Photo/LAUREN FLORENCE ST. CLAIRSVILLE’S Jacob Walker looks to turn the corner as he goes around a block by teammate Max Fogle (32) during Friday’s Division IV, Region 15 quarterfinal at Red Devil Stadium.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – The hole was just a little too deep and there just wasn’t quite enough time.

That was the cruel reality for the St. Clairsville football team Friday night at Red Devil Stadium.

The Red Devils fell behind ninth-seeded Columbus Bishop Ready 24-7 in the second half before scoring two, fourth-quarter touchdowns and coming close to recovering an onside kick with just under a minute to play.

However, the Silver Knights pounced on the ball, took two knees and headed back to Franklin County with a cherished 24-21 victory to advance to the Division IV, Region 15 semifinal one week from today at a site to be determined against Indian Valley.

While the Knights spent several minutes celebrating with their fans on the field, the Red Devils were left wondering what might have been.

“It stings when you lose and competitors like our kids will beat themselves up and try to replay these games over and over in their heads a million times, but they can’t let (this outcome) overshadow the great season we’ve had and the effort they’ve given,” St. Clairsville head coach Brett McLen said of his 9-3 club. “I am really appreciative of our seniors and their work ethics they gave to us. I told our kids that if they use the things they did here, work-ethic wise, in their (adult) lives, they’re all going to be great, successful men.”

The game was tied at 7 less than 90 seconds into the second quarter after St. Clairsville senior Jacob Walker plowed into the end zone from 5 yards out. Junior Jacob Meager, who returned to the lineup after missing three games with an injury, was perfect on the first of his three PAT tries, knotting the game.

However, Bishop Ready was able to take control from there.

“The game didn’t unfold like we wanted it to, but we put ourselves in a position in the end,” McLean said. “This Ohio playoff football. Someone has to win and someone has to lose. I am not, for a minute, going to hang my head over the type of season our kids had. We had a ton of unanswered questions coming into the year and then battled all types of adversities throughout the season. Our kids kept stepping up.”

The game was only tied for a little less than four minutes before Silver Knights’ sophomore Anthony Campbell scored for the second time. This run covered 14 yards and junior Drew Craddock buried the PAT, making it 14-7.

Taking advantage of the Devils’ second turnover of the first half, Ready was able to extend its lead before halftime. Following an interception, Ready put together a 16-play drive that ended with Craddock drilling a 24-yard field goal as the second-quarter clock turned to all zeroes.

The Red Devils, however, received the second-half kickoff, but quickly went three and out. Ready made them pay once again.

Two plays later, sophomore Kentrell Rinehart, who rushed 21 times for 152 yards, scampered 35 yards for a touchdown. Craddock drilled the PAT and all of the sudden the Knights held a commanding 24-7 upperhand.

St. Clairsville still had chances in the third, but saw a drive get stuffed on the Ready 13 on downs and then Drue Jozwiak, who put together a solid performance at defensive end all season, pounced on a fumble. However, St. C. threw its second interception of the game, thwarting another trip into Ready territory.

With 8:34 to play, St. Clairsville began its come-back bid when Walker pounded his way into the end zone from 3 yards out, capping an 11-play drive. Sophomore quarterback Brady Schafer was pressed into duty for a play after an injury to Andrew Vera, and completed a 15-yard pass. Another big play on the drive was Vera finding junior Colt Westlake for 32 yards.

Ready did as much as it could to salt the game away on its ensuing possession, chewing more than six minutes off the clock before a fourth-and-goal pass fell incomplete.

Operating with its back to the wall, the Red Devils struck quickly. Other than a spike to stop the clock Vera completed five consecutive throws, including a 33-yarder to Grant Swider for the touchdown to set up the aforementioned onside kick attempt.

“All we could ask for was the chance we had,” McLean said of the onside kick. “The fact that we were in that position was a tribute to our entire team’s effort. We fought all season long to put ourselves in those positions. Every single game was a battle to get a victory and that’s what I hope is these kids’ memories of this season and playing (high school) football.”

Walker finished his prep career with 18 carries for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Vera, also a senior, completed 14 of 22 throws for 216 yards. His favorite target was junior Cole Thoburn, who hauled in six balls for 98 yards.