Football Picked to Win Central Division in CHSL Preseason Coaches’ Poll

The Central Catholic football team has been picked to win the Central Division in the Catholic High School League (CHSL) in its 1st season in a vote by the conference’s head coaches.  The preseason poll was released at the league’s annual Media Day held at University of Detroit Jesuit High School.

CCHS was tabbed to finish 1st in the 7-team division.  The Fighting Irish are coming off a historic 2022 campaign that saw them capture their 5th OHSAA state championship in program history (1962, 2005, ‘12, ‘14, ‘22).  They finished with a 15-1 overall ledger and a perfect 7-0 mark in the now-defunct Three Rivers Athletic Conference (TRAC).

Warren De La Salle Collegiate, the defending state champion in Michigan's Division 2, was projected to finish 2nd, followed by Detroit Catholic Central, St. John's Jesuit, Birmingham Brother Rice, Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory, and St. Francis de Sales.

The teams that finish at the top of the CHSL standings will meet at Detroit’s Ford Field in the league's Prep Bowl, which will be played on Saturday, Oct. 21 at 4:30 p.m.

The CHSL, which was founded in 1926, is the largest Catholic high school league in the United States with 32 private-school members from around southeastern Michigan and Toledo’s 5 Catholic high schools.

Individually, Central Catholic returns 3 All-Ohio selections from last fall, senior DL Michael Cannings II (1st-team defense), senior OL Marc Nave (2nd-team offense), and senior OL Kendric Bankston (honorable mention).

CCHS opens its 2023 campaign at Findlay on Friday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. in Findlay Donnell Stadium.  The Scarlet & Gray’s home opener will take place on Friday, Sept. 1 vs. DCC at 7 p.m. in Gallagher Stadium.

Central Catholic’s complete schedule can be found by clicking HERE.

2023 CHSL PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL (CENTRAL DIVISION)
1. CENTRAL CATHOLIC
2. Warren De La Salle Collegiate
3. Detroit Catholic Central
4. St. John's Jesuit
5. Birmingham Brother Rice
6. Orchard Lake St. Mary's Preparatory
7. St. Francis de Sales