CENTERVILLE — As the fourth down pass was batted away and went incomplete so did the hearts of every Brookville Blue Devils player, coach, and fan as Waynesville edged Brookville 45-42 in a double overtime thriller in the regional semifinals.

The game was arguably one of the most exciting games in Brookville football history and it sadly ended Brookville’s season with a record of 10-3. Waynesville is 11-2 and moves on to a rematch with Valley View this week.

Brookville rallied from a 14 point deficit to take the lead three different times before seeing Waynesville respond each time. Each team got outstanding performances from a number of players.

Waynesville’s Garrett Lundy had 124 yards rushing and 84 yards receiving and a total of six touchdowns. Brookville’s Keegan Mehr had 167 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Mehr also passed for a touchdown.

Connor Berry of Waynesville kicked six extra points to continue his perfect PAT for the year of 55 for 55. He also kicked what would prove to be a game winning field goal of 31 yards and he is now 12 of 13 in field goals for the season.

Brookville scored first on a four-play, 57 yard drive. Keegan Mehr and Walt Adams had big runs for Brookville. Mehr finished the drive on a sneak and Adams booted the PAT and it was 7-0 Brookville with 8:53 on the clock.

Waynesville responded with a 13-play drive that ended with Lundy’s first rushing touchdown as he barreled in from the five yard line to tie the game at seven with 1:56 left in the first quarter.

The Spartans forced a punt and then scored on a run by Lundy of 16 yards to lead 14-7 with 8:51 left in the first half.

The Blue Devils threw a deep pass on the first play of the next possession. The ball bounced off two players before Waynesville intercepted the ball and returned it to the Spartan 45. Six plays later it was 21-7 Spartans after Lundy broke off a 36 yard run down the left sideline.

Brookville got a great kickoff return by Seth Hoover to the Spartan 39 and promptly scored in eight plays converting a pair of third downs. Jake Lenser had a couple of nice runs.

Facing third and seven at the nine Mehr rolled left and tossed a pass to Sam Fullenkamp in the back of the end zone for touchdown. Walt Adams, who was a perfect six for six on PATs in the game made it 21-14 with 1:39 left in the first half.

The Spartans responded with a drive into Brookville territory. Alex Amburgy, who threw for 214 yards during the game, kept his team moving with short passes. Amburgy tossed a pass towards the end zone that Brookville’s Cole Crabtree out-fought a Spartan for and intercepted the pass at the three. Crabtree rumbled down the field and returned the ball to the Spartans’ 35 with just 30 seconds left in the half. Brookville would try a long field goal but it was blocked as the half ended.

Brookville tied the game on the third play of the second half. Keegan Mehr kept the ball and his jaunt covered 54 yards for a touchdown. 10:30 remained in the third frame.

The Spartans drove into Brookville territory. Dane Moore batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage on second down. A third down a pass fell incomplete and on fourth down another pass was knocked away by Keegan Mehr and Brookville got the ball back.

Brookville got short, but significant runs from Jake Lenser, Kory Davis, Walt Adams, and Mehr in the possession. Finally at the two, Mehr went up the middle and crossed the goal line to give Brookville the lead with 1:10 left in the third period. Adams booted the PAT and Brookville led 28-21 after three periods of the play.

The Spartans, ranked in the top ten in the state and the SWBL Buckeye Division Champions, would respond with 7:05 left in the game. Lundy grabbed a swing pass from Amburgey and took the ball into the end zone to tie the game.

Keegan Mehr broke off a 53 yard sprint on a quarterback draw play for a touchdown and a Brookville led 35-28 with 5:02 remaining.

Lundy grabbed a short pass from Amburgy and weaved his way down the sideline for a 24 yard touchdown play with 3:27 remaining in the game. The game was tied at 35.

Waynesville tried an onside kick and Preston Callahan recovered the ball at the Brookville 42. The Spartans drove to the 25 and on third down a pass fell incomplete. Berry lined up for a 42 yard field goal and his kick easily sailed through the uprights.

However, Waynesville was called for an illegal formation. The try from 47 yards out saw Seth Hoover manage to time the snap perfectly and stretch out to block the kick. It was the first missed kick of any kind for Berry in the season.

The game moved to overtime. The Blue Devils scored in four plays. Adams gained six, then five. Davis rambled around the end to the one. Mehr then scored up the middle and Brookville led 42-35 in the extra frame.

Waynesville tied the game on a nine-yard pass to Lundy.

In the second overtime the Spartans got a 31 yard field goal from Berry and it was 45-42 Waynesville.

Brookville was facing a fourth and three at the 13. Mehr rolled right tossed a short pass towards Jake Lenser but a fine play by a Spartan player batted the ball away at the last instant and Waynesville celebrated and Brookville saw their hearts break into many pieces.

Despite the loss, Brookville battled a team with more talent and athletic ability to the very end. The seniors on this squad tied a school record of playing 46 games in their careers. That ties the group of seniors from the 1990 team. However, this year’s seniors had only nine games because of Covid in 2020.

The 2023 Blue Devils set a school record for most points at home in a season with 251, surpassing the 1992 group. It was the 6th overtime game in Brookville history and the first ever double overtime game in Brookville history.

It was the first time a game totaled 77 points and was the 7th highest scoring game ever in Brookville history. The 42 points scored was the most points ever scored by Brookville in a loss. It was the tenth time Brookville has played a team twice in a season. All this information is from Brookville football historian Larry Myers.

Stats from Aaron Crabtree show Brookville had 396 total yards, Waynesville 370. Brookville ran for 322 yards. Individual Blue Devils stats show Keegan Mehr had 167 yards rushing and five touchdowns. Walt Adams had 97 yards rushing. Mehr also had a pass reception for 35 yards. Adams completed that halfback pass to Mehr.

Mehr had four completions for 39 yards and a touchdown. Sam Fullenkamp caught a pass for nine yards and a TD, Adams a ball for 12 yards, Kory Davis a snag for 12 yards, and Dane Moore one for six yards.

Defense shows Cole Crabtree with an interception and a return of 62 yards. Walt Adams had nine tackles; Crabtree 7.5 tackles; Mehr 6.5 tackles; Hoover 5.5 tackles and a blocked field goal; Trent Brooks 5.5 tackles; and Xavier Stacy 4.5 tackles.

The seniors for Brookville are Keegan Mehr; Cole Crabtree; Kory Davis; Sam Fullenkamp; Seth Hoover; Austin Lackey; Tyler Snow; and Branson Esterline.