Alter falls to DeSales in Division III state semifinals

» VOLLEYBALL: Tipp returns to state for first time in 13 years

DeSales (9-1) will play Chardon in the state championship game at 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Fortress Obetz on the south side of Columbus. Chardon beat Tiffin Columbian 47-7 on Friday. DeSales, a three-time state champion (1995, 1997 and 1998) will make its ninth state championship game appearance and first since 2009.

Alter (8-3) played without head coach Ed Domsitz, who tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the week. Longtime defensive coordinator Tom Alig served as head coach. Alig said after the game Domsitz was doing well, and they talked by phone at halftime.

Alter trailed 9-7 at halftime. After a scoreless first quarter, DeSales took a 6-0 lead on a 5-yard touchdown run by Quinn with 8:54 left in the half. Alter took a 7-6 lead on a 1-yard run by Branden McDonald with 3:47 left in the half.

» BOYS SOCCER: Tipp to play for state title on Saturday

DeSales reclaimed the lead with 16.2 seconds remaining on a 41-yard field goal by J.J. Baughman. Alter scored on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Brian Shane to C.J. Hicks as time expired only to have the play called back by a holding penalty.

The game turned late in the third quarter. Quinn scored on a 10-yard run with 12.8 seconds left to extend the DeSales lead to 16-7. After Alter lost a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, Quinn scored on a 21-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter.

McDonald scored Alter’s second touchdown on a 10-yard run with 8:36 to play in the fourth. The two-point conversion run failed. Alter got the ball back at its own 19-yard run with 3:48 left but punted on 4th-and-9 and did not get the ball back as DeSales ran out the clock.