La Salle powers past Massillon for D2 title

CANTON, Ohio -- La Salle's rushing attack was the strength of its team all season long and it came through once again on Thursday night as the Lancers powered past Massillon, 34-17, to claim the OHSAA Division II state championship.

The Lancers rushed for more than 300 yards as a team, getting 166 from junior quarterback Zach Branam, 133 and a touchdown from sophomore running back Gi'Bran Payne and another 57 and three touchdowns from senior back (and Northwestern pledge) Cam Porter.

After yielding an early field goal drive to Massillon, La Salle would go ahead on a six-yard score by Payne with 6:27 left in the first quarter. The Lancers would lead the rest of the way, taking a 21-17 cushion into the break.

Massillon was able to get its high-powered passing attack going in the first half, however. Tigers quarterback Aidan Longwell connected on a deep pass to junior Andrew Wilson-Lamp to setup the early field goal. He would later hit junior and Ohio State commit Jayden Ballard on a 38-yard score and then it was Wilson-Lamp again just before halftime on a 69-yard touchdown.

But La Salle's talented secondary made some adjustments at halftime and shut things down in the second half, keeping the Tigers off the scoreboard.

A couple of late field goals by senior kicker Jake Seibert (Ohio State commit) iced the game for La Salle who takes home its fourth state championship.