GALION — The Galion Tigers sure looked like they were playing their best ball at the right time in Week 11.

No. 5 Galion throttled No. 12 Oberlin Firelands at home on Friday night, 36-6, behind a complete performance throughout, in the first-round Division IV, Region 14 playoff game.

“If you’re playing at home, it makes a difference,” Galion head coach Matt Dick said. “That’s what it’s all about. When you’re the higher seed you’re expected to win.”

The Tigers did just that to move on to the second round of the playoffs where they’ll take on No. 4 West Holmes, who defeated No. 13 Bryan, 70-50.

“I told the kids they’re going to be as good as the best team we’ve played or the second-best team we’ve played,” said Dick.

Galion held the yards margin 250-161 and had 14 first downs to just three for the Falcons.

On their second drive of the game, the Tigers drove down the field with Jimmy Hardy punching it in from a yard out.

Firelands had a four-yard punt deep in their own side of the field and it set up the Tigers in the red zone. Workhorse running back Gabe Ivy did the rest from there, scoring from 12 yards out.

Galion executed clock management nicely toward the end of the first half. After getting the ball near their own 30-yard line, Ivy ripped off a big run to set them up deep in Firelands territory.

Quarterback Braxton Prosser hit tight end Landon Campbell on a screen and Campbell rumbled 12 yards to make it 21-0 at the half following the extra point by Allen Carver.

After getting good field position on their next possession, the Tigers struck again with a 12-yard touchdown carry by Ivy.

“This group has played a lot of games. Even the juniors and sophomores have played a lot of games now and they’re hungry,” explained Dick. “We’re starting to get healthy, and I think it’s a nice time to get healthy.”

Ivy missed multiple games mid-season and safety/wide receiver Elijah Chafin missed the last few games as well before returning in Week 11.

The Falcons got the ball to start the third quarter and the Galion defense again stood tough. On a punt attempt near their own end zone, Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference sack leader Linkon Tyrrell blocked a punt that was recovered by the Tigers for a score.

“We had that big punt block to start the third quarter and we immediately shut Braxton (Prosser) down. He’s battling a turf toe. We’re just trying to take it easy on him.”

Later in the third quarter, Galion initiated the running clock with another one-yard score by Hardy.

With no time left in the fourth quarter, Firelands finally hit pay dirt on a 78-yard pass reception by Kevin Williams from Jimmy Aunspaw.

Ivy finished with 143 rushing yards on 17 attempts. Prosser was 6-of-8 passing for 40 yards and the score before Ayden Schmidt took over in relief. Chafin caught four passes resulting in 31 yards. Jacob Chambers and Carson Frankhouse each had receptions.

This marks the second playoff win under Dick’s leadership at Galion. The Tigers defeated Lakota West in Week 11 during the 2020 season.

After losing to Clyde in 2021 and Bellevue in 2022 in the first round, the Tigers got it right in 2023.

Box score

Score by quarters   

Firelands        0            0           0           6   — 6

Galion          21            0         15           0   — 36

Scoring summary

First quarter

G — Jimmy Hardy 1 run (Allen Carver kick), 4:58.

G — Gabe Ivy 12 run (Carver kick), 1:10.

G — Landon Campbell 13 pass from Braxton Prosser (Carver kick), :05.

Third quarter

G — Linkon Tyrrell 12 return of blocked punt (Tyrrell run), 11:04.

Fourth quarter

F — Kevin Williams 78 pass from Jimmy Aunspaw (no conversion), 00.