High school football / Archbishop Hoban 49, Canton McKinley 0: Knights open season in dominant fashion
Archbishop Hoban opened the 2015 season with a near flawless performance Thursday night on Dowed Field.
Hoban relied on its rushing attack on offense, and its hard-hitting defense to defeat visiting Canton McKinley 49-0 before a standing-room only crowd of over 4,000.
Junior tailback Todd Sibley and junior quarterback Danny Clark made sure to bring the seated Knights fans to their feet by taking part in the scoring.
Sibley, an Ohio State University recruit, rushed for two touchdowns and gained 81 yards on 15 carries before leaving with a “bruised” right shoulder in the second quarter.
“I liked how we executed tonight,” Sibley said. “It was exciting to see that everything we had worked on and everything we had practiced over the summer worked.”
Sibley did not return, and he wasn’t needed as Clark, another Ohio State University recruit, tossed two touchdown passes to senior Jonah Morris, a Michigan State University recruit.
“We have got something special here at Hoban and I am glad to be part of the family,” said Clark, a Massillon transfer. “I will keep pushing every person on that football team and they will push me. We will do what we have to do for 14 more weeks.”
Hoban took control quickly by jumping out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.
“We didn’t come out slow for probably the first time since I have been here for an opener,” Hoban fourth-year coach Tim Tyrrell said. “Even last year with Firestone, we came out slow and did not understand anything. I think with this group of seniors and captains, they just have it in their mind this will be a different season.”
Sibley rushed for a 3-yard touchdown with 9:53 remaining in the quarter, and junior Grant Kersh made the first of seven PAT kicks to make it 7-0.
An errant McKinley punt went off an offensive lineman’s behind seconds later, and Hoban senior Jack Griffith snagged the ball and ran 19 yards for a touchdown at 9:18.
“We hit our gaps and the ball bounced my way, and I was lucky enough to catch it and score with my teammates,” Griffith said. “It was a great feeling.”
Sibley added a 7-yard rushing touchdown with 10.4 seconds left in the quarter.
Clark’s first touchdown pass to Morris was for 14 yards with 21.2 seconds left in the second quarter to make it 28-0. Griffith recovered a fumble three plays prior to that. Clark and Morris connected again on Hoban’s first possession in the third quarter for a 2-yard touchdown pass with 8:32 on the scoreboard to make it 35-0.
Hoban’s lead grew to 42-0 at 3:28 in the third when sophomore William Collier rushed for a 31-yard touchdown. Griffith made it 49-0 with 27.9 seconds to go in the third when he caught an errant punt that went off a McKinley offensive lineman’s lower back.
“[Griffith] had a huge game,” Tyrrell said. “We have really been preaching special teams, and with that, Jack is one of those seniors that is a non-stop goer.”
Tyrrell also praised the Kersh brothers, junior kicker Grant and senior linebacker-punter Dane Kersh, along with the offensive linemen — seniors Jacob Kepler, Jacob McNeil and Tom Redle, junior Brandon Yankovich and freshman Nolan Rumler.
“The biggest thing for us was coming out physical,” Kepler said. “From the first snap, we were flying off the ball. The boys went out and got it done.”
Collier rushed 12 times for 98 yards. Sophomores Isaiah Dixon (interception), Daeshon Coppinger and Nate Bauer were active defensively for Hoban.
Michael Beaven can be reached at 330-996-3829 or mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the #ABJVarsity high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps.
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