin Falls defense that forced five turnovers, Alter’s defense was even more dominant.
The Knights, who came in allowing 139 yards and 6.7 points per game, held their 11th opponent this season to single digits. During its five-game postseason demolition, Alter allowed 20 points and scored 183.
“I think our defense did a tremendous job forcing turnovers and we needed to capitalize at that point in time,” Chagrin Falls head coach Mark Iammarino said. “When you have a veteran team like Alter that’s been there before, if you don’t get to them fast it’s just a matter of time. We had our opportunities but we only got one score out of the five turnovers we forced. Credit to them defensively that they were able to make that quick change.”
“Our defense has been getting most of the notoriety this season and deservedly so,” Alter head coach Ed Domsitz said. “I thought Chagrin Falls had the best offense we’ve seen after watching them on film. They run the ball well, the throw the ball well, they’ve got athletes and all those things. But I’ve watched our defense all year and today they took it to another level.”
Chagrin Falls (14-1) entered the state final averaging 356 yards (230 through the air and 126 on the ground) and 33.8 points per game but didn’t get anywhere near those numerical outputs.
Alter held the Tigers to 144 total yards (including 66 yards rushing on 32 carries), forced five turnovers of its own and returned a third quarter interception (by Thomas Armstrong) 29 yards for a TD. Senior linebacker Nolan Plate led the attack with 11 tackles.
In the first half Chagrin Falls managed two first downs and 43 total yards (13 of which came on the last snap of the half) on 24 plays.
The Tigers lone score – a 5-yard run by Chris Gorman in the third quarter – came after an Alter fumble on its own 16-yardline. A penalty also aided the short drive.
“In the 14 previous games we’ve played we’ve always had a speed advantage on everybody and today we didn’t,” Iammarino said. “They ran sideline to sideline on everything we had. It was difficult to get a rhythm as to something we felt worked. They run to the football and they are great tacklers.”
Alter’s ground attack, which was averaging 302 yards and featured four backs with over 700 yards, managed just 91 yards on 27 carries in the first half. The second half was a different story.
After Chagrin Falls cut the lead to 9-7, Alter took the ensuing possession and drove 80 yards in 10 plays (all runs). Senior Cody Taulbee capped the drive with a 22-yard TD run. Taulbee, who led Alter with 126 yards on 16 carries, added a 31-yard TD – his third of the game – in the fourth quarter.
The Knights opened the scoring in the first quarter after recovering a fumble on Chagrin Falls first possession. The short drive (one yard on three plays) ended in a 30-yard field goal by Andrew DiMario. Taulbee punched in a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter to make it 9-0 at half.
Alter ended the game with 318 total yards. It had 301 on the ground.
Defense, though, is what propelled the Knights to the title.
“There’s been a big discussion as to whether this defense or the 2006 or 2008 defense is the best in the history of Alter football,” Domsitz said. “They certainly made a strong case today.”
After being prodded for the right answer from his counterparts, Alter senior defensive back and Wisconsin recruit Cody Byers stated his unit’s case: “If you’re going by points, we gave up the fewest. It’s questionable, but I feel like overall they may have had a little more size and we have more speed. In football speed always wins. I think this season’s defense is the best.”
Chagrin Falls agreed.
“This isn’t met to slight anyone, but in the previous playoff games we felt like it was nip and tuck,” Iammarino said. “There was a huge difference today between them and all the other opponents we’ve played this year. There’s no mystery as to why that team is state champions.”
BATTLE AX
Every season Alter selects something material to rally around. Last year it was a hammer. This year? A battle ax. The team runs onto the field with it before every game.
“Last year it was a hammer and the motto was ‘Finish the Job,’” Taulbee said. “This year we figured the season was going to be all about ‘Battling Back to the Top.’ We felt every game was a battle and the season is a war. The axe symbolizes us fighting every single week because we’ve got that big bulls-eye on our back.”
If it weren’t for Alter athletic director Chris Hart, the Knights wouldn’t have had their ax on Saturday.
Despite rigid preparation this week for the state final, someone forgot to pack the ax. The team told Domsitz at the hotel on Friday that it was missing.
Hart, who didn’t leave Dayton until this morning, was able to transport the ax to Canton. It arrived in the locker room three minutes before kickoff.
Said Domsitz, who had a feeling this week this would happen: “I was just concerned because you don’t want to mess up their psyche.”
Added Taulbee: “This week we won the war.”
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