Watterson 30 Toledo Central Catholic 0

 

The Division Three state title game had Watterson (13-0) battling Toledo Central Catholic (11-4). Other than a one-point win over Middletown, Delaware (14-13), Watterson had not really been tested. Maybe, you can say their 37-17 win over a very good Big Walnut was a test? Central started out 0-3 before turning things around. After losing their fourth game against Orchard Lake St. Mary out of Michigan, they ran off six straight wins where they only had one close game, and that was their one-point state semi-final win over CVCA.

Eli Eagan kicked off to get things started, and his kick went out of bounds, giving Central a first and ten at their own 35-yard line. The Watterson defense gave up just 4 yards before forcing a Central punt.

Drew Bellisari found Nate Henderson for a gain of thirty, giving the Eagles a first and ten on their own forty-four-yard line. Bellisari, a recent Miami, Ohio commit, found Caden Mangini for 35 yards to give the Eagles another first down. Bellisari then found Noah Holsinger for 17 yards to set up a first and goal from the Central one. Jack McCoy followed the big Dawgs up front into the end zone to make this a 7-0 game, as the PAT by Eagan was perfect. The drive lasted for 8 plays, going for 90 yards and taking 3:30 off of the clock.

The Eagles' defense held the Central offense to 3 plays and -6 yards on their next series. Preston Fryzel's punt was fielded by dangerous Nate Henderson, who returned it 39 yards to the Central 31-yard line.

Bellisari hit Ben Lamiell for 16 yards to set up a first and goal from the Central 10-yard line. Bellisari passed to Joe Hayes for the 5-yard touchdown to make this a 14-0 game, with 3:43 left in the quarter.

In the second quarter, Ali Beydon completed two 6-yard passes, the first going to Singleton Jr. and the other finding the hands of Preston Fryzel. Later on the drive, Beydoun connected with Fryze for a gain of 2 yards, giving the Fighting Irish a first and ten on the Watterson 40-yard line. After a 3-yard run by Anthony Sylvestor, three incomplete passes followed, forcing a turnover on downs.

The Fighting Irish used a sack on Bellisari by Zenaje Liggons and Chris Sanders Jr. for a loss of six, forcing a punt by the Eagles' Maxton Steinbrunner that traveled 36 yards and was fair caught by Jerome Davis V.

Later in the quarter Bellisari found Henderson for 10 yards, giving the Eagles a first and ten on the Central 28-yard line, but an interception on a Bellisari pass by Kenyon Robinson ended the drive. Robinson caught the ball at the 18 yard line and returned it to the thirty two.

The Watterson death-grip-like defense forced a three-and-out, giving up zero yards in the process. On the ensuing drive, Bellisari hit Lamielle for 15 yards. Bellisari rushed for a nice 14-yard gain, then he hit Hayes for another 19 yards. The drive ended on an Eagan 28-yard field goal to make this a 17-0 game.

Bellisari found Cater Bellisari for 45 yards to set the offense up with a first and goal from the 10-yard line. The drive ended when Bellisari was picked off by Davis V at the end of the end zone. Davis V took the ball out to the 21-yard line.

Central would gain 26 yards on the drive, with fourteen of those yards coming on a Beydoun pass to Singleton Jr. A turnover on downs ended the drive.

Watterson got the drive going with a 6-yard run from Mangini. Bellisari picked up 12 yards on three runs. Mangini picked up twelve, and the drive ended on a 13-yard touchdown run by McCoy to make this a 23-0 game, with 3:07 left in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Bellisari hit Henderson for a gain of forty-one, setting up a first and goal from the Central two. The drive ended with zero points due to an interception by Zanje Liggons in the end zone. Liggons returned the ball to his own 12-yard line.

Central had their best drive of the game with Beydoun hitting Amari Eliano for 13 yards. He also completed an 18-yard pass to Davis V. and a 12-yard pass to Singleton Jr. The drive would total 62 yards but net zero points. The drive ended when Henderson picked off a pass.

Watterson netted just 8 yards on their next drive as the Central defense used a sack on Bellisari by Zyeri McCray that caused a loss of eight.

Kaden Jones hurried the pass by Beydoun,, causing the ball to be picked off by Carter Bellisair, who took it to the house from 35 yards out to make this a 30-0 and start the running clock.

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