COLUMBUS: The Archbishop Hoban football team came to Columbus and completed its dream season Thursday night.
The Division III state championship trophy was up for grabs, and the Knights made sure to bring it back to Akron by defeating defending state champion Toledo Central Catholic 33-20 before a crowd of 7,553 on a chilly evening at Ohio Stadium.
“This was a great team win,” Hoban junior Todd Sibley said. “We played well and we practiced well. We knew we had to because this is a great football team that we played. We scrimmaged them earlier in the season. ... And to come out and beat them on this level is just amazing. I am so happy for my team.”
Hoban (14-1) forced four turnovers and a safety on defense to top the Irish (12-3).
“It is unbelievable to be state champions,” Hoban senior Anthony Christian said.
Sibley, an Ohio State recruit, rushed 33 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns behind a solid effort from an offensive line of seniors Jacob Kepler, Jacob McNeil and Tom Redle, and sophomore RJ Kelly, freshman Nolan Rumler and junior Brandon Yankovich.
“This is a great way to go out,” Kepler said. “We have been talking about this since freshman year and it has happened. I couldn’t be happier with this group of guys.”
Hoban built a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on four big plays, two on defense and two on offense for coach Tim Tyrrell, who praised his team for being “very coachable.”
“Our defense just keeps playing and they keep surprising us as coaches,” Tyrrell said.
Hoban’s first possession concluded with just 3 yards gained, but the defense tightened up to force a turnover on downs to end the Irish’s first possession. Knights senior Nick Lewis and junior Arison Sanders combined to tackle junior Michael Warren, a University of Kentucky recruit, for no gain on a fourth-and-1 on the Knights’ 22-yard line.
Five plays later — all Sibley runs — he sprinted 55 yards for a touchdown with 3:21 to go in the first quarter. Junior Grant Kersh kicked the extra point to make it 7-0.
Toledo CC’s second possession ended with an interception by Hoban senior Anthony Christian at 2:02. One play later, junior quarterback Danny Clark, an Ohio State recruit, threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to senior Jonah Morris and Kersh’s kick made it 14-0.
The Irish countered with 14 unanswered points in the second quarter to draw even. Senior quarterback Torrin Campbell connected on deep passes on each drive, one apiece to senior twin brothers Darion Greer and Deion Greer, and Warren rushed for two touchdowns — a 4-yard run at 11:54 and a 10-yard run at 9:05.
The Knights responded by scoring the final 14 points of the second quarter to lead 28-14 at halftime. Clark threw a 33-yard touchdown pass to Christian with 6:54 left and Sibley rushed for a 22-yard touchdown with 2:47 on the clock. Kersh made both extra points.
In between those touchdowns, Hoban forced Toledo CC into its third turnover when Sanders sacked Campbell and knocked the ball loose, with junior Marc Westover recovering on the Irish 24-yard line with 3:28 to go in the first half.
The third quarter featured a 21-yard touchdown run by Warren and a missed extra point for TCC at 6:37, a terrific punt by Hoban senior Dane Kersh inside the TCC 1-yard line at 3:33 and Campbell being tackled in the end zone for a safety by the Knights’ Kepler, Christian and Morris at 3:25 to make it 30-20 in favor of Hoban.
Hoban senior Tyler Canova grabbed an interception with 8:05 left in the fourth quarter to set up Grant Kersh’s 34-yard field goal from a hold by junior Atticus Hughes and a long snap from sophomore Ryan Huber with 4:03 left.
Knights sophomore Nate Bauer snagged an interception with 51 seconds to go to seal it.
Senior Tyler Gilchrist, junior Blake Bishop and sophomore Daeshon Coppinger also came up big Thursday for Hoban.
“This was a great atmosphere to play in,” Morris said.
Added Gilchrist: “Our whole goal was to bring home a state championship.”
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MBeavenABJ.