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2015 OHSAA Football State Championships
Recaps
2015 OHSAA Football State Championships
Ohio Stadium
The Ohio State University,
Columbus
December 3-5, 2015
Division
III
Akron Archbishop Hoban Wins First Football State
Championship
Hoban Knights defeat Toledo Central Catholic Fighting Irish 33-20 in
Division III state championship
Final Stats:
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HTM
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Akron Archbishop Hoban defeated Toledo
Central Catholic 33-20 in the 2015 OHSAA Division III football state
championship on Thursday at Ohio Stadium. The Knights (14-1) were making their first appearance in an OHSAA football state championship. Central Catholic
(12-3) finishes as state runner-up in
its fourth appearance in a state championship game and was playing in its
third state championship in the last four years. Central Catholic defeated
The Plains Athens in last year�s Division III state championship, 56-52.
�This victory is such a huge victory for not only these kids that played and
worked these 15 weeks, this victory is for a huge community of Archbishop
Hoban, who have been waiting for this for a very, very long time,�
Archbishop Hoban head coach Tim Tyrrell said. �This championship is not just
for us. It's for a lot of people.�
Archbishop Hoban started strong, scoring the game�s first two touchdowns.
Hoban junior running back Todd Sibley scored on a 55 yard touchdown run with
3:21 remaining in the first quarter and junior quarterback Danny Clark
connected with senior receiver Jonah Morris for a 53 yard touchdown pass
with 1:53 left in the quarter, giving the Knights a 14-0 lead after one.
Toledo Central Catholic responded in the second quarter, using two touchdown
runs by junior running back Michael Warren from four and 10 yards out to tie
the game at 14-14 with 9:05 remaining in the quarter, but the rest of the
quarter belonged to Archbishop Hoban. Clark connected with senior Anthony
Christian for a 33 yard touchdown with 6:54 remaining until halftime and
Sibley scored on a 22 yard touchdown run at the 2:47 mark, giving the
Knights a 28-14 halftime lead.
Central Catholic brought the deficit to eight after a Michael Warren 21 yard
touchdown run with 6:37 left in the third quarter, missing the extra point
but cutting the Hoban lead to 28-20. Hoban held Central Catholic to 73 yards
and no points for the rest of the game, using a safety and 34 yard field
goal to bring the score to a final and decisive 33-20 win.
Hoban�s Todd Sibley finished the game with 164 rushing yards and two
touchdowns on 33 carries. Danny Clark was 4 for 12 passing with 125 yards
and two touchdowns. Hoban forced four Toledo Central Catholic turnovers,
three interceptions and one fumble.
Central Catholic was led by Michael Warren with 168 rushing yards and three
touchdowns on 31 carries and junior quarterback Torrin Campbell, who was
17-for-29 passing for 234 yards. Central Catholic finishes its season 12-3
in its second consecutive state championship appearance.
The attendance for the game was 7,553.
Division V
Coldwater Captures Fourth-Consecutive State Championship, Defeats
Canton Central Catholic in Division V Rematch
Coldwater defeats Canton Central Catholic in Division V state
championship for second-consecutive year
Final Stats:
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COLUMBUS, Ohio � Coldwater defeated Canton Central Catholic 35-18 to
take home the 2015 OHSAA Division V football state championship Friday
at Ohio Stadium.
The game was a rematch of the 2014 Division V state championship in
which Coldwater won, 62-21.
�I�m really proud of this group of seniors,� Coldwater head coach Chip
Otten said. �It�s cool to see those guys finish with a victory in their
last football game. They�re enjoying it. It�s been fun. We have great
community support that will travel everywhere and enjoy it.�
With the victory, Coldwater�s senior class of 2016 is the fourth in
OHSAA history to win four or more straight state championships. It is
the sixth all-time Cavalier state football title.
Cavaliers senior Jack Hemmelgarn finished 18-of-27 with 287 yards and
two touchdowns. His favorite target, senior receiver Aaron Harlamert,
finished with seven receptions for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Senior
Kraig Schoenherr paced the Coldwater rushing attack with 73 yards on 20
carries while also adding two touchdowns. The Cavalier defense also was
strong, forcing Canton Central Catholic into four turnovers, with two
fumbles and two interceptions.
Canton Central Catholic (11-4) was making its second consecutive state
championship appearance and finished as state-runner up for the second
straight year. The Crusaders were led by senior running back Justin
Ditty with 67 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Senior quarterback
Dan Platek added 118 yards passing and one touchdown.
Coldwater (15-0) achieved numerous impressive marks with its victory.
Coldwater�s four-consecutive state championships are tied for the
second-most consecutive OHSAA football state titles. The Cavaliers have
won 20 consecutive playoff games, and now claim the fifth highest OHSAA
football playoff winning percentage (.813, 65-15 all-time playoff
record). Coldwater�s state title gives the Midwest Athletic Conference
115 total state championships, and two other MAC schools � Fort Recovery
and Maria Stein Marion Local � will play for football state
championships this weekend.
The attendance for the game was 7,200.
Division
VII
Fort Recovery Defeats Mogadore in
Division VII State Championship Game
Fort Recovery claims multiple records on way to school�s first
football state title
Final Stats:
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COLUMBUS, Ohio � Fort Recovery defeated Mogadore 33-14 in the OHSAA
Division VII state championship to capture the school�s first state
title, doing so in record-breaking fashion in front of an audience of
7,957 at Ohio Stadium.
After a 3-7 record in 2013, Fort Recovery coach Brent Niekamp commended
his players and all those involved for what has been a remarkable
turnaround.
�We went through a lot of years being sort of cellar dwellers in our
conference, which as you guys know is a really tough league,� he said.
�To make this jump, it seemed like it happened overnight, but it didn�t.
This was five, six, seven years in the making.
�There were a lot of guys that have played in the seasons where our
seasons didn�t look as good that laid the foundation for what these guys
were able to do. We know how proud our community is. What you saw in the
stands tonight, that was our whole town. Everybody was here. It�s really
special.�
After making its first playoff appearance in 2014, Fort Recovery
showcased the program�s continued improvement in the third Division VII
championship game in OHSAA history, starting and finishing with a
record-setting passing game.
Indians quarterback Caleb Martin established the pace early,
capitalizing on a Mogadore turnover with a 15-yard touchdown pass to
Darien Sheffer for the game�s first score. After a Mogadore punt on the
ensuing possession, Fort Recovery responded again on a six-play drive
that ended with a 10-yard pass to Tanner Koch for the Indians� second
score.
Mogadore answered with an eight-play, 60-yard drive that ended on a
17-yard pass from quarterback Zeddie Pollack to Jarad Dunn to halve the
deficit at 14-7.
Fort Recovery bounced back quickly as Martin connected with Brayden
Schoen for a 75-yard touchdown pass � the longest such pass in the three
years of the Division VII championship game � upping Recovery�s
advantage to 20-7. Just over six minutes later, it was a Martin-Koch
connection � the second of the game � this time in the form of an 8-yard
touchdown pass, bringing the score to 27-7 going into the halftime
break.
With the conclusion of the first half, Martin completed at least two
passes to five different receivers, going 17-for-26 for 277 passing
yards and four touchdowns.
After a scoreless third quarter, Fort Recovery began the fourth with a
one-play, seven-second scoring drive as Martin connected with Wes
Wenning on a 30-yard touchdown reception. Mogadore doubled its score
thanks to a 6-yard touchdown run by Austin Williams, but it proved too
little, too late as Fort Recovery held Mogadore to 14 points and 306
total yards.
Martin finished 25-of-39 for 385 passing yards and five passing
touchdowns. With that performance, Martin set the record for most
passing yards, most pass completions (and most passes attempted in a
Division VII state championship game.
Fort Recovery�s Tanner Koch tied a Division VII state championship
record for most touchdown receptions in a game (2), while Recovery�s
Wenning and Schoen surpassed the previous record for most receiving
yards (119) in a Division VII state championship game with 121 and 125,
respectively.
Division II
Cincinnati La Salle Wins Second-Straight State Championship
La Salle victorious over Massillon Perry in Division II state
championship, 42-0
Final Stats:
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COLUMBUS, Ohio � Cincinnati La Salle defeated Massillon Perry 42-0 in
the 2015 OHSAA Division II football state championship Friday night at
Ohio Stadium. The win earns the Lancers (13-2) their second-consecutive
Division II state championship. La Salle defeated Macedonia Nordonia,
55-20, in last season�s state final. La Salle is the first Division II
state champion to repeat since 1992-1993 (St. Marys Memorial).
La Salle forced four Massillon Perry turnovers and used a balanced
offensive attack to control the game. Junior Jarrell White rushed for 93
yards, caught a touchdown pass and recorded 10 tackles on defense.
Senior running back Jeremy Larkin rushed for 62 yards and two touchdowns
on 11 carries and caught three passes for 57 yards. Senior quarterback
Nick Watson finished 9-for-13 passing for 131 yards and one touchdown.
Massillon Perry running back, Ohio Mr. Football Keishaun Sims rushed for
123 yards on 28 carries in defeat.
"When you think about a state championship game and all the hard work
you put into it, ending up like this says a lot about these kids,� La
Salle head coach Jim Hilvert said. �We talked about it in our pregame
speech, (it) was about completing our mission and our guys completed our
mission.�
Trailing 21-0 in the second quarter, Perry embarked on an eight minute,
17-play 73 yard drive, but La Salle�s defense held strong, keeping Perry
from scoring and carrying the momentum into the second half.
La Salle added three more touchdowns, including a 47 yard interception
return for a touchdown to seal the win.
"It's a credit to these kids and what they do every day," coach Jim
Hilvert said. " It's not easy to win. It's not easy to stay on top of
the mountain. These guys were all about team, they were all about
accomplishing our ultimate goal and that was winning a state
championship. What a feeling it is to win a state championship here.
There's nothing like it. Words can't describe how you feel."
La Salle has won the last two Division II state championships by a
combined margin of 97-20 and has won 10 consecutive playoff games.
Perry finishes as state runner-up for the first time in school history
in its first appearance in an OHSAA football state championship. The
Panthers rebounded from an 0-10 season in 2013 to advance to its first
state title in 2015.
The attendance for the game was 11,168.
Division
VI
Kirtland Defeats Maria Stein Marion Local, Wins Third State
Championship
Kirtland Comes From Behind to Defeat Four-time Defending State
Champion Marion Local
Final Stats:
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COLUMBUS, Ohio � Kirtland knocked off four-time defending state champion
Maria Stein Marion Local 22-20 in the 2015 OHSAA Division VI state
football championship game to earn its third state title in school
history on Saturday morning at Ohio Stadium.
In what was a tale of two halves, Kirtland Head Coach Tiger LaVerde
commended his players for their belief, expressing his appreciation
after the game.
�I�m happy for these guys,� LaVerde said. �These guys will remember this
forever and that�s what it�s about. They had a great experience. They�re
going to be lifelong friends. They�ll get to cherish this for a long
time.�
Early on, however, it was Marion Local that jumped out to a quick lead.
Marion Local brought a balanced run-pass attack led by running back
Aaron Nietfeld and quarterback Cole Griesdorn.
Nietfeld got the Flyers (13-2) on the board with a 5-yard touchdown run
at the 7:09 mark in the first quarter. Four minutes later, Griesdorn
connected with receiver Matt Kahlig for a 14-yard touchdown pass to give
Marion Local a 13-0 halftime lead.
A persistent second-half rushing attack from Kirtland kept the Hornets
in contention. Kirtland responded early in the third quarter, marching
75 yards on 12 plays to finish the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run by
running back Joey Bates.
After recovering a Marion Local fumble on its own 3-yard line, Kirtland
(14-1) took its first lead, capping off a 97-yard drive with quarterback
Owen Lewis taking it in himself from 2 yards out. The Hornets extended
the lead to nine with 2:08 left in the fourth quarter after a 57-yard
touchdown run from Bates (34 carries, 206 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns)
and two-point conversion from Lewis to Evan Madden.
Marion Local responded, as Griesdorn hooked up with Hunter Wilker for an
11-yard touchdown reception to finish off a five-play, 53-yard drive.
But the Flyers� onside kick went out of bounds and Kirtland secured the
win.
With the victory, Kirtland�s record over the last five seasons extends
to 72-3 with two of those loss coming in state championship games. Today
marked Kirtland�s fifth straight appearance in a state championship game
and the 25th playoff game in the last five years.
Division I
Lakewood St. Edward Tops Huber Heights Wayne 45-35 for Third Div. I
State Title
Eagles give up two-touchdown lead but
come back
Final Stats:
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COLUMBUS, Ohio � Defending state champion Lakewood St. Edward defeated
Huber Heights Wayne 45-35 in the 2015 OHSAA Division I football state
championship at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday. Wayne trailed
31-14 early in the fourth quarter but came back to take a 35-31 lead
with 3:47 left. St. Edward scored a pair of touchdowns, however, in the
final 79 seconds to earn the win.
The victory gives the Eagles their 50th overall OHSAA team state
championship in school history, tying them with Cincinnati St. Xavier
for most all-time.
The title was St. Edward�s third in football. All three have come
against Wayne (2010, 2014, 2015).
�There are a lot of champions at St. Ed�s,� St. Edward head coach Tom
Lombardo said. �It�s a tradition of excellence, no doubt about it. These
kids upholding the tradition of St. Ed�s, playing the way they did,
leaving it all out on the field, that�s what it�s about. It keeps the
standard high when you put on these colors.�
St. Edward set an OHSAA Division I football state championship record
for most total yards (602), breaking the previous record (586) set by
Mentor in the 2013 state championship vs. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller.
St. Edward senior quarterback Jimmy Keefe led the offensive attack for
the Eagles (14-1) and in the process tied the Division I state
championship record for passing yards with 419 (Mentor�s Conner
Krizancic vs. Archbishop Moeller in 2013). Keefe completed 24-of-34
passes and added two touchdowns and and interception. Senior running
back Cole Gest, St. Edward�s all-time leading rusher, recorded 128 yards
on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Trailing 31-14 in the fourth quarter, Wayne (14-1) mounted a comeback
that began with a 70-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Messiah
DeWeaver to sophomore receiver L�Christian Smith with 7:15 remaining to
bring the deficit to 31-21. After successfully recovering an onside
kick, Wayne used a six-play, 50-yard drive capped off by a 21-yard
touchdown pass from DeWeaver to junior Matt Wilcox to pull within three
points, 31-28 with 5:17 left.
With 4:44 remaining, Wayne�s Richard Carpenter intercepted Jimmy Keefe�s
pass and returned it 42 yards to the 5-yard line, setting up a Matt
Wilcox touchdown run from one yard out to give Wayne a 35-31 lead.
St. Edward rallied to score the final two touchdowns of the game. The
Eagles went on a seven-play 68-yard drive capped off by a 5-yard score
by Gest run to reclaim the lead with 2:19 remaining.
St. Edward recovered a kick that went off the upman on the ensuing
kickoff to take possession and Gest did the rest, scoring on a 51-yard
touchdown run on the next play to take a final and decisive 45-35 lead.
Wayne senior running back Daryl McCleskey finished with 156 yards and
one touchdown on 11 carries. Junior running back Fred Pitts added 85
rushing yards on 10 carries. Wayne rushed for 272 yards as a team.
Messiah DeWeaver finished 8-for-21 passing for 168 yards with two
touchdowns and two interceptions.
The attendance for the game was 11,036.
Division
IV
Columbus Bishop Hartley Wins Third State Championship, Second Since
2010
Bishop Hartley defeats Steubenville 31-28 in Division IV state
championship
Final Stats:
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COLUMBUS, Ohio � Columbus Bishop Hartley defeated Steubenville 31-28 in
the OHSAA Division IV state championship game at Ohio Stadium Saturday
night. The victory earns Bishop Hartley its third football state
championship and its second since 2010 when the Hawks defeated Chagrin
Falls 34-13. Hartley was making its third appearance in a state
championship in the last six years.
Hartley rushed for 298 yards on 61 carries
and only attempting five passes, but junior quarterback Jake Ruby was
efficient, finishing 4-of-5 passing for 51 yards and one touchdown. The
Hawks rushing attack was led by senior running backs Richard Jones III
and Quri Hickman. Jones III finished with 121 yards on 10 carries,
including a 64 yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Hickman carried
the ball 30 times and finished with 96 yards and two touchdowns.
�It means a great deal to our school,�
Bishop Hartley head coach Brad Burchfield said. �We�ve had one of the
best falls we�ve ever had with so many of our activities doing well. Our
kids and our school is so wonderful. We�re so proud we could represent
them. I know this was a great celebration for them. We�re really proud
of our tradition.�
Despite there being four ties and only a
largest lead of seven points, Bishop Hartley led never trailed in the
game. The Hawks started the scoring with a 14 play 79 yard drive that
culminated in a Quri Hickman one yard touchdown run. Steubenville went
on a nine play, 65 yard drive of its own to tie the game at 7 early in
the second quarter with a seven yard, Johnny Blue touchdown run.
Another Quri Hickman one yard touchdown run
in the second quarter and an eight yard pass from Jake Ruby to senior
receiver Rian Anderson gave the Hawks 21 points for the first half, and
they carried a 21-14 advantage into halftime.
In the third quarter, a Steubenville 10 play
71 yard drive capped off with a Johnny Blue two yard touchdown tied the
game at 21 at the 2:40 mark, but Bishop Hartley answered with a Richard
Jones III 64 yard touchdown run, giving the Hawks a 28-21 edge heading
into the fourth.
Steubenville�s longest play from scrimmage
came with 10:25 left in the game. Senior quarterback Dimitri Collaros
connected with Mandela Lawrence-Burke on a 42 yard touchdown pass to tie
the game at 28.
Bishop Hartley took a final and decisive
31-28 lead with a 40 yard field goal from senior kicker Ben Hawk with
4:57 to play. A fourth-and-one stop by the Bishop Hartley defense at the
Hawk 23 yard line with 1:44 to go and an interception on Steubenville�s
final possession by Hartley defender Cody Kirkbride sealed the Hawks�
31-28 victory.
Steubenville was led by senior tailback
Johnny Blue, who finished with 115 yards and three touchdowns on 24
carries. Blue finishes the season with 34 touchdowns. Senior quarterback
Dimitri Collaros was 6-of-15 passing for 123 yards and a 42 yard
touchdown.
The attendance for the game was 10,141. The
all-session attendance for the 2015 OHSAA football state championships
was 62,089, the third-highest attendance in the history of the football
state championships.
### OHSAA ### |
