Football Falls Short vs. Columbus Bishop Watterson in D-III State Championship Game, 19-14
The Central Catholic football team sustained a 19-14 setback against Columbus Bishop Watterson on Friday in the OHSAA Division III State Championship Game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. With the tough loss, CCHS wraps up the season with a 14-2 overall record.
The unbeaten Eagles (16-0) received a 9-yard TD run from QB Drew Bellisari with 1:29 left in regulation to assume their 1st lead of the game.
The Fighting Irish had 1 final chance to win the game in regulation, but they turned the ball over on downs to end their chance of winning a 3rd-straight state title.
Central Catholic finished with 264 yards of total offense, tallying 87 yards rushing and 177 yards passing.
Senior RB Tyler Morgan led the ground game with 80 yards on 22 carries.
Sophomore QB Ali Beydoun completed 15-of-22 passes for 158 yards. Beydoun was also credited with a 4-yard TD run on 4th down in the opening stanza.
The Fighting Irish’s other score came on an 87-yard kickoff return for a score by sophomore RB Jeremiah Fuller in the 3rd quarter.
Defensively, senior LB Michael Besteda paced Central Catholic with 11 tackles, followed closely by senior DL Isaiah Seiler with 10 stops.
Friday’s game marked the final contest for CCHS’s 20-member senior class – Kevin Arnold III, Brandon Awls II, Michael Besteda, Dantoni Calloway, D’haron Flowers, Desmond Flowers, Isaiah Fox, Derrion Johnson, Anthony Lawrence, Jr., D’Angelo Lyons, Jermarihane Morgan, Tyler Morgan, Jamarion Rushing, Isaiah Seiler, Jacob Spears, Dominic Spinazze II, Levelle Stokes III, Curtis Strode, Jr., Joe Sylvester III, and Ke’mar Walker. This group registered a 45-3 record over the last 3 years, winning a pair of state titles.
