High School

Toledo Central Catholic Claims 4th State Championship with 28-21 Win Over Hoban

by
Devin Lowe
December 1, 2022

Photo by Billy Kosco

Toledo Central Catholic got out to an early 21-0 lead and held on to take down the Archbishop Hoban Knights in the Division II Championship game. Star RB Lamar Sperling turned in a record-breaking performance with 356 yards and three touchdowns on 40 carries, but it was not enough. The win gives the Irish their 4th State Championship and their first since 2014.

First Half

After both teams traded punts to start the game, Toledo Central Catholic would strike first. The Irish put together a seven play, 91-yard drive capped off by a one-yard plunge from QB Ty’Waun Clark to make it 7-0 early. The ensuing kickoff pinned Hoban deep in their own territory at the six-yard line. When Knights QB Jacqai Long dropped back to pass, he was hit by Deandre Ellis and coughed up the ball, giving the Irish first and ten on the Hoban 31.

Division II State Championship 🏆

2Q | 9:22
Toledo Central Catholic – 21
Archbishop Hoban – 0

PICK 6. 😳

Braden Awls intercepts a deflected pass and returns in 90 yards for a TCC touchdown.#OHSAAChampionships 🏈 pic.twitter.com/xXGeb2Cbjd

— NEO Zone HS Sports (@NEOZoneHS) December 2, 2022

It wouldn’t take long for TCC to capitalize, as three plays later, Clark scampered in from 24 yards out for his second touchdown of the game, giving the Irish a 14-0 lead midway through the first. Early in the second, the Knights would drive deep into TCC territory, their deepest possession of the game. QB Jacqai Long scrambled around, looking for the open man, but was picked off by Braden Awls who took it 91 yards to the house, the longest in OHSAA Championship history.

Trailing 21-0 and needing a score, Hoban put together a seven play, 80-yard drive finished off by an eight-yard touchdown run for RB Lamar Sperling, drawing the Knights closer at 21-7. Whatever momentum Hoban had was immediately crushed on the next Irish possession. Starting on their own 28, TCC put together an 11-play, 72-yard drive that ate up over five minutes of game time. The Irish got into the end zone when Clark found Durye’a Hall in the front corner for a 15-yard score. At the half, Toledo Central Catholic led the Knights 28-7.

Division II State Championship 🏆

2Q | 1:15
Toledo Central Catholic – 28
Archbishop Hoban – 7

On third down, Ty’Wuan Clark finds Durye’a Hall in the corner of the end zone for a 15-yard TD.#OHSAAChampionships 🏈 pic.twitter.com/LHMKS2C4ZZ

— NEO Zone HS Sports (@NEOZoneHS) December 2, 2022

Second Half

Much like the first half started, neither team could get anything going on their opening drive of the half. On the Knights second possession, Lamar Sperling took it 49 yards for the score, drawing Hoban closer at 28-14.

After the Hoban defense forced a punt, the offense put together an 11-play, 89-yard drive capped off by a one-yard plunge from Sperling, his third touchdown of the game. At the end of the third quarter, TCC led the Knights 28-21.

Division II State Championship 🏆

3Q | 7:50
Toledo Central Catholic – 28
Archbishop Hoban – 14

There are very few RB’s in the state that you trust to deliver on 3rd and 17…

Lamar Sperling is one of them.

This 49-yard TD cuts into the deficit! ⬇️#OHSAAChampionships 🏈 pic.twitter.com/C045K8E5ZX

— NEO Zone HS Sports (@NEOZoneHS) December 2, 2022

Hoban would have two more cracks at tying the game in the fourth but were unable to capitalize on either drive. On the Irish side, the defense did just enough to keep the Knights out of the end zone as Toledo Central Catholic wins their 4th Championship in school history.

Keys to the Game

Toledo Central Catholic came ready to play from the opening whistle and jumped out to an early commanding lead. Their offense used a balanced attack that kept the Knights guessing early on. Chris Edmonds led the way for the Irish with 22 carries for 104 yards while QB Ty’Waun Clark finished with 77 yards rushing and two touchdowns.

For the Knights, it was all Lamar Sperling once again. After being named Mr. Football earlier in the day, Sperling exploded for 356 yards and 3 touchdowns on 40 carries. The 356 yards set a Division II Championship record and fell just short of the all division mark of 393 yards, set back in 2001. Sperling’s dominant senior season comes to an end with 3,867 yards and 58 touchdowns.

Photo by Kory Callihan

Top Performers

Archbishop Hoban

Lamar Sperling: 40 carries 356 yards 3 TD