High school football playoffs: Same round, same venue, but new opponent for Avon

It's the same round and same venue, but for the first time in six years Avon will face a new opponent. After taking on Archbishop Hoban in six of its last seven trips to the Division II state semifinals, the Eagles get a new foe this time around in Walsh Jesuit, which is making its first appearance since winning the 1999 state championship, and sixth overall. The Warriors defeated the Knights 35-7 in the Region 5 championship, and the Eagles are preparing for a tough challenge when they square off at the University of Akron on Friday at 7 p.m. It's the third unique opponent for Avon in the last nine seasons, with Massillon Washington being the other, which it faced faced in 2019. "Every year, even when we prepared for Hoban, felt somewhat new," Avon coach Mike Elder said. "It's different players, different year, we're just excited to be in the Final 4. Whoever the opponent is, we're going to prepare for them. We're excited for the opportunity to be playing in the Final 4. This is rare air. I told our kids when we got to the regional final that was rare air, too. Not many people get to experience a regional championship game. We've been fortunate and blessed, but we don't take it for granted." The winner will face either Big Walnut (12-1) or Cincinnati Anderson (13-0) in the state championship. Like Avon (12-1), and really most teams still alive at this level of the tournament, Walsh Jesuit (11-1) is loaded with college talent. Five kids have committed to Division I schools — two on offense and three on defense — while many others are getting looks to play at the next level. But front and center will be another tough challenge in the running game as the Warriors' offense is propelled by running back Marty Tobin. The senior piled up 199 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries against Hoban in the regional championship. He's rushed for 1,755 yards and 18 touchdowns on 157 carries for the season. Tobin gets to run behind Ohio university commit Colten Crosley while Miami (Florida) commit Milan Parris stretches the defense at wide receiver, leading the team with 731 yards and 11 touchdowns on 45 catches. The Knights also turn to Campbell Lann in the passing game. The wideout has Mid-American Conference offers and is starting to get Power 4 attention with 282 yards and four touchdowns on 20 catches for the season. "They're well-coached," Elder said. "They can throw it and run it. The Tobin kid is one of the best backs we've seen, and we've seen some good ones. He's got elite speed and vision so he's going to be a handful, but then they've got a great offensive line in front of him and their quarterback is a very capable runner and passer as well. And then they've got some Division I talent on the edges." The defense is led by linebacker Caden Carter — a Bowling Green commit and the son of former Mr. Football Delone Carter, who went on to play running back in the NFL. Ohio University commit James Brewer and Toledo commit Grant Blascak anchor the secondary at corner and safety, respectively. The Warriors only allowed 26 combined points in their two meetings with Hoban, including seven in the regional final. In fact, only one team has scored more than 20 and four others reached double figures, including a 17-14 win against Toledo Central Catholic in Week 1. This isn't anything new for Avon, which just took on Highland's elite defense that only allowed 10 points to one team prior to the Eagles racking up 36 on the Hornets in the regional final. "The deeper you get into the playoffs, the players get better and the coaching is great as well," Elder said. "Nobody makes it to the Final 4 without great players, including us. We've seen some big-time football games this year. We got tested in Florida early on in the year, then we played Glenville, and we play in a great conference and now the playoffs. Our kids our battle tested. They know there are great players on both sides of the ball." Contact Chris Sweeney at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com. Follow him @CSweeney1686 on X. SAME ROUND, NEW FOE The Eagles have reached the state semifinals eight times in the last nine seasons and this time face a new opponent in Walsh Jesuit. This is just the third unique team Avon has drawn in the state semifinals during that span, as the Warriors vanquished Avon's usual rival Archbishop Hoban in the Region 5 final. The Eagles and Knights met six times, with Hoban going 5-1. Avon's other opponent was Massillon Washington in 2019. 2024: Avon 35, Hoban 10 WHERE: InfoCision Stadium at the University of Akron WHEN: Nov. 29 RECAP: The Knights eliminated Avon in five of its previous six trips to the state semifinals, but all that was vanquished emphatically behind a dominant all-around performance. The defense kept Hoban running back Brayton Feister bottled up for just 57 yards through three quarters, though he finished with 149 yards on 22 carries, and Avon's offense piled up 370 yards. 2023: Hoban 17, Avon 14 WHERE: Parma Byers Field WHEN: Nov. 24 SUMMARY: Despite playing without starting quarterback Nolan Good, the Eagles led 14-10 through three quarters. However, Avon opened the fourth quarter with an interception on a trick play that rolled wide receiver Matt Maxey out right with the intention of throwing deep. The Knights weren't fooled, intercepting the pass to set themselves up with a 35-yard field. Hoban scored the go-ahead touchdown five plays later. 2021: Hoban 31, Avon 24 WHERE: Parma Byers Field WHEN: Nov. 26 SUMMARY: The first half featured 38 combined points, including 31 in the second quarter as Hoban built a 24-14 halftime lead. Nathanial Vakos connected on a 41-yard field goal and Sam DeTillio tied the game on a 6-yard quarterback run with 7:57 left. Hoban, however, milked the next 6:10 off the clock as running back Lamar Sperling carried the ball eight times for a combined 52 yards, including the go-ahead 15-yard touchdown with 1:47 left. 2020: Hoban 28, Avon 14 WHERE: Parma Byers Field WHEN: Nov. 13 SUMMARY: This one played out very similar to the 2021 edition with Hoban taking a two-score halftime lead, this time 14-0, only for Avon to tie the game in the fourth quarter. Avon quarterback Niko Pappas put the team on his back with big play after big play, throwing for a touchdown and running for another as Avon tied the game at 14 with 9:34 left. Hoban responded with an 8-play, 80-yard touchdown drive then iced the game with a pick-six. 2019: Massillon Washington 35, Avon 10 WHERE: Parma Byers Field WHEN: Nov. 29 SUMMARY: Avon was without a number of key starters and rotated between Chase Myers and Joey Lance at quarterback. Lance played all over the field for the Eagles, also seeing time at running back and wide receiver, piling up 182 rushing yards and scoring Avon's only touchdown. 2018: Hoban 42, Avon 7 WHERE: Brunswick High School WHEN: Nov. 23 SUMMARY: There was no drama in this one as Hoban went 80-yards in seven plays to take a 7-0 lead that eventually led to 21 unanswered points. Avon scored its only touchdown on the opening drive on the second half. 2017: Hoban 30, Avon 6 WHERE: Brunswick High School WHEN: Nov. 24 SUMMARY: The Knights had won the last two Division III state championships, but proved they could be just as dominant in Division II. Avon kept pace with them in the first half as Hoban only led 10-6. The Eagles committed three turnovers, including an interception that flipped a promising scoring drive into points for the Knights. Hoban ultimately scored 20 unanswered points in the second half. — Chris Sweeney