Football Competes Against Chardon on Friday in Division III State Semifinals
The Central Catholic football team will continue its quest to secure a 2nd-straight state title against Chardon (11-3) on Friday, Nov. 24 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division III semifinals at Elyria Mercy Field at Ely Stadium (1915 Middle Ave., Elyria, 44035). Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. and Friday’s neutral-site matchup will be live streamed at spectrumnews1.com and OHSAA.tv. It can also be heard on The Ticket l 100.7 FM with the “Voice of the Irish” Bill Clark & Jim Oswald, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for Friday’s postseason contest MUST be pre-purchased online at OHSAA.org/tickets (Division III, Select Game). All playoff tickets are General Admission. Tickets will cost $16 for adults and $13 for students.
The Fighting Irish (14-0) are seeking their 5th state title (2005, ’12, ’14, ‘22) under Head Coach Greg Dempsey and 6th (1962) in program history. Should the Scarlet & Gray make it back to the state championship game for a 2nd-straight year, it will face the winner of Celina (12-2) and Columbus Bishop Watterson (13-1) on Friday, Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (1835 Harrison Ave. Canton, 44708).
CCHS advanced to the ‘Final Four’ for the 8th time (2012, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’19, ’22, ‘23) in the last 12 seasons with a 41-6 triumph vs. No. 3 seed Tiffin Columbian at Clyde High School’s Robert J. Bishop, Jr. Stadium. The impressive 35-point win against the Tornadoes (11-3) marked Coach Dempsey’s 250th victory patrolling the CCHS sidelines.
The reigning D-II state champions totaled a season-high 465 rushing yards vs. TC in the Region 10 Final to extend their school-record winning streak to 29 games. Their previous-best effort was 341 yards on the ground vs. Findlay in the season opener. Senior RB Marquan Braswell fueled the ground attack with 184 yards on 18 carries, including a TD run. Junior RB Tyler Morgan added 139 yards in 12 attempts, posting a contest-best 3 TDs. As a team, CCHS averaged a whopping 9.89 yards per rush.
Central Catholic’s other 2 scores came from senior WR Jaylen Watson. The 2023 All-Catholic League selection crossed the goal line on the ground and through the air from senior QB Terry Collins, Jr.
For the game, Collins completed an efficient 7-of-9 passes for 169 yards and 2 TDs.
Overall this fall, the 2-headed monster of Braswell and Morgan have tallied 1,662 and 945 rushing yards, respectively. Braswell has also registered 29 TDs, followed closely by Morgan with 24 scores. Braswell’s 1,662 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 111-of-160 passes (69.4 percent) for 1,757 yards and 13 TDs in 2023. Collins’ favorite targets have been Watson (58 catches, 1,057 yards, 8 TDs), sophomore WR Sharard Vaughn III (18 receptions, 231 yards, 1 TDs) and sophomore WR Preston Fryzel (13 catches, 232 yards, 2 TDs). Watson’s 58 catches and 1,057 yards receiving are the 4th most in program history, while his 8 TDs is tied for 8th most.
A member of the Western Reserve Conference, Chardon enters Friday’s contest amid an 8-game unbeaten stretch, with postseason victories against No. 10 seed Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, 42-0, No. 2 seed Geneva, 28-14, No. 3 seed Aurora, 31-7, and most recently No. 1 seed & previously unbeaten Youngstown Ursuline, 31-14. Under the leadership of Head Coach Mitch Hewitt, the Hilltopper are making their 21st appearance in the state playoffs and looking to secure their 3rd trip to the state championship contest in the last 4 years. They won back-to-back D-III state titles in 2020 and 2021.
The Fighting Irish and Chardon share 1 common opponent this fall - Tiffin Columbian. CCHS defeated the Tornadoes in this past Friday’s regional final, while Chardon dropped a 50-49 decision against TC back on Aug. 25.
