Football Entertains Olentangy Orange in Friday’s Non-Conference Finale
The Central Catholic football team entertains Olentangy Orange (1-1) on Friday, Sept. 2 in its non-conference finale in Gallagher Stadium. The opening kick against the Pioneers is slated for 7 pm.
Friday’s game has been designated as “Mercy Night” on Cherry Street, as CCHS is once again partnering with Mercy Health and Mercy College of Ohio. There will be free giveaways throughout the contest.
The Fighting Irish (1-1) are coming off a dominating 31-0 victory against 7-time state champion Benedictine (0-2) on Friday in their home opener.
Senior RB Chris Edmonds was a 1-man wrecking ball vs. the Bengals, finishing with a game-high 138 yards rushing on 16 carries and a pair of TDs. Edmonds was credited with a 73-yard touchdown burst in the first period and a 5-yard TD scamper in the second quarter.
The Scarlet & Gray also benefitted from a 1-yard TD plunge by senior QB Ty’Waun Clark and a 2-yard scoring pass from Clark to senior WR Javon Murphy.
For the game, Clark completed 13-of-19 passes for 167 yards and 1 TD. Murphy was Clark’s favorite target, reeling in a game-high 6 receptions for 58 yards.
As good as CCHS was offensively, its defense was even more stout. Central Catholic surrendered only 84 yards of total offense against Benedictine, including a mere 24 yards on the ground.
Olentangy Orange enters Friday’s game on the heels of a 17-0 shutout loss at rival Olentangy Berlin.
CCHS and the Pioneers will square off on the gridiron for the 2nd-straight year. Last fall, the Fighting Irish blanked Olentangy Orange, 28-0, at Pioneer Field. Clark registered three of Central Catholic’s four touchdowns in the road contest. The left-handed signal caller, who finished 18-of-23 passing for 236 yards, was credited with a four-yard TD run and a pair of TD throws to former CCHS standout Sam Lee, covering 21 and three yards, respectively.
Fellow Class of 2022 graduate Josh Watson accounted for the Fighting Irish’s other TD, scoring from four yards out in the third period. Watson carried the ball 20 times and posted 88 yards, while Lee finished with a game-high seven catches for 117 yards.
Tickets for Friday’s game can be purchased online at CentralCatholic.org/tickets. Friendly reminder, no tickets will be available to purchase at the gate.
For those fans unable to attend Friday’s contest, the game can be heard LIVE on “The Ticket” l 100.7 FM with the “Voice of the Irish” Bill Clark & Jim Oswald, starting at 6:30 pm or streamed online HERE.
