Football Battles Kings Mills Kings in Friday’s State Semifinals of OHSAA Division II Playoffs
The Central Catholic football team will continue its journey to claim the Division II State Championship against Kings Mills Kings (13-1) on Friday, Nov. 25 in the semifinals at Mercy Health/Wapak Ford Field at Harmon Stadium (400 West Harrison Street, Wapakoneta, 45895). Kickoff is slated for 7 pm and Friday’s neutral-site matchup will be televised on OHSAA.tv. It can also be heard LIVE on The Ticket l 100.7 FM with the “Voice of the Irish” Bill Clark & Jim Oswald, starting at 6 pm or streamed online HERE.
The Fighting Irish are seeking their 4th state title (2005, ’12, ’14) under Head Coach Greg Dempsey and 5th (1962) in program history. Should CCHS make it to the state championship game, it would face the winner of Akron Hoban (13-1) and Massillon Washington (12-1) on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7 pm at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (1835 Harrison Ave. NW, Canton, 44708).
CCHS (13-1) advanced to the 'Final Four' for the 7th time (2012, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’19, ’22) in the last 11 seasons with a 28-20 triumph vs. top-seed Avon 28-20 in the Region 6 Finals at Perkins High School’s Firelands Health Stadium.
Central Catholic held a commanding 28-7 lead against the Eagles (12-2) with 10-plus minutes left in the 4th quarter, but Avon responded with 13 unanswered points to make it a 1-possession contest. The Eagles eventually possessed the ball in CCHS territory with a chance to force overtime and 1:04 showing the clock, but 4-consecutive incomplete passes preserved the Scarlet & Gray’s hard-fought victory.
Senior RB Chris Edmonds carried the load offensively for the Fighting Irish, posting a game-high 215 yards rushing on 28 carries and 3 touchdowns. The 2022 TRAC Offensive Player of the Year scored on runs covering 23, 8, and 17 yards. Edmonds topped 200 yards for the 2nd time this year, surpassed only by a season-best 249 yards against Findlay on September 9.
Overall this fall, Edmonds has tallied 1,926 yards on 260 attempts and 31 TDs, averaging a staggering 7.4 yards per carry. Senior QB Ty’Waun Clark has completed 134-of-196 passes for 1,806 yards and 19 TDs. The 2022 honorable mention All-TRAC recipient has thrown a TD pass in all but 2 games. Clark’s favorite targets have been senior WR Javon Murphy (team-high 38 receptions, 512 yards, 6 TDs) and senior WR Durye’a Hall (36 catches, squad-best 594 yards, team-high 7 TDs).
Central Catholic and Kings Mills King will meet on the gridiron for the 1st time.
A member of the Eastern Cincinnati Conference, Kings Mills Kings enters Friday’s contest on a roll, registering postseason wins against No. 13 seed Sydney, 56-14, No. 5 seed Cincinnati Winthrow, 49-28, No. 1 seed Cincinnati Winton Woods, 23-16, and most recently No. 10 seed Cincinnati Anderson, 46-42. Under the leadership of Head Coach Alex Garvin, the Knights are making their 16th appearance in the state playoffs and are looking to secure their 1st trip to the state championship game.
Tickets for Friday’s postseason contest MUST be pre-purchased online at OHSAA.org/tickets (Division II, Select Game). Reminder, no tickets will be available to purchase at the gate. All playoff tickets are General Admission. Tickets will cost $13 for adults and $10 for students.
