14 Fighting Irish Collect All-Northwest District Division III Laurels
Fourteen members of the Central Catholic football team have been tabbed to the All-Northwest District Division III squad, as selected by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association media panel from the district. CCHS’s 14 honorees are the most by any school, regardless of division.
The Fighting Irish, who are amid a 15-game postseason winning streak, had 6 1st-team selections. That list included senior RB Tyler Morgan and junior DB Victor Singleton, Jr., who shared D-III Offensive & Defensive Player of the Year honors, respectively.
Joining Morgan and Singleton on the 1st team were junior WR Preston Fryzel, junior OL Zanaje Liggons, senior DL Curtis Strode, Jr., and senior LB Michael Besteda.
The duo of Strode and Singleton are garnering all-district recognition for the 2nd-straight year.
Four Fighting Irish also garnered 2nd-team accolades – junior WR Sharard Vaughn III, senior DL Isaiah Seiler, senior DB Anthony Lawrence, Jr., and senior DB Kevin Arnold III, while 3 others collected honorable mention laurels - senior QB Isaiah Fox, senior WR Lavelle Stokes III, and junior LB Gavin Eckhart.
No. 1 seed Central Catholic (12-1) will return to the gridiron vs. No. 7 seed Padua Franciscan (8-5) on Friday in the Region 10 Finals of the OHSAA State Playoffs. The opening kick against the Bruins is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Cedar Point Stadium on the campus of Sandusky High School (75 Orlando Pace Dr., Sandusky, 44870).
With a victory vs. Padua Franciscan, the 2-time reigning state champions will advance to the ‘Final 4’ for the 10th time under Head Coach Greg Dempsey and 11th occasion overall. They would face Region 9 winner, No. 1 seed Youngstown Ursuline (12-1) or No. 2 seed Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (12-1), on Friday, November 29 at 7 p.m. at a neutral site.
DIVISION III
Co-Offensive Player of the Year: Tyler Morgan
Co-Defensive Player of the Year: Victor Singleton, Jr.
1st-Team
WR - Preston Fryzel
OL - Zanaje Liggons
RB - Tyler Morgan
DL - Curtis Strode, Jr.^
LB - Michael Besteda
DB - Victor Singleton, Jr.^
2nd-Team
WR - Sharard Vaughn III
DL - Isaiah Seiler
DB - Anthony Lawrence, Jr.
DB - Kevin Arnold III
Honorable Mention
LB - Gavin Eckhart
WR - Lavelle Stokes III
QB - Isaiah Fox
^ – 2023 Honorable Mention All-Northwest District
