United quarterback Tom Brown is upended by Smithville’s Brock Cannon on Friday. (Morning Journal/Ron Firth)

HANOVERTON — Down by 14 with 4:09 left in the game, the United Eagles weren’t about to go down without a fight in a Div. VI second-round playoff game with Smithville on Friday.

Using dazzling play on offense by quarterback Tom Brown and receiver Quentin Taylor, the Eagles managed to get a two-point opportunity for a win with 20 seconds left.

But much like the other United home playoff games in the 2020s, this one went the way of the visitors as Smithville survived two onside kick recoveries late to escape with a 27-26 win.

The Golden Eagles, who have won 29 of their 30 at home in the regular season, are 1-5 at home in the playoffs since 2020.

“We’re close but we just got to get over that hump,” United coach D.J. Ogilvie said. “We’re right on the cusp of doing something extra special. We just have to get over that hump and get to round three.”

The fourth seeded Eagles (9-2) were coming off a bye week. No. 5 seed Smithville is 10-2 and will play at state power and top seed Kirtland on Friday.

The Smithies led 27-13 with 4:09 to go after a Brady Slide 19-yard touchdown run.

The Eagles mounted a quick drive that ended in a Brown 3-yard touchdown run with 1:47 left in the game to make it 27-20.

Taylor, who had 13 catches for 13-147 yards, had to turn his attention to the kicking game next as he clocked an onside kick perfectly over the wet grass and recovered his own kick at the 50.

“We put in our onside kick plays two weeks ago,” Ogilvie said. “He was really good at it, so we let him do it.”

“God was on my side,” Taylor said.

In a race against the clock, Brown and Taylor hooked up several times on the drive that followed. It was a bizarre play with 26 left that got the Eagles the chance to go-ahead or tie.

On third and 5 from the Smithie 15, Brown lost track of the snap in the backfield and had to heave up a miracle pass to Taylor who was wide open in the end zone for the score with 20 seconds left.

“I know Tom is a great play extender and I just ran my route and he found me in the end zone,” Taylor said.

The Eagles then set up for the two point conversion without hesitation.

“We had talked about that play all week,” Ogilvie said. “If that situation came up we were going to put our best blockers at the point of attack. It was just man on man and they won it.”

Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference defensive player of the year M’Kyan Haynes was handed the ball but had a hard time getting traction on the field and was brought down short of the end zone.

“We wanted to run something down hill, so he didn’t slip but it still happened,” Ogilvie said.

United wasn’t done yet. Taylor hit another ideal onside kick and Dom Wilson came up with the recovery with 16.9 seconds left.

United tried quickly to get in field goal range but Smithville’s defense ended up sacking Brown to end the game.

“We never felt comfortable once,” Smithville coach Phil Olsen said. “Some of the formations and plays coach (Ogilvie) runs, they do a phenomenal job with. On the onside kicks the kicker did a really good job of putting it right where it needed to be.”

Taylor said he felt like he needed to be the guy who stepped up all-around at the end of the game.

“We had a talk earlier in the week,” Taylor said “Coach asked us ‘If you were hanging off the end of a cliff, who do you want holding that rope?’ I was holding the rope for my team.”

Brown ended up going 16 of 22 for 184 yards through the air. Most of it came with under four minutes to play. He also added three touchdown runs on the ground.

In the first half, with the game tied at 7, Smithville’s Javen Woodarski blocked a punt which led to a Slide to Will Blankenship 25-yard touchdown pass to put the Smithies up 14-7 at the half.

Brown’s 3-yard touchdown run with 6:20 left in the third quarter gave the Eagles a chance to tie the game, but the extra point was blocked.

Smithville then controlled possession until four minutes were left in the game to build the 27-13 lead.

“We are very fortunate to come out of here with a win,” Olsen said. “I am really proud of our kids and their fight.”

Game notes

• Smithville was eliminated by Kirtland last season 39-0 in the second round.

• Due to the blowouts in the Crestview and East Palestine games on Friday, United was the last team in Columbiana County playing.

• The 50-50 was $148.

SM: 0-14-7-6–27

UN: 7-0-6-13–26

SCORING

U–Tom Brown 5 run (Liam Jones kick)

S–Mason Haines 1 run (Luke Snyder kick)

S–Will Blankenship 25 pass from Brady Slide (Luke Snyder kick)

U–Tom Brown 3 run (kick blocked)

S–Isaiah Lee 12 run (Snyder kick)

S–Brady Slide 19 run (kick blocked)

U–Tom Brown 3 run (Liam Jones kick)

U–Quentin Taylor 15 pass from Tom Brown (run failed)

——

S U

First downs 15 17

Total Yards 326 315

Rushes-yards 29-146 41-131

Passing 180 184

Comp-Att-Int 9-13-0 16-22-1

Punts 2-34 1-37

Fumbles-Lost 3-3 2-0

Penalties-Yds 11-125 6-45

——

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING–Smithville, Mason Haines 18-75, Brady Slide 6-67; United, Tom Brown 22-60, M’Kyan Haynes 9-20, Braden Schwartz 8-42, Quentin Taylor 2-9.

PASSING–Smithville, Brady Slide 9-13-180-0 ; United, Tom Brown 16-22-184-1

RECEIVING–Smithville, Isaiah Lee 5-105, Will Blankenship 1-25; United, Quentin Taylor 13-147.

INTERCEPTIONS–Smithville, Isaiah Lee.

FUMBLE RECOVERIES–United, Wyatt Heaver, Quentin Taylor, Dom Wilson.

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