Football Hosts Rival St. Francis de Sales in Regular-Season Home Finale
The Central Catholic football team will battle arch-rival St. Francis de Sales on Friday, Oct. 13 in its home regular-season finale. The opening kick against the Knights (1-7, 1-5 CHSL) is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Gallagher Stadium.
Prior to kickoff, CCHS will honor 36 seniors from the fall sports of football, marching band, cheerleading, boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, boys’ golf, and girls’ tennis.
Tickets for Friday’s showdown can be purchased online at bit.ly/3ejjhky. For those fans unable to attend the contest, the game can 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. or streamed online HERE.
The Fighting Irish (8-0, 5-0 CHSL) will look to secure their 22nd-consecutive win in the series and successfully hold onto the Irish-Knight Trophy. CCHS has not lost to its crosstown rival since 2003.
CCHS, which is ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Ohio Division III state poll, is coming off a dominating 42-0 shutout victory vs. St. Mary’s Preparatory at soggy Milewski Field. With the road win, Central Catholic secured a spot in the Prep Bowl vs. Cass Technical High School (5-2) on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Ford Field in Detroit at 7:30 p.m.
The Scarlet & Gray scored 5 touchdowns in the 1st half to set the tone versus the Eaglets on the Red turf, helping the reigning D-II state champions extend its winning streak to 23-consecutive games.
Senior RB Marquan Braswell spearheaded Central Catholic with 3 rushing TDs vs. OLSM. Braswell found the end zone on 3 of CCHS’s initial 4 possessions. A team captain, he finished with a game-high 94 yards rushing and has now scored multiple TDs in 4 of the last 5 games and on 5 occasions this fall.
CCHS also benefited from an interception return for a score from sophomore CB Victor Singleton, a TD reception from sophomore WR Preston Fryzel, and a TD run by junior RB Tyler Morgan to force a running clock in the 2nd half. The shutout was the Fighting Irish’s 2nd in the last 3 games.
Senior QB Terry Collins, Jr. completed 6-of-10 passes for 124 yards and Fryzel had a contest-high 4 catches for 112 yards.
As good as CCHS was offensively, its defense was even more stout. The Fighting Irish held St. Mary’s Prep to just 33 yards of offense.
Overall this fall, Collins is 68-of-103 passing (66.0%) for 980 yards and 5 TDs. Braswell has accumulated 1,013 yards on 137 carries (7.4 ypg) and 18 TDs. Senior WR Jaylen Watson has hauled in 38 catches for 492 yards and 2 scores.
St. Francis de Sales enters Friday’s contest on the heels of a 42-35 setback vs. Divine Child at home. Under the direction of defensive coordinator Jim Eberly, the Knights are amid a 5-game losing skid.
FOOTBALL SENIORS
Nick Banaszak
Kendric Bankston
Jayden Barnes
Marquan Braswell
Michael Cannings II
Ronald Collins III
Terry Collins, Jr.
Jayden Dick
Tyrell Green
Marvon Greenlee
Austin Hernandez
Christian Jackson
Leyton Marsh
Semaj Michael
Marc Nave
Jaylen Watson
Elijah Williams
John Williams
Davontae’ Wright-Ward
Emerson Willis
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY SENIORS
Nolan DuBois
BOYS’ GOLF SENIORS
Josh Floyd
Jaxon Sanchez
CHEERLEADING SENIORS
Aniyah Colbert
Issabella DeSantis
Neveah Dunbar
Ra’Myah Hill
Ellyonna Nadeau
GIRLS’ TENNIS SENIORS
Kayla Brown
Nia Hunter
Audrey White
MARCHING BAND SENIORS
Carly Brandt
Athiena Martinez
Carter Niese
Sarah Turner
