ROCKY RIVER — Grady Hirst ran for two touchdowns in the final 5:37 as West Branch (11-1) rallied for an impressive 21-12 win over previously unbeaten Rocky River (11-1) in a Division IV, Region 13 semifinal on the road. Hirst gave West Branch the lead with a 2-yard touchdown with 5:37 to play and then sealed the win with another 2-yard TD run with just 3:27 left.
Hirst ran for 203 yards and all three West Branch touchdowns on 36 carries. The Youngstown State recruit was 11-of-18 passing for 84 yards with no interceptions.
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Gavin Marshall put an exclamation point on the victory with an interception on Rocky River’s final drive that allowed West Branch to take a knee to run out the clock and advance. Jeremy Ramsey also intercepted a pass for West Branch. Marshall led West Branch in receiving with five catches for 54 yards.
Stark County-area high school football. Our best images of 2026
McKinley’s DeMarco Richardson Jr. breaks free for a long gain against Harding on Friday, August 21, 2026.
(Bob Rossiter / Special To The Canton Repository)
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McKinley’s DeMarco Richardson Jr. breaks free for a long gain against Harding on Friday, August 21, 2026.
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Harding’s Elias Johnson breaks up a pass to McKinley’s DeMarco Richardson Jr. on Friday, August 21, 2026.
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McKinley’s Dwoyne Robinson (7) returns an interception 98 yards for a touchdown against Harding, which was trying to convert a fourth-and-goal from the 4, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
(Bob Rossiter / Special To The Canton Repository)
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Perry’s Everett Daugherty completes a catch in a game against Canton Central Catholic at Wakefield Stadium Friday August 21, 2026. Michael Skolosh/Special to the Canton Repository
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Perry’s Avery Blake breaks away on a long run as Central Catholic’s Dominic Bogdan pursues, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
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Perry’s Jonathan Lemon eyes the end zone for one of his four touchdowns against Central Catholic at Wakefield Stadium, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
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Massillon’s Braylon Gamble dives for yardage in the first half against Cleveland Glenville at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
(Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent)
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Massillon receiver Gio Jackson fights his way into the end zone for a first half touchdown as Glenville’s Jaquan Gibson, left, and Khyire Robinson try and bring him down at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
(Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent)
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Massillon’s Deontay Malone reels in a pass for a first half touchdown guarded by Glenville’s Jaquan Gibson at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
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Massillon’s Savior Owens scores in the second half against Glenville at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
(Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent)
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Massillon receiver Braylon Gamble reels in a pass defended by Glenville’s Jaylen Edwards in the first half at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
(Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent)
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Massillon’s Deontay Malone runs for a first-half touchdown after a catch as Glenville’s Jaquan Gibson pursues, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
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Northwest receiver Ty Lipkins signals first down after a long catch during the first game of the season against in Canal Fulton Friday night, August 21, 2026. Ed Hall Jr. / Special To The Canton Repository
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Northwest’s Conner Stephenson, right, recovers a loose ball in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown after an Alliance fumble, Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
(Ed Hall Jr. / Special To The Canton Repository)
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Fumble recovery during Alliance at Northwest, the first game of the season in Canal Fulton Friday night, August 21, 2026. Ed Hall Jr. / Special To The Canton Repository
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Jackson’s Micah Regimbal fights off the tackle of Chardon’s Camron Campbell in the second half at Chardon Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026.
(Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent)
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Jackson’s Brady Scheetz wraps up Chardon quarterback Andrew Cole in the first half at Chardon Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026.
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Jackson’s Will Sterling fights for yardage against Chardon defender Rylan Miller in the first half at Chardon Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026.
(Kevin Whitlock / Massillon Independent)
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Jackson’s Quinn Snyder is brought down by Chardon’s Braedan Shultz in the first half at Chardon Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026.
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Jackson’s Lucas Yoder dives into the end zone for a first half touchdown over Chardon at Chardon Thursday Aug. 20, 2026.
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Fairless’s Bronson Brown makes a touchdown reception against Sandy Valley on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
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Fairless’s Jack Kirby runs in for a touchdown against Sandy Valley on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
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Fairless’s CJ Pumneo intercepts a pass between Sandy Valley’s Bo Bernower (11) and Ky’Ree Torrence (5) on Thursday, August 20, 2026.
(Bob Rossiter / Special To The Canton Repository)
Rocky River scored two first-quarter touchdowns but was shut out the rest of the game. Carter Atwater threw a touchdown and ran for a touchdown for the Pirates.
Rocky River missed an extra point after its first touchdown and failed to convert a 2-point conversion pass on its second touchdown. That allowed West Branch to take a 14-12 lead with 5:32 remaining in the fourth quarter after Hirst scored on a 2-yard run.
West Branch’s Grady Hirst follows the block of Damon Edwards in a short-yardage situation against New Philadelphia, Friday, Aug. 29, 2025.
Rocky River was limited to just seven first downs and 173 yards of total offense.
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Kentucky recruit Tristin Hughes was held to 44 yards receiving on three catches for Rocky River. Rocco Baon was the top offensive performer for the Pirates with 50 yards rushing on 16 carries.
West Branch’s Landon Coffee breaks a tackle by Struthers’ Vinny Braham, Friday, Sept. 4, 2026.
West Branch got two pass deflections on defense from Landon Coffee. Coffee also caught a key 2-point conversion from Hirst with 3:27 left to extend the West Branch lead to nine points and make it a two-possession game.
West Branch advances to the Division IV, Region 13 championship game against No. 5-seeded West Geauga (11-2) on Friday, Nov. 20. The game will be played at a site to be determined. West Geauga knocked off top-seeded Streetsboro 14-7 on the road in the other Region 13 semifinal.
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