Football Plays at Rival St. John’s Jesuit on Friday
The Central Catholic football team will look to remain atop the Central Division in the Catholic High School League when it travels to rival St. John’s Jesuit on Friday, Sept. 29. The opening kick against the Titans (3-3, 2-1 CHLS) is slated for 7 p.m. in Lyden Field.
The Fighting Irish (6-0, 3-0 CHSL) currently hold the top spot in the division standings, 1 game ahead of De La Salle Collegiate (4-1, 2-1 CHSL) and SJJ. Back on Sept. 15, the Scarlet & Gray registered a 28-23 victory vs. the Pilots at home. The winner of the division title earns a spot in the Prep Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Ford Field in Detroit.
Tickets for Friday’s divisional showdown can be purchased online at bit.ly/3PKFfIV. 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 ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Ohio Division III state poll for the 3rd-straight week, is coming off an impressive 28-0 shutout victory against state perennial power Saint Ignatius in Gallagher Stadium. The Fighting Irish benefitted from 2 TDs in each half to help them stretch their winning streak to 21-consecutive games.
Senior RB Marquan Braswell ran for a season-high 184 yards on 21 carries vs. the 11-time state champion Wildcats, including an 8-yard TD. Braswell, who topped the century mark for the 4th time this fall, surpassed his previous-best effort of 156 yards vs. Detroit Catholic Central on Sept. 1.
CCHS also received a 52-yard interception return for a TD by senior DB Jayden Barnes in Friday’s homecoming victory, while senior WR Jaylen Watson recorded a 3-yard TD pass to senior QB Terry Collins Jr. on a trick play in the 2nd half to close out the scoring.
Overall this fall, Collins has completed 58-of-82 passes for 797 yards and 4 TDs. Braswell has accumulated a squad-best 745 yards rushing on 109 rushes (6.8 ypg) and 11 TDs, followed by junior RB Tyler Morgan with 418 yards on 69 carries (6.1 ypc) and 11 TDs. Watson has been Collins’ favorite target through the air, hauling in a team-high 32 catches for 418 yards and 2 scores.
St. John’s Jesuit enters Friday’s action on the heels of a 28-2 triumph against Brother Rice at home. The Titans are currently in the midst of a 3-game winning streak under the direction of 7th-year head coach Larry McDaniel, outscoring the opposition, 97-47, during this unbeaten stretch.
A season ago, CCHS registered a 28-7 victory vs. St. John’s Jesuit at home. CCHS held a 21-7 halftime advantage against the Titans and scored the final 7 points in the 4th quarter to secure its 8th-straight triumph in the series. 2022 1st-team All-Ohio RB Chris Edmonds led the way with 134 yards and 3 TDs on 19 carries on the ground, while QB Ty’Waun Clark totaled a season-high 116 yards rushing.
Central Catholic’s last loss in the series occurred on Oct. 27, 2017, when it suffered a 13-6 road setback.
The Fighting Irish will return to the field against St. Mary’s Preparatory on Friday, Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. at Milewski Field.
