Football Blanks Avon Lake in 2nd Round of Division II State Playoffs, 21-0
The Central Catholic football team shut out No. 6 seed Avon Lake, 21-0, this evening in the 2nd round of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division II State Playoffs in Gallagher Stadium. With the post-season triumph, the No. 3 seed Fighting Irish stretch their winning streak to 11-consecutive games and improve to 11-1 overall.
Tonight’s victory will now set up a 3rd-round matchup vs. No. 2 seed Medina Highland (12-0) on Friday, Nov. 11 at a site to be determined later this weekend. A member of the Suburban League, the Hornets won their 2nd-round game vs. No. 7 seed North Olmsted, 49-7. Next Friday's contest will be a rematch of last year's Region 6 Semifinals, won by Central Catholic, 23-20, on a 28-yard field goal by PK Cole Tishler with 5 seconds left in regulation.
CCHS broke open tonight's scoreless contest with 3 touchdowns in a span of a little more than 2 minutes in the 4th quarter to establish a lead it would not give up. Senior RB Chris Edmonds registered 2 of the TDs during this critical stretch, scoring on runs of 5 and 11 yards, respectively. The 2-time 1st-time All-TRAC selection carried the ball 23 times for a game-high 109 yards, topping the century mark for an 11th-consecutive contest.
CCHS also found the end zone on a blocked punt & recovery by junior DB Marvon Greenlee to make the final score 21-0.
The Shoremen's (9-3) best opportunity to score came in the 2nd stanza, as they had 1st-and-goal at the Central Catholic 1-yard line. Fortunately for the Fighting Irish, they stood their ground and mounted a goal-line stand to keep Avon Lake off the scoreboard.
