Football Comes From Behind to Defeat Youngstown Ursuline in D-III State Semifinals, 7-6

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The Central Catholic football team moved a step closer to securing a 3rd-straight state title with a 7-6 victory against Youngstown Ursuline on Friday in the OHSAA Division III semifinals at Elyria Charities Field at Ely Stadium. With the triumph, CCHS stretches its postseason winning streak to 17 games and improves to 14-1 overall.

The Fighting Irish have now played 4 games decided by a single point this fall and have won each contest.

Sophomore QB Ali Beydoun threw a 14-yard TD pass to junior WR Preston Fryzel with 33.7 seconds remaining in regulation to knot the score at 6-6.  Junior PK Blake Moody then successfully converted the extra point to give CCHS its 1st lead of the contest.

Youngstown Ursuline (13-2) had 1 final chance to win the neutral-site matchup, advancing the ball to Central Catholic's 28 yard line with 2.7 seconds left,  Fortunately for CCHS, their 45-yard field goal attempt was short and to the left, sending the Scarlet & Gray's bench into a frenzy.

As a team, Central Catholic posted a 272-183 edge in total offense.  They tallied 83 yards rushing and 183 yards passing. 

Individually, senior RB Tyler Morgan had 92 yards on 21 carries (4.4 ypc), while Beydoun completed 13-of-23 passes for 83 yards.   

Central Catholic will now advance to the state championship contest for the 7th time (2005, ’12, ’14, ’15, ’22, ‘23, '24) under Head Coach Greg Dempsey and 8th time (1962) overall in program history.  The Fighting Irish are looking to become only the 13th school in Ohio history to win 3-straight state championships.

Central Catholic will battle Columbus Bishop Watterson (15-0) on Friday, December 6 at 3 p.m. at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (1835 Harrison Ave. Canton, 44708).  A season ago, CCHS defeated the Eagles, 27-7, in the D-III State Championship Game in Canton.  Bishop Watterson advanced to the state finals with a 56-21 win over previously unbeaten London (14-1).

Next Friday’s state championship game will be the final contest for CCHS’s 20-member senior class – Kevin Arnold III, Brandon Awls II, Michael Besteda, Dantoni Calloway, 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, Jr.,  Joe Sylvester III, and Ke'mar Walker.