Football Entertains Ontario on Friday in 1st Round of OHSAA D-III State Playoffs
The Central Catholic football team begins its pursuit of a 7th state championship this Friday, October 31, when the Fighting Irish host Ontario in the 1st round of the OHSAA Division III State Playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Gallagher Stadium. The game will be streamed live on the BCSN+ app and available on BCSN TV tape delay.
The Fighting Irish (6-4) are the No. 6 seed in Region 10, while OHS (6-4) is the No. 11 seed.
Tickets for Friday’s postseason contest MUST be pre-purchased online at OHSAA.org/tickets (Division III, Locate Game, Click Get Tickets). General admission tickets will cost $5 for students and $12 for adults. Please note, all students MUST purchase a ticket to attend Friday’s game. Please click HERE for a complete list of Game Day Information, including directions and parking.
For those fans unable to attend Friday’s 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 p.m. or streamed online HERE.
CCHS will be making its 22nd-straight playoff appearance under Head Coach Greg Dempsey and 27th overall in school history. Central Catholic has a 57-18 post-season record under Coach Dempsey with 5 state titles (2005, ‘12, ’14, ’22, ‘23) and 2 state runner-up finishes (2015, ‘24).
Central Catholic (6-4) wrapped up its regular season with a convincing 35-13 victory vs. Mona Shores on Friday at home. The Fighting Irish posted a decisive 393-265 advantage in total offense against the Sailors (5-4), posting 232 yards on the ground and 161 yards through the air.
Individually, junior RB Jeremiah Fuller led the offensive onslaught with 145 yards rushing and a season-tying best 3 TDs, topping the century mark for the 3rd time in the last 4 games.
In addition, junior QB Ali Beydoun completed 9-of-16 passes for 161 yards, including a 66-yard TD pass to senior WR Preston Fryzel on Central Catholic’s opening possession.
Overall this fall, Beydoun has connected on 92-of-159 passes (57.9 percent) for 1,182 yards and 10 TDs. Fuller has carried the ball 149 times for 1,031 yards with 13 scores. Beydoun’s favorite target has been Fryzel with 22 receptions for 554 yards and 5 TDs.
Ontario is under the direction of Head Coach Aaron Eckert. A member of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference (MOAC), the Warriors enter postseason play on the heels of a 44-14 win vs. River Valley in their regular-season finale. They have won 4 of their last 5 games.
Central Catholic and Ontario will meet on the gridiron for the 1st time.
Should the Fighting Irish advance to the 2nd round for the 15th-consecutive season, they will face No. 3 seed Lexington on Friday, November 7 at 7 p.m. on the road.
