Football Hosts St. Mary’s Preparatory School on Friday in Regular-Season Home Finale
The Central Catholic football team will battle St. Mary’s Preparatory School on Friday, Oct. 11 in its home regular-season finale. The opening kick against the Eaglets (4-2, 1-2 CHSL) is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Gallagher Stadium.
Prior to kickoff, CCHS (6-1, 3-1 CHSL) will honor 38 seniors from the fall sports of football, marching band, cheerleading, boys’ cross country, girls’ cross country, boys’ golf, and girls’ tennis.
Please click HERE for a complete list of Game Day Information, including directions, tickets, and parking. For those fans unable to attend Friday’s CHSL matchup, it 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 currently in 2nd place in the Central Division in the CHSL, 1 game behind frontrunner Detroit Catholic Central (6-0, 4-0 CHSL), is currently riding a 23-game home winning streak, dating back to the start of the 2021 campaign.
The 2-time reigning state champions are coming off an impressive 56-21 victory against rival St. John’s Jesuit (0-6, 0-4 CHSL) on Cherry Street. Central Catholic found the end zone the 1st 6 times it touched the pigskin to secure its 10th-straight triumph in the series. CCHS finished with a decisive 379-229 advantage (235 passing, 144 rushing) in total offense vs. the Titans.
Sophomore RB Jeremiah Fuller paced CCHS with 3 TDs in the 1st half, followed closely by 2 scores from senior RB Tyler Morgan.
The Scarlet & Gray also benefitted from fumble returns for scores from senior DL Curtis Strode, Jr. and senior LB Michael Besteda to force a running clock in the 2nd half.
Not to be overlooked by a strong running game and a stout defense, senior QB Isaiah Fox completed an efficient 12-of-13 passes for 235 yards and 2 TDs. Over the last 3 contests, Fox is 33-of-41 passing (80.5%) for 630 yards with 7 TDs.
Overall this fall, Morgan has registered a team-high 791 yards rushing on 121 carries (6.5 ypg) and 11 TDs. Through the air, Fox has completed 63-of-83 passes (75.9%) for 1,024 yards and 9 TDs. Fryzel has been Fox’s favorite target, reeling in 23 catches for 390 yards and 4 scores, followed by the trio of senior Levelle Stokes III, junior Jerome Davis V and junior Sharard Vaughn III with 17, 17, and 15 receptions, respectively.
OLSM enters Friday’s action on the heels of a 48-0 win vs. Detroit Country Day at home to put its 2nd straight shutout. The previous week, the Eaglets posted a 64-0 blanking vs. Waterford Kettering on the road.
Last fall, Central Catholic posted a decisive 42-0 victory against St. Mary’s Preparatory at Milewski Field. CCHS scored 5 touchdowns in the 1st half to set the tone on the Red turf, including a team-high 3 scores from 2023 1st-team All-Ohio RB Marquan Braswell. They also registered an interception return for a score from junior CB Victor Singleton, a TD reception from Fryzel, and a TD run by Morgan. As good as CCHS was offensively versus the Eaglets, its defense was even more stout. The Fighting Irish held St. Mary’s Prep to just 33 yards of offense.
CCHS, which is ranked No. 3 in this week’s Associated Press Division III state poll, will return to the field against arch-rival St. Francis de Sales on Friday, October 18. The opening kick against the Knights is slated for 7 p.m. at the Glass Bowl Stadium on the campus of the University of Toledo.
A season ago, Central Catholic blanked SFDS, 69-0, in Gallagher Stadium. The Fighting Irish scored 8 touchdowns in the 1st half to establish control versus the Knights, helping them secure their 24th-consecutive victory in the series. More importantly, CCHS registered its 22nd-straight win in the series and successfully hold onto the coveted Irish-Knight Trophy. Central Catholic has not lost to its rival since 2003.
A total of 7 different Central Catholic players found the end zone vs. the Knights, sparked by 3 TDs from 2023 1st-team All-Ohio RB Marquan Braswell in the 1st period. Morgan also posted 2 rushing scores in the dominating home triumph, while junior RB Anthony Sylvester, Mason Johnson, and Davis had 1 TD run each as Central Catholic racked up 406 total yards.
FOOTBALL SENIORS
Kevin Arnold III
Brandon Awls II
Michael Besteda
Dantoni Callaway
D'haron Flowers
Desmond Flowers
Isaiah Fox
Derrion Johnson
Anthony Lawrence, Jr.
D'Angelo Lyons
Jermarihane Morgan
Tyler Morgan
Jamarion Rushing
Isaiah Seiler
Jacob Spears
Dominic Spinazze II
Levelle Stokes III
Curtis Strode III
Joe Sylvester III
Ke’mar Walker
BOYS’ CROSS COUNTRY SENIORS
Jerry Barnes
BOYS’ GOLF SENIORS
Beau Gardner
CHEERLEADING SENIORS
Laryhia Belmon
Nakyla Hymore
Esme Platz
GIRLS’ TENNIS SENIORS
Alivia Fineske
Ella Schuberg
Danyaile Shelmon-Banks
Jordan Traver
Natalie Walker
Addison Winkler
MARCHING BAND SENIORS
Grace Criswell
Samantha Darrow
Emalicia Espinoza
Richard White III
Ariel Witcher
