School-Record 11 Fighting Irish Receive All-Ohio Recognition
A school-record 11 members of the 2-time reigning state champion Central Catholic football team received All-Ohio Division III accolades, the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association announced on Wednesday. The OPSWA was created in 1972 to support, promote and recognize coverage of high school sports across Ohio and is endorsed by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
A program-tying best 4 Fighting Irish made 1st-team All-Ohio. They were senior RB Marquan Braswell, senior WR Jaylen Watson, senior OL Marc Nave, and senior DL Michael Cannings II. The Scarlet & Gray also had 4 student-athletes earn 1st-team all-state laurels in 2015 and 2022.
Braswell totaled 1,923 yards on 264 carries (7.3 ypc) and 31 TDs this fall. A team captain, Braswell littered the record book, finishing with the 3rd-most scores, the 6th-most rushing yards, and tied for the 8th-most attempts in program history in a season.
Watson tallied 62 receptions for 1,101 yards and 9 TDs. He was also credited with 5 scores on the ground. Watson registered the 2nd-most catches in school annals, the 3rd-most receiving yards, and tied for the 6th-most TDs through the air.
In addition, senior OL Kendric Bankston, senior OL Elijah Williams, senior OL Tyrell Green, senior DL Ronald Collins III, senior LB Davonte’ Wright-Ward, senior DB Marvon Greenlee, and senior DB Jayden Barnes received honorable mention laurels.
The trio of Cannings (1st), Nave (2nd), and Bankston (HM) are collecting All-Ohio recognition for the 2nd-straight fall. Cannings becomes only the 5th player in school annals to be named 1st-team All-Ohio on 2 occasions, joining Dane Sanzenbacher (2005, ‘06), Kyle Cameron (‘09, ‘10), Jon Perrin (’11, ‘12), and Michael Warren (’15, ‘16). He led CCHS in sacks (10) and tackles-for-loss (28), as well as finishing 3rd in stops (63).
Offensively, the grouping of Nave, Bankston, Green, and Williams helped CCHS average 39.6 points and 373.2 yards per game.
Defensively, the unit of Cannings, Barnes, Collins, Greenlee, and Wright-Ward limited the opposition to 10.0 points and 157.9 yards per contest. Greenlee paced the team in tackles (76) and tied for the lead in interceptions (4), Collins was 1st in forced fumbles (4), and Barnes led the way in punts blocked (2) and defensive TDs (4).
The Fighting Irish are coming off a historic 2023 campaign that saw them capture their 6th OHSAA state championship in program history (1962, 2005, ‘12, ‘14, ’22, ‘23). CCHS, which is currently riding a school-record 31-consecutive wins, secured the D-III state crown with postseason victories vs. Bowling Green, 42-7, Defiance, 41-26, Mansfield Senior, 41-10, Tiffin Columbian, 41-6, Chardon, 35-7, and mostly recently Bishop Watterson, 27-7. Central Catholic posted a perfect 16-0 overall ledger and a 6-0 mark in the Catholic High School League (CHSL), establishing a school record for wins in a season.
1st-Team
RB - Marquan Braswell – Sr.
WR - Jaylen Watson – Sr.
OL - %Marc Nave – Sr.
DL - &Michael Cannings II – Sr.
Honorable Mention
OL - @Kendric Bankston – Sr.
OL - Elijah Williams – Sr.
OL - Tyrell Green – Sr.
DL - Ronald Collins III – Sr.
LB - Davonte’ Wright-Ward – Sr.
DB - Marvon Greenlee – Sr.
DB - Jayden Barnes – Sr.
& – 2022 1st-Team All-Ohio
% – 2022 2nd-Team All-Ohio
@ – 2022 Honorable Mention All-Ohio
