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Canton, OH – Toledo Central Catholic survived a 0 point second half and a 356 yard performance by Lamar Sperling to win the Division II State Championship with a thrilling 28-21 victory. This came thanks in part to an amazing first half by the Fighting Irish that saw them use a dominant rushing attack to build a 28-7 lead.
The Fighting Irish rushed for a combined 181 yards in the win. Tailback Chris Edmunds ran for 104 yards on 22 carries while quarterback Ty’Waun Clark rushed for 77 yards on 15 carries. They needed to rush the ball well and did, as they were held to 62 yards passing on 7 of 13 attempts from Long.
After both teams punted on their first possession, Chris Edmunds took a handoff 48 yards to the Hoban 33-yard line before running out of bounds. A few plays later, quarterback Clark found a seem and took it 17 yards down to the Hoban 1 yard line. One player later, it was Ty’Waun Clark scoring on another keeper to put the Fighting Irish ahead 7-0 at the 6:56 mark of the first quarter.
Hoban was beginning to respond with a nice drive of their own when quarterback Jacqai Long was sacked and fumbled the ball, giving it back to the Fighting Irish at the Hoban 32-yard line. It didn’t take them long to capitalize as Clark took it in from 24 yards out to score. With 4:16 to play in the first quarter, it was 14-0 Toledo Central Catholic. After just three possessions, Toledo Central Catholic already had 121 rushing yards. The score would remain 14-0 as we moved to the second quarter.
The Knights started with the ball near midfield to begin a crucial second drive to open the second quarter. It began with a 13-yard run by Sperling to get them going. A few moments later, it was Sperling again, this time ripping off a 28-yard run to bring it down to the Toledo Central Catholic 18. That run brought Sperling over 100 yards in the game. That is when Toledo Central Catholic struck again, this time on a tipped ball, picked off and returned 92 yards by Braden Awls. In stunning fashion, it was 21-0 Central Catholic with 9:22 to go in the first half.
Hoban was in full desperation mode as they took over again, this time from their 20-yard line down big. Sperling sparked them again with a 40-yard run down the right sidelines, bowling over players in his path left and right. After a few plays of negative yards from Long, it was Sperling again taking off, this time for 27 more yards. He wasn’t to be stopped with a 10-yard run after that to get to the 8-yard line of Toledo Central Catholic. Sperling would cash it in on the next play from 8 yards out to get Hoban on the board.
Clark and the Fighting Irish went back to work on their next drive as the agile quarterback piled up more yards on his feet with several nice runs. A pass interference call would allow Toledo Central Catholic to get down to the Hoban 22-yard line with 2:54 to play. This time, it was Clark with his arm as he found Durye’s Hall on a beautiful fade pass in the corner of the endzone. He put it on Hall, so only he could catch it. This extended their lead to 28-7 with 1:24 to play in the half.
The score remained 28-7 as we went to the half. In a stat I thought I would never type, Sperling had 18 carries for 197 yards in the first half alone, however his team trailed big.
Lamar Sperling did whatever he could to get the Knights back in it by rattling off a 49-yard touchdown run with 7:50 to go in the third quarter to cut into the lead at 28-14.
The Hoban comeback attempt continued the next time they had the ball as they once again road the legs of Sperling down the field to set up shop inside the Toledo Central Catholic 20. The big punch coming on a 35-yard jaunt. As the record of most rushing yards in a state title game at 393 was within his reach. He already broke the Division II record of 326. He then piled on with his third touchdown of the game to pull the Knights within 7 at 28-21 with 0:38 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Both teams had chances to move the ball in the first 6 minutes of the fourth quarter but couldn’t. Hoban took over from their own 25-yard line with 4:55 to play in the game. It was not to be for the Knights however as Toledo Central Catholic hung on for the 28-21 win.
Toledo Central Catholic Press Conference
Hoban Press Conference Post Game
Great coverage and a nice touch with the video content!!