CINCINNATI, Ohio — Miami Valley Christian Academy and Cincinnati Country Day needed overtime to decide Friday night's Homecoming matchup, with the Nighthawks escaping with a 28-27 victory after the Lions answered their overtime touchdown but were unable to convert the ensuing extra point.
MVCA battled back from deficits of 6-0 and 14-7, took a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter and responded again after Cincinnati Country Day scored first in overtime.
The loss moved the Lions to 4-3 on the season.
Friday's game was played in front of one of the largest crowds of the season after nearly 2,000 people attended MVCA's record-setting Homecoming Tailgate earlier in the evening.
DEFENSE SETS THE TONE EARLY
Neither offense found the end zone during the opening quarter as the two defenses controlled the start of the game.
Cincinnati Country Day broke through in the second quarter when Leon Hall scored on a 16-yard run. The extra-point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving the Nighthawks with a 6-0 advantage.
MVCA answered before halftime.
Bryson Jones finished the Lions' drive with a two-yard touchdown run, and the extra point gave MVCA a 7-6 lead heading into the locker room.
The Lions held Cincinnati Country Day to just six points through the opening two quarters.
CCD RETAKES THE LEAD
The Nighthawks regained the advantage in the third quarter behind Thomas Huckleby.
Huckleby scored from seven yards out and followed the touchdown by converting the two-point attempt, putting Cincinnati Country Day ahead 14-7.
MVCA entered the fourth quarter needing an answer, and the Lions found it through the combination of Jeremiah DesJardins and Lucas Livezey.
DESJARDINS, LIVEZEY SPARK FOURTH-QUARTER RALLY
DesJardins connected with Livezey for a 35-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, tying the game at 14.
The duo struck again later in the period.
This time, DesJardins found Livezey for a 16-yard touchdown, and MVCA converted the extra point to take a 21-14 lead.
Livezey finished with four receptions for 74 yards and both of MVCA's receiving touchdowns.
DesJardins completed 12 of 17 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the Lions on the ground with 67 yards on 16 carries, finishing with 223 yards of total offense.
The senior contributed on both sides of the ball, adding 11 tackles defensively.
Cincinnati Country Day responded before the end of regulation.
Huckleby scored his second rushing touchdown of the night on a five-yard run, and the Nighthawks converted the extra point to tie the game at 21.
Neither team scored again before the end of the fourth quarter, sending the Homecoming matchup to overtime.
OVERTIME DECIDES IT
Under Ohio high school overtime rules, each team receives a possession beginning at the opponent's 20-yard line.
Cincinnati Country Day received the first opportunity and took advantage.
Quarterback Max Cicchinelli connected with Huckleby for a six-yard touchdown pass. The Nighthawks converted the extra point to take a 28-21 lead.
MVCA then began its possession from the 20 and answered.
Jones scored his second touchdown of the night on a five-yard run, bringing the Lions within 28-27.
Hans Erickson, who is not MVCA's regular kicker, handled the extra-point attempt. The kick was unsuccessful.
Because both teams had completed their overtime possessions and Cincinnati Country Day still held a one-point advantage, the game ended at 28-27. Had MVCA converted the extra point, the teams would have moved to a second overtime with another set of possessions beginning at the 20-yard line.
BALANCED OFFENSIVE NIGHT
MVCA finished with 311 yards of total offense, splitting its production almost evenly between the ground and passing games.
The Lions rushed for 155 yards on 36 attempts and threw for 156.
DesJardins led MVCA with 67 rushing yards, while Jones carried 12 times for 54 yards and two touchdowns.
AJ Ardizzone added 23 rushing yards on seven attempts, while Jonah Criste gained 11 yards on his lone carry.
Livezey led the receiving corps with four catches for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Criste caught three passes for 45 yards, while Ardizzone added two receptions for 11 yards.
Through seven games, DesJardins has rushed for 402 yards and six touchdowns while throwing for 464 yards and five touchdowns. His 60 points scored rank among the top totals in the Miami Valley Conference.
Livezey now leads MVCA with 24 receptions for 332 yards and three touchdowns this season.
DEFENSE FORCES TWO MORE TURNOVERS
The Lions continued their recent success creating turnovers.
One week after forcing five takeaways in a 42-8 victory over Fayetteville-Perry, MVCA forced two more against Cincinnati Country Day.
Aiden Frisby intercepted Cicchinelli, while Criste forced a fumble that was recovered by Judah Walters.
That gives the Lions seven forced turnovers over their last two games.
MVCA also recorded three sacks against the Nighthawks.
Layton Reeves, Erickson and Blake Longstreth each recorded a sack, while Reeves added seven tackles and a tackle for loss.
Criste led the Lions with 13 tackles, including nine solo stops. DesJardins finished with 11 tackles, while Livezey added nine tackles and a pass breakup.
Cincinnati Country Day finished with 333 yards of offense, just 22 more than MVCA. The Nighthawks rushed for 181 yards and threw for 152.
Huckleby accounted for three of CCD's four touchdowns. He rushed 14 times for 67 yards and two scores while catching eight passes for 73 yards and the overtime touchdown.
ANOTHER CLOSE CHAPTER IN THE SERIES
MVCA entered Homecoming night seeking its first victory over Cincinnati Country Day since 2017.
The Lions held the lead at halftime, erased another deficit in the fourth quarter and responded to Cincinnati Country Day's score in overtime, but the unsuccessful extra point brought the night to an end before the game could reach a second overtime.
The 28-27 loss drops MVCA to 4-3 as the Lions move into the final stretch of the regular season.
GAME LEADERS
Passing: Jeremiah DesJardins — 12-of-17, 156 yards, 2 TD
Rushing: Jeremiah DesJardins — 16 carries, 67 yards; Bryson Jones — 12 carries, 54 yards, 2 TD
Receiving: Lucas Livezey — 4 receptions, 74 yards, 2 TD; Jonah Criste — 3 receptions, 45 yards
Tackles: Jonah Criste — 13; Jeremiah DesJardins — 11; Lucas Livezey — 9
Takeaways: Aiden Frisby — 1 interception; Judah Walters — 1 fumble recovery
Sacks: Layton Reeves, Hans Erickson and Blake Longstreth — 1 each
