Photo by Steve Sieverding

Woodridge’s Anthony Kelly, Anthony Westren and Marcus Thompson (left to right) upset previously undefeated Girard 34-20 in a Division IV playoff game.

HARTVILLE -- Woodridge is making its first OHSAA football postseason appearance, and the Bulldogs don't plan on going home any time soon.

The No. 6 seed in Division IV, Region 13, Woodridge registered five quarterback sacks and took advantage of three Girard turnovers to upset the Indians 34-20 on Saturday night in a regional semifinal game at Alumni Field at Lake Blue Streaks Stadium.

Favored Girard, which brought an 11-0 record into the contest, turned out to be its own worst enemy right away. The Indians drove to the Bulldogs' 31-yard line, but were forced to punt when Cameron Hilling of Woodridge sacked quarterback Adam Charles for a 6-yard loss on third down.

Woodridge (10-2) then engineered a 97-yard touchdown drive, capped by a Brandyn Peters 21-yard catch from senior quarterback Anthony Westren (162 yards, 12-of-22, 1 interception). The extra point was good and the Bulldogs took the lead at 7-0 with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter.

Girard then drove to the Woodridge 11, but the Bulldogs' Anthony Kelly foiled the Indians with an interception, returning it for 97 yards and a touchdown as Woodridge grabbed a 14-0 lead with just over a minute and a half left in the first.

The Woodridge defense helped set up the team's third touchdown in the second quarter when Marcus Thompson sacked Girard QB Charles on a fourth down conversion attempt.

The Bulldogs took over at their own 48 and drove 52 yards in six plays with Anthony Kelly scoring on a 30-yard run, his longest of the game. The extra point was missed and Woodridge left the field at halftime with a 20-0 lead.

Girard saw its first scoring opportunity with three minutes left in the third quarter as Charles broke away for a 75-yard touchdown run down the left sideline. The extra point was blocked and Woodridge saw its lead trimmed to 20-6.

Girard's attempt at a comeback continued just six seconds later when Dan Graziano recovered a Woodridge fumble of the kickoff on its 19. Four plays later, Ahmad Eggleston scored on a 1-yard run, Girard passed for a two-point conversion, and suddenly the Indians were down by only six.

With the game on the line, the Woodridge offense came back to life, driving 62 yards in five plays, with  Kelly scoring his third and last touchdown of the night. The third quarter ended with Woodridge up 27-14. 

Woodridge put the game out of reach on a 32-yard keeper by quarterback Anthony Westren.

Girard closed out the scoring with an 86-yard drive, ending with a 41 yarder from Charles to Graziano.

Woodridge's Kelly rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns -- accounting for almost all of the Bulldogs' 159 yards rushing.

Girard outgained the Bulldogs with 298 yards on the ground as Tallen Birmingham had 135. Charles was the Indians' second leading rusher with 109 yards. He paassed for 188 yards and one touchdown.

Woodridge junior linebacker Marcus Thompson had a career game with 3 1/2 quarterback sacks.