Hilliard Darby lost 31-28 to Olentangy on Friday, Oct. 9, after surrendering a four-point lead in the final six minutes at home.
The Panthers led 28-24 with 5:53 remaining. Fewer than three minutes later, Olentangy had seized a 31-28 advantage, according to live score updates posted by Darby Athletics on X. Darby never retook the lead.
The loss drops head coach Brad Burchfield's squad to 4-4 on the season. Darby entered the game ranked eighth in Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I Region 2 with a computer rating of 7.8929, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. The top 12 teams in each region qualify for the postseason when the final ratings are released Oct. 25.
Updated ratings won't be available until Tuesday, Oct. 13.
Darby leads early, Olentangy rallies late
The Panthers controlled the first half. Darby led 14-10 with 7:43 left in the second quarter and stretched the margin to 21-10 with 3:21 remaining before halftime, per Darby Athletics score updates.
Olentangy clawed back in the third quarter. The Braves trimmed the deficit to 21-17 with 7:54 left in the period, then grabbed a 24-21 lead with 1:14 on the clock. Darby answered early in the fourth, retaking the lead at 28-24.
That lead lasted until the final minutes, when Olentangy scored to go up 31-28 with 3:07 left.
Kornegay's big season
Senior running back Kohen Kornegay entered the Olentangy game ranked 22nd among Ohio rushing leaders listed by MaxPreps, with 937 rushing yards on the season. In Darby's Week 7 win over Dublin Jerome on Oct. 2, Kornegay rushed for 263 yards and a touchdown on 10.5 yards per carry. It was his eighth consecutive game with at least 100 rushing yards, a streak stretching back to last season.
Playoff picture tightens
Darby had entered Week 8 inside the Region 2 playoff cutline. The loss, combined with two remaining games, makes the final stretch critical for Burchfield's group.
The Panthers travel to Thomas Worthington on Friday, Oct. 16, then close the regular season at home against Marysville on Friday, Oct. 23, two days before the OHSAA sets the final playoff field.
