Over the course of the weekend, four NE Ohio High School football teams, Archbishop Hoban, Cuyahoga Heights, Mentor, and Kirtland, headed down to Canton for the OHSAA State Championship finals.
Archbishop Hoban took on Winton Woods Thursday night. The first play of the game, Quarterback Shane Hamm threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Houser. Shortly after, Donny Swain returned a 28-yard punt for a touchdown.
Hamm connected with Garrett again for a 46-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. From there, Hoban would score again on ensuing possessions.
At the half, the score was Archbishop 42, Winton Woods 14. Neither Archbishop Hoban nor Winton Woods could find the end zone in the second half. Hoban took home the Division II State Final trophy with a score of 42-14.
Friday morning Cuyahoga Heights took on Minster. Early in the matchup, Quarterback Ryan Polk threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Dylan Drummond to start the scoring. Cuyahoga would have difficulty finding the end zone for the remainder of the game. They were named the Division VII State Final Runner-Ups with a final score of 32-7.
The offense rushed for 130-yards and passed for 116-yards. The defense finished with two interceptions.
Friday night Mentor took on Pickerington Central. In the first quarter, Tadas Tatarunas scored the first Mentor touchdown with a quarterback keeper for 11-yards. Shortly after, a fumble gave Mentor the ball back on their own 47. Mentor's Steven Baird was left wide open down the middle of the field and scored on a 46-yard touchdown reception.
In the second quarter, Braeden Gefert intercepted a pass in the end zone and Trenton Gillison forced a fumble. Mentor tied the game 21-21 before the half.
In the second half, Mentor only saw the end zone once when Elijah McDougall ran in a two-yard touchdown.
Mentor fell to Pickerington 56-28 and were named the Division I State Final Runner-Ups. Tatarunas threw for 196 yards while McDougall rushed for 80 yards on 14 carries.
Saturday morning Kirtland took on Marion Local. Kirtland took the opening drive down the field but were unable to find the end zone. Dylan Aquilla kicked a 33-yard field goal to put Kirtland on the board.
Kirtland was unable to find the end zone until the fourth quarter. Quarterback Dylan Fulco threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Joey Torok. Mike Zeuli would convert the 2-point conversion. Kirtland was named Division VI State Final Runner-Ups with a score of 34-11.
The offense rushed for 127-yards and passed for 57-yards.
Congratulations again to all four Northeast Ohio teams on tremendous seasons.
