Football Ousts North Olmsted in First Round of State Playoffs, 48-0

The Central Catholic football team blanked North Olmsted, 48-0, this evening in the first round of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division II State Playoffs at rain-soaked Gallagher Stadium. With the post-season triumph, the Fighting Irish stretch their winning streak to nine-consecutive games and improve to 9-2 overall.

Tonight’s victory will now set up a second-round matchup for the Fighting Irish at home next Friday, Nov. 5 vs. Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC) rival St. John's Jesuit (5-5), which won its first-round game at Avon Lake, 34-13. The Scarlet & Gray shutout the Titans 38-0 back on Sept. 17 at Lyden Field.   

The No. 4 seed in Region 6, CCHS scored touchdowns on its first five possessions to blow the game open early.

Junior QB Ty'Waun Clark completed 13 of 16 passes for 194 yards and 3 TDs to ignite the high-powered Central Catholic offense. All three of Clark’s TD passes went to senior WR Sam Lee, covering 30, 12 and 4 yards, respectively. Lee finished with eight catches for 159 yards.

Junior RB Chris Edmonds added 150 yards on 16 carries and two scores on the ground, helping the Fighting Irish post a decisive 384-40 advantage in total offense.

CCHS was equally as effective defensively, limiting Eagles’ QB Xavier Balson to 7 of 19 passing for 37 yards. The Fighting Irish put heavy pressure on Balson most of the evening, en route to tallying their fourth shutout this fall.

Central Catholic is making its 18th-straight playoff appearance under Head Coach Greg Dempsey and 23rd overall in school history. CCHS has a 38-16 post-season record under Dempsey with three state championships (2005, ‘12, ‘14) and a state runner-up finish (2015).

Members of the Great Lakes Conference and the No. 13 seed in Region 6, North Olmsted ends its season with a 6-5 overall record.