Football Defeats Avon in Region 6 Finals of OHSAA Division II State Playoffs, 28-20

The Central Catholic football team defeated top-seed Avon 28-20 on Friday in the Region 6 Finals of the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division II State Playoffs at Perkins High School's Firelands Health Stadium. With the post-season triumph, the Fighting Irish (13-1) advance to the state semifinals for the 7th time (2012, '14, '15, '16, '17, '19, '22) in the last 11 seasons.

No. 3 seed CCHS held a commanding 28-7 lead with 10-plus minutes left in the 4th quarter, but the Eagles (12-2) responded with 13 unanswered points to make it a 1-possession contest. Avon eventually possessed the ball in Central Catholic 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 218 yards rushing on 28 carries and 3 touchdowns. The 2022 TRAC Offensive Player of the Year was credited with a 23-yard scoring run in the 1st quarter, an 8-yard TD scamper in the 2nd period, and a 17-yard TD burst in the 3rd stanza.

Central Catholic and Avon squared off in the 'Elite 8' for the 2nd-straight year and 5th time overall in the postseason. Last fall, CCHS lost 43-42 against the Eagles on a 2-point conversion in overtime. The squads also clashed during the 2011, 2012, and 2018 playoffs, with Central Catholic claiming a 42-14 triumph during its state championship run in 2012, while Avon secured a 49-28 win in 2011 and a 37-22 victory in 2018.

The Fighting Irish will now battle Kings Mills Kings (13-1) in the state semifinals on Friday, Nov. 25 at 7 pm at Wapakoneta Mercy Health Wapak Ford Field. The Knights advanced to the 'Final Four" with a 46-42 victory over Cincinnati Anderson.