Some fans wondered if this year’s Hoban team could return to the state title game after graduating Mr. Football Lamar Sperling. On Saturday afternoon, the Knights quickly put any doubts to rest as they dominated defending Kentucky 5A Champions Frederick Douglass 45-6 in the Northeast Ohio vs. America Showcase. RB Caleb Jones made his presence known with a three-touchdown performance and 92 yards rushing.

Knights Dominate from the Jump

In what was considered a marquee matchup, Hoban came out of the locker room on fire and never looked back. After the defense forced a three-and-out to start, Tylan Boykin hooked up with Parker Falkenstein for a 46-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the game.

Two plays later, Tysen Campbell picked off Jaxon Strautman to set up the Knights at the Broncos’ 43. After Elbert Hill took a sweep for 27 yards to start the drive, Caleb Jones ran in from six yards out to extend the Hoban lead to 14-0.

A muffed snap by the Frederick Douglass punter on the next possession gave the Knights the ball on the Frederick Douglass four-yard line. Three plays later, Jones would power in from three yards out for his second score of the game and extended the Hoban lead to 21-0. 

Unfortunately for the Broncos, they had no answer to the Knights’ run game as the offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage and opened up big holes for the backs. Just under two minutes into the second quarter, Jones again found the endzone on a 16-yard run for his third touchdown.

Hoban continued to dominate the first half and got another touchdown on a Brayton Feister 11-yard run and a field goal from Ryan Burns to give them a 31-0 lead at the break.

More of the Same

Frederick Douglass would force a turnover on downs to start the third but gave the ball back a couple of plays later when Eli Lee came up with a fumble deep in Broncos territory. Setting up shop at the 18, it only took Hoban two plays to find the endzone as Feister took another one in, this time from three yards out, to extend the Hoban lead to 45-0 late in the third.

Early in the fourth, the Knights would fumble the ball deep in their own territory, turning it over to Frederick Douglass on their own one-yard line. On the very next play, Cameron Edelen would score to make the score 45-6 Hoban. The final would hold as the teams traded punts, and Hoban ran out the clock. In their first game of the 2023 campaign, the Knights come away with a dominant 45-6 win.

Keys to the Game

Games are won and lost in the trenches; Saturday afternoon was no different. Hoban controlled both sides of the line as the running backs ran through open holes, and Frederick Douglass could not get anything going offensively. In the secondary, the Knights stayed glued tight in their coverage and held QB Jaxon Strautman to just 31 yards passing.

Next Week

After coming away victorious in their first game of the season, Hoban will hit the road next week to take on the Cathedral Prep Ramblers (PA). The two teams matched up a year ago, and the Knights came away with a 47-14 victory at home.

Top Performers

Frederick Douglass

Jaxon Strautman: 4-18 31 yards 1 INT

Cameron Edelen: 4 carries -1 yard 1 TD

Kenoxie “TayTay” Allen: 3 carries 11 yards

Archbishop Hoban Knights

Tylan Boykin: 5-11 92 yards 1 TD

Caleb Jones: 15 carries 93 yards 3 TD

Brayton Feister: 5 carries 21 yards 2 TD

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter

Hoban 10:26- Tylan Boykin to Parker Falkenstein, 46 yards (Burns kick good)

Hoban 8:16- Caleb Jones, 6-yard run (Burns kick good)

Hoban 5:21- Caleb Jones, 3-yard run (Burns kick good)

2nd Quarter

Hoban 10:21- Caleb Jones, 16-yard run (Burns kick good)

Hoban 7:16- Brayton Feister, 11-yard run (Burns kick good)

Hoban 0:00- Ryan Burns 36-yard field goal

3rd Quarter

Hoban 2:43- Brayton Feister, 3-yard run (Burns kick good)

4th Quarter

Frederick Douglass 9:22- Cameron Edelen, 1-yard run (2pt no good)