Football Battles Columbus Bishop Watterson on Friday in OHSAA Division III State Championship Game
The Central Catholic football team will conclude its quest to secure a 2nd-straight state title when the Fighting Irish face Columbus Bishop Watterson (14-1) on Friday, Dec. 1 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (1835 Harrison Ave. NW, Canton, 44708). Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. and Friday’s matchup will be televised LIVE on Spectrum News 1. The Spectrum telecast is also available on BCSN, as well as http://spectrumnews1.com, http://SpectrumNewsApp.com, and http://OHSAA.tv. In addition, the game can be heard on The Ticket l 100.7 FM with the “Voice of the Irish” Bill Clark & Jim Oswald, starting at 2 p.m.
Tickets for Friday’s 52nd-annual postseason contest MUST be pre-purchased online at OHSAA.org/tickets (Division III). All playoff tickets are General Admission. Tickets will cost $16 for adults and $13 for students.
The Fighting Irish (15-0), who are seeking their 5th state title (2005, ’12, ’14, ‘22) under Head Coach Greg Dempsey and 6th (1962) in program history, reached the state finals on the heels of postseason victories against Bowling Green, 42-7, Defiance, 41-26, Mansfield Senior, 41-10, Tiffin Columbian, 41-6, and most recently Chardon, 35-7.
The reigning D-II state champions finished with a 376-96 edge in total yardage vs. the Hillopper’s (11-4) to extend their winning streak to a school-record 30 games on Friday at Elyria Mercy Field at Ely Stadium. The dynamic duo of senior RB Marquan Braswell and junior RB Tyler Morgan combined for 158 yards rushing and 1 score. Braswell totaled 92 yards rushing on 17 carries, followed closely Morgan with 66 yards on 11 attempts.
Along with a strong ground attack, CCHS received 2 scores each from senior DB/WR Marvon Greenlee and senior WR Jaylen Watson to put the Scarlet & Gray firmly in control of the neutral-field game. Greenlee was credited with an 89-yard kickoff return for a score on the game’s opening play and had a 40-yard TD reception.
Senior QB Terry Collins also had a solid performance under center, completing 5-of-9 passes for 125 yards and 2 TDs.
Overall this fall, the 2-headed monster of Braswell and Morgan have tallied 1,754 and 1,011 rushing yards, respectively. Braswell has also registered 29 TDs, followed closely by Morgan with 25 scores. Braswell’s 1,754 yards rushing is 8th most in school history in a single season, while his 29 TDs are the 5th highest mark.
In addition, Collins has completed 116-of-169 passes (68.6 percent) for 1,882 yards and 15 TDs in 2023. Collins’ favorite targets have been Watson (60 catches, 1,087 yards, 9 TDs), sophomore WR Sharard Vaughn III (19 receptions, 241 yards, 1 TDs) and sophomore WR Preston Fryzel (13 catches, 232 yards, 2 TDs). Watson’s 60 catches are tied for 3rd-most in program, 1,087 yards receiving is 4th most and 9 TDs is tied for 7th most, respectively.
The No. 1 seed in Region 11 and a member of the Central Catholic Conference, Bishop Watterson enters Friday’s matinee amid a 5-game unbeaten stretch, with postseason wins vs. Columbus South, 45-0, Miami Trace, 44-7, Bloom Carroll, 20-10, Bellefontaine, 19-13, and most recently Celina, 27-14.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Brian Kennedy, the Eagles are making their 6th appearance in the state championship game (1972, ‘99, 2001, ‘02, ’10, ‘23) and are looking to secure their 4th state title. They won state titles in 1966, 2002, and 2010.
The Fighting Irish and Bishop Watterson shared 2 common opponents this season: Tiffin Columbian and Chardon. Both teams defeated the Tornadoes and Hilltopper. CCHS topped Tiffin Columbian, 41-6, and Chardon, 35-7, while Bishop Watterson defeated TC, 33-14, and Chardon, 14-10.
Friday’s game will mark the final contest for CCHS’s 20-member senior class – Nick Banaszak, Kendric Bankston, Jayden Barnes, Marquan Braswell, Michael Cannings II, Ronald Collins III, Terry Collins, Jr., Jayden Dick, Tyrell Green, Marvon Greenlee, Austin Hernandez, Christian Jackson, Leyton Marsh, Semaj Michael, Marc Nave, Jaylen Watson, Elijah Williams, John Williams, Emerson Willis, and Davonte’ Wright-Ward.
