Sandusky ties Generals in 3rd quarter before falling

WHITEHOUSE — Dating back to the summer, Sandusky wasn't sure what its football team would look like. First-year head coach Jamaris Brown decided to take on the challenge, and his team and the community were better for it. The Blue Streaks, who finish the season 7-5, had won seven of eight games coming into Friday's matchup with Anthony Wayne, but they fell, 35-14, to the Generals in the second round of the Division II playoffs. With the score tied 14-14, AW, which is 12-0 and seeded third in Region 6, drove 66 yards in nine plays, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown run by Grant Kinnee late in the third quarter to take the lead for good. Sandusky, seeded 11th, nearly tied the score, getting to the Generals 15-yard-line. Amir Aaron made one of the catches of the season, which went for 42 yards when he jumped over a defender and snagged a pass from Jason Henlon, giving the Streaks the ball at the AW 28. But the drive stalled and Will Thomas barely missed a 38-yard field goal. There was a delay of game penalty called on Sandusky, even though the play clock was not working, which created some confusion. From there, AW continued to run the ball and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to put the game away. Henlon was brilliant, completing 22 of 38 passes for 252 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Henlon threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Aaron to tie the game 14-14 in the third quarter. "I see the greatness in him. He's a natural," said Brown. "He's about getting others involved and seeing the greatness in others. His leadership is amazing. He's led us through the games and has been tremendous for us and the team." Henlon is one of 17 seniors, a group that includes the likes of Aaron, Aa'Zoriyon Bonner, who missed nearly the entire game with an injury, which compromised Sandusky's game plan, Dre' Campbell, Makyveon Lately and others. "They know how to fight. They're going to be successful people," Brown said of his seniors. "That's what we want, for them to become better people, and football is the tool. They have a lot to be proud of. They stuck it out. I'm going to miss them." Aaron caught 10 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown and Campbell had four catches. The lone score of the first half came when AW drove 50 yards in six plays, scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run by Kinney. A key play in the first half came when Aaron intercepted a pass in the end zone on a flea flicker with 1:28 to play in the first quarter. Aside from that, it was something of a defensive struggle in the first two quarters. Sandusky 0 0 14 0 — 14Anthony Wayne 0 7 14 14 — 35 AW — Grant Kinney 4 run (Will Horn kick) AW — Kinnee 35 run (Horn kick) S — Makyveon Lately 21 pass from Jason Henlon (Will Thomas kick) S — Amir Aaron 7 pass from Henlon (Thomas kick) AW — Kinnee 2 run (Horn kick) AW — Braden Gardner 7 run (Horn kick) AW — Homan Morrison 3 run (Horn kick)