by The Archbishop Hoban Knights advanced to the Division 2 Region 5 Finals with a 21-0 shutout victory over the Riverside Beavers. Caleb Jones was doing it all for the Knights on Friday night. Offensively, Jones racked up 21 carries for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the defensive end, Jones picked up a key interception while the Beavers were driving deep into Hoban territory.
With a Regional Finals appearance at stake, the Hoban defense got to work early. On just the third play from scrimmage, Knights’ linebacker Tanner Mintz picked off an attempted screen pass. He would return the interception 25 yards for a touchdown to get the scoring started. On the next offensive possession for Riverside, Hoban’s defense was at it again. This time they forced a turnover on downs to set up their offense with great field position.
The Hoban offense began their first drive already up 7-0. They marched methodically down the field in a 13-play 49-yard drive that ended with a Caleb Jones 1-yard touchdown run. Throughout the remainder of the half, neither offense seemed to get in a rhythm. For Hoban, it was the offensive penalties that would stall promising drives. However, their defense was proving too much to handle for the Riverside offense. At the half, the Archbishop Hoban Knights led the Riverside Beavers 14-0.
The Knights started off the 2nd half with an electric 62-yard kickoff return from sophomore ATH Elbert Hill IV. His return set the Knights up at the Riverside 35 yard line. Hoban used the run game to get down the field and into the endzone on their opening drive. Caleb Jones found paydirt for the 2nd time in the game with an 8-yard touchdown run to cap off the drive.
The remainder of the game was a defensive battle. Three out of the four Riverside drives in the second half ended in them turning the ball over on downs. On their other drive, the Beaver offense was clicking as they were deep into Knights’ territory early in the 4th. However, the Hoban defense came up big again. Caleb Jones picked off Riverside quarterback Mikey Maloney to give possession back to the Knights.
The Hoban defense was shining all night long. They tallied 6 sacks on the night for 50 yards. Hoban’s defense included 2 interceptions on the night, including a pick-6 from Tanner Mintz on the opening drive of the game.
With the win, the Archbishop Hoban Knights advance to the Division 2 Region 5 Final to take on the Walsh Jesuit Warriors. Early in the regular season the two teams met. Hoban dominated the game from beginning to end and came out on top with a 57-7 victory. The location of the game is TBD and will be announced by the OHSAA in the coming days.
Players of the Game
Archbishop Hoban Knights RB/DB Caleb Jones: 21 carries, 101 yards, 2 TDs; 1 INT
Riverside Beavers WR Brady McKnight: 8 receptions for 121 yards
