Football Entertains Saint Ignatius on Friday as Part of Homecoming Weekend
The Central Catholic football team (5-0, 3-0 CHSL) will tangle with St. Ignatius (1-4) on Friday, Sept. 22 in its non-conference finale as part of Homecoming Weekend. The opening kick against the Wildcats is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Gallagher Stadium.
Friday’s matchup will showcase 2 of the most-storied programs in state history. The Fighting Irish (1962, 2005, ’12, ’14, ’22) have won 5 state championships on the gridiron, while Saint Ignatius (1988, ‘89, ‘91, ‘92, ‘93, ‘94, ‘95, ‘99, 2001, ‘08, ‘11) has secured 11 titles, 2nd-most in the state record book.
Tickets for Friday’s non-conference finale can be purchased online at bit.ly/3KgpfKi. For those fans unable to attend the 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 p.m. or streamed online HERE.
CCHS, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Ohio Division III state poll for the 2nd-straight week, is coming off a hard-fought 28-23 victory against Warren De La Salle Collegiate on Friday at home. The win elevated Central Catholic into sole possession of 1st place in the Central Division standings of the Catholic High School League (CHSL). The winner of the division title earns a spot in the Prep Bowl on Oct. 21 at Ford Field in Detroit.
The Scarlet & Gray received 2 TDs each from the backfield duo of senior Marquan Braswell and junior Tyler Morgan against the Pilots to help them stretch their winning streak to 20-consecutive games. Braswell, who finished with a game-high 154 yards on 27 carries, recorded scoring runs covering 10 and 15 yards, while Morgan found on the endzone on scampers of 9 and 3 yards, respectively.
In addition to a strong ground game, senior QB Terry Collins, Jr. completed an efficient 10-of-12 passes for 145 yards. Collins’ favorite target was senior WR Jaylen Watson, who finished with 6 catches for a season-high 102 yards.
Overall this fall, Collins has completed 53-of-72 passes for 750 yards and 4 TDs. Braswell has accumulated a squad-best 561 yards rushing on 88 rushes (6.4 ypg) and 10 TDs, followed by Morgan with 361 yards on 55 carries (6.6 ypc) and 10 TDs. Through the air, Watson has hauled in a team-high 30 catches for 420 yards and 2 scores.
Saint Ignatius enters Friday’s action on the heels of a 35-0 setback against Akron Archbishop Hoban at Euclid Community Stadium. The Wildcats are currently in the midst of a 3-game losing skid under the direction of 1st-year head coach Ryan Franzinger.
CCHS and Saint Ignatius will square off on the gridiron for the 1st time.
The Fighting Irish will return to the field against arch-rival St. John’s Jesuit on Friday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Lyden Field. A season ago, the Fighting Irish defeated SJJ, 28-7, at home to register their 8th-straight victory in the series. Central Catholic’s last loss in the series occurred on Oct. 27, 2017, when it suffered a 13-6 road setback. Tickets are currently available for purchase online at https://bit.ly/3PKFfIV.
