ARCANUM — Raysean Miles returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown, Talan Stone intercepted three passes, and Arcanum rolled past Dayton Christian 50-20 Friday night in an OHSAA Division V, Region 20 playoff opener.
The eighth-seeded Trojans scored 26 first-quarter points and built a 43-6 halftime lead against the ninth-seeded Warriors, earning a trip to top-seeded Graham Local on Nov. 6.
Arcanum won a postseason game in the expanded 2020 playoff format, but Friday’s victory marked its first playoff win under the traditional format since 2005.
“It’s been about a generation of players here. Really proud of them. We came out swinging,” Arcanum coach Matt Macy said. “They’re good. We just played really well. I didn’t expect that kind of score.”
Miles, a sophomore, needed just 13 seconds to put the Trojans on the scoreboard. His opening kickoff return gave Arcanum a 6-0 lead after an unsuccessful two-point conversion.
Senior MJ Macy added a 60-yard touchdown run with 6:39 remaining in the first quarter. Another unsuccessful two-point attempt left the Trojans ahead 12-0.
Sophomore quarterback Weston Schmidt extended the lead with a 20-yard touchdown run at the 2:16 mark. The extra-point kick pushed the advantage to 19-0.
Arcanum nearly added another touchdown on the ensuing kickoff. Sophomore Kenton Kenworthy returned an apparent fumble 73 yards to the end zone, but officials ruled the Dayton Christian ball carrier down, wiping out the score.
Stone delivered a defensive touchdown moments later.
The junior intercepted a pass and returned it 73 yards for a touchdown with 50 seconds remaining in the quarter. The extra point gave Arcanum a 26-0 lead.
Joey Marshall kicked a field goal with 10:23 remaining in the second quarter to make it 29-0.
Stone’s second interception set up another big play. Weston Schmidt connected with Miles for a 53-yard touchdown pass with 4:08 left in the half, and the extra point extended the lead to 36-0.
Dayton Christian answered when Brody Schmidt threw a touchdown pass to junior Greyson Rhodus with 2:34 remaining. The two-point conversion failed, leaving Arcanum ahead 36-6.
The Trojans responded just 11 seconds later when junior Hudson Knaus scored on a touchdown run. The extra point made it 43-6.
Arcanum’s defense closed the half with another stop, keeping the Warriors out of the end zone on fourth-and-goal from the Trojans’ 5-yard line.
Stone continued his productive night in the third quarter, picking off his third interception to give Arcanum possession at the Dayton Christian 25.
Weston Schmidt finished the ensuing scoring drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak. The extra point pushed the Trojans’ lead to 50-6.
Dayton Christian scored twice more. Sophomore Logan Orwick caught a 63-yard touchdown pass on a double-pass play with 1:15 remaining in the third quarter. The extra point made it 50-13.
Senior Jacob Culter added a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:15 remaining in the game, and the extra point completed the scoring.
The Trojans now turn their attention to Graham Local. Macy said preparations will follow the team’s usual routine, though the opportunity to extend the season carries added significance for the program.
“First Week 12 here in a long time,” Macy said. “We’re excited to be still in it.”
