Ohio
Buckeye Pipelines: Piqua Produced Ohio State Standouts Matt Finkes, Quinn Pitcock and Brandon Saine
Buckeye Pipelines places the highlight every week on a highschool program who has had quite a few and notable alumni go on to play for the Scarlet and Grey.
This week, we check out a college that has produced six Ohio State soccer gamers since 1970: Piqua. Three of the previous 5 Indians to play for the Buckeyes have made an NFL roster.
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LOCATION: PIQUA, OH CONFERENCE: MIAMI VALLEY LEAGUE 2021 RECORD 12–1 |
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2 STRAIGHT PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 1 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP |
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46TH-MOST PLAYERS ON OHIO STATE’S ROSTER (6) 51ST-MOST ROSTER APPEARANCES (17) (1970-2021) |
Between 2008 and 2019, Piqua solely made one playoff look. This system seems to be making a comeback as Piqua has certified for the postseason in consecutive years.
Piqua is just not the most important hotbed for Buckeyes, however half of the Buckeyes it has produced have gone on to make a noteworthy impression at Ohio State.
Notable Buckeyes from Piqua
DE Matt Finkes (1993-96)
Finkes was named to the All-Huge Ten crew as a sophomore and senior. He completed his Ohio State profession second in tackles for loss with 59. When he left Columbus, Finkes was third on the Buckeyes’ profession sacks checklist with 25, which now ranks fifth at school historical past.
Though he dominated on the line of defense and harassed quarterbacks, Finkes is likely to be remembered most for a game-clinching fumble return towards Indiana. The Buckeyes held a deadly 20-17 lead late within the sport and the Hoosiers’ offense had the ball close to midfield.
With the Huge Ten title on the road, Andy Katzenmoyer was capable of power a fumble that Finkes returned 45 yards for a landing. Not solely did the scoop-and-score safe the sport, it additionally punched Ohio State’s ticket to the 1997 Rose Bowl.
Though many followers affiliate Finkes with the Indiana play, he said that his most memorable play was towards Michigan in 1994. With two minutes remaining within the sport, and the Wolverines dealing with fourth-and-seven, Finkes sacked Todd Collins to seal John Cooper’s first victory within the rivalry.
The Carolina Panthers chosen Finkes within the sixth spherical of the 1997 NFL draft. He ended up in New York the place he was with the Jets for eight video games in 1997.
At Piqua, Finkes was an All-Ohioan and the Higher Western Ohio Convention Participant of the Yr as a senior. He was additionally the Division I state champion in wrestling.
DT Quinn Pitcock (2002-06)
Following a strong junior season, Pitcock had a breakout senior 12 months for the Buckeyes. The defensive deal with collected 39 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and eight sacks to earn All-American and All-Huge Ten honors in 2006. The Landing Membership of Columbus additionally awarded Pitcock the Invoice Willis Award.
The Indianapolis Colts chosen Pitcock within the third spherical of the 2007 NFL draft. He performed in 9 video games and recorded 18 tackles and 1.5 sacks in his lone season in Indianapolis, however didn’t play one other sport within the league after leaving the Colts as a result of melancholy and online game habit.
Pitcock earned All-Ohio honors as a junior and senior at Piqua. He additionally made it to the state finals 3 times within the shot put and discus.
RB Brandon Saine (2007-10)
Popping out of highschool, Saine was recognized for his blazing pace. He owned the Division I state report within the 100-meter sprint (10.38), 4 state monitor titles and in addition received the nationwide championship within the 60-meter sprint.
Saine’s pace was additionally utilized by Piqua’s soccer crew as he led this system to its solely state title in 2006. Within the championship sport towards Pickerington Central, Saine ran for 226 yards and had landing runs of 80, 52 and 29 yards. He was named Mr. Soccer for the state of Ohio as a senior.
As a member of the Buckeyes, Saine by no means appeared to fulfill the lofty expectations of followers. He performed in 49 video games and completed with 301 carries for 1,408 yards, 9 touchdowns and three 100-yard video games.
Arguably Saine’s finest sport got here in an additional time victory over Iowa in 2009. Within the Huge Ten title-clinching bout, he rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns. The second rating – a 49-yard run that put Ohio State up 24-10 within the fourth quarter – was the longest of Saine’s Buckeye profession.
The speedster’s numbers at Ohio State weren’t unhealthy, nevertheless it at all times felt as if Saine was by no means totally utilized in Jim Tressel’s offense.
The Inexperienced Bay Packers picked up Saine as an undrafted free agent in 2011 and he was with the crew for 2 seasons, dashing for 69 yards on 18 carries.
| POS | PLAYER | YEARS | OHIO STATE CAREER | HS CAREER |
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| DE | MICHAEL FALER | 1977 | No stats throughout solely season on roster. | |
| DE | MATT FINKES | 1993-96 | 2x All-Huge Ten, fifth on Ohio State’s all-time profession sacks checklist. | All-Ohioan, GWOC Participant of the Yr, 90 tackles and 15 sacks as a senior; Division 1 state champion in wrestling. |
| DT | QUINN PITCOCK | 2002-06 | Captain, All-American, All-Huge Ten and Tutorial All-Huge Ten | 2x All-Ohioan, had 69 tackles and 15 sacks as a senior. |
| LS | JACKSON HAAS | 2007 | Was the sector objective long-snapper his senior season. | |
| RB | BRANDON SAINE | 2007-10 | Captain, Tutorial All-Huge Ten | State champion, Ohio’s Mr. Soccer, Parade All-American, ran for 1,895 yards and 27 touchdowns as a senior; received 4 state monitor titles, broke the Division 1 state report time within the 100-meter sprint. |
| LB | BEN SCHMIESING | 2019-20 | Former walk-on who made on deal with in two seasons earlier than transferring to Dayton. | All-Ohioan, GWOC Defensive Participant of the Yr, All-Convention and crew MVP in soccer and basketball. |
| Observe: Former Piqua participant Tom Heffelfinger (2009) additionally frolicked with the Buckeyes as a walk-on, however was by no means listed on an official media information roster. | ||||
Extra about Piqua
The unique highschool, generally known as Piqua Central, was inbuilt 1914. As we speak, the Piqua Central constructing is registered as a historic constructing. The present Piqua Excessive Faculty was inbuilt 1981. Piqua is the one secondary faculty for Piqua Metropolis Colleges and is situated 27 miles north of Dayton.
The Indians compete within the Miami Valley League and Division 2, Area 8. Piqua was an ideal 9–0 within the common season final 12 months and certified for the state playoffs as the highest seed within the area. The Indians defeated Little Miami, Withrow and Edgewood earlier than shedding to Winton Woods within the regional ultimate.
By qualifying for the playoffs in 2020 and 2021, Piqua made the submit season in consecutive seasons for the primary time since 2006 and 2007. The Indians defeated Pickerington Central, 26-7, to win the state soccer title in ’06. Throughout all sports activities, that is Piqua’s solely OHSAA championship.
Different well-known alumni
Along with the six Indians who’ve gone on to play soccer at Ohio State, 2004 bronze medal hockey participant Kristin King can be from Piqua.
Why are Buckeyes previous to 1970 not highlighted or included within the rankings? Ohio State’s official rosters listed the hometown of gamers, however didn’t present their highschool on the roster earlier than 1970.