A large crowd and two teams that know what it takes to win a state title showed up Friday night at Dowed Field.
Lakewood St. Edward, the two-time defending Division I state champion, ventured to Akron to meet Archbishop Hoban, the defending Division III state champion, and approximately 5,500 paying customers witnessed a dandy with defenses setting the tone.
St. Edward senior Melvin Jackson made all the difference when he blocked a 25-yard field-goal attempt, after a low snap, by Hoban senior Grant Kersh with 47 seconds to go in the fourth quarter to preserve the Eagles’ 10-7 victory.
“You just keep finding a way,” St. Edward coach Tom Lombardo shouted to his players in the post-game huddle.
The Eagles players responded by jumping up and down and yelling, “It’s all about the E!”
“That was an unbelievable play by Melvin,” Lombardo said. “We thought we could get a kick. We worked on it all week, and when we needed it we got it.”
Jackson, a 6-foot and 170-pound cornerback, recorded an interception earlier in the game.
“This so exciting,” Jackson said. “By the grace of God I was able to get back there fast enough and block that kick.”
While St. Edward (2-0) experienced pure elation, Hoban (1-1) felt disappointment.
“They made mistakes throughout the whole game just like we did, but at crunch time I think we made too many mistakes,” Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell said. “I think we did a very good job of being physical against a great team. That’s what we wanted to do.”
Hoban senior Todd Sibley gained 143 yards on 29 carries and scored one touchdown before leaving the game with 5:09 to go in the fourth quarter. Sibley did not return because of cramps, according to Tyrrell. Knights junior William Collier also battled cramps and finished with 13 carries and 33 yards.
St. Edward drove 80 yards on 13 plays to take a 7-0 lead with 5:23 to go in the second quarter. Senior Curtis Szelesta (23 carries, 59 yards) rushed in from a yard out for the touchdown and junior Blaine Stencil kicked the extra point.
Stencil converted a 28-yard field goal to make it 10-0 with 5:05 left in the third quarter.
Hoban cut its deficit to 10-7 with 8:30 left in the fourth quarter when Sibley capped an 11-play, 59-yard drive with a rushing touchdown from a yard out and Kersh followed with the extra point. Junior Kentrell Stovall set up the drive when he recorded an interception with eight seconds to go in the third quarter on the Knights’ 41-yard line.
Senior Arison Sanders and junior Daeshon Martin were solid defensively all evening for Hoban, and sophomore Matt Salopek recovered a fumble.
“Our kids played with great heart and played as a champion today against another great champion,” Tyrrell said. “I told them that nobody wins a state championship in Week 2.
“Our kids back in January, it didn’t phase them when I said, ‘Hey, you want to play St. Ed’s?’ They said, ‘Yes, let’s play St. Ed’s.’ They wanted the challenge to be able to play a team that is ranked in the top 20 every single year in the country.”
St. Edward senior Kevin Kramer completed 4-of-9 passes for 50 yards, all to senior Kordell Hoover. Hoban senior Danny Clark completed 5-of-18 passes for 56 yards.
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.