Bishop Watterson secures second straight state title victory over Toledo Central Catholic

Jack McCoy of Bishop Watterson celebrates after scoring in the Division III state championship game. (Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

CANTON, Ohio - Bishop Watterson has won back-to-back championships in the OHSAA Division III state final, defeating Toledo Central Catholic for the second year in a row with a score of 30-0.  

Toledo Central Catholic struggled in their second game against Watterson and couldn't get their offense to put together consistent drives, resulting in no points. "It really went downhill for us," said Dempsey. 

Watterson would move the ball during the first quarter of play, resulting in a couple of touchdowns during successful drives. First, a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Jack McCoy, then a Bellisari to running back Joe Hayes for a 5-yard receiving touchdown for the second score, with 3:53 left in the game. 

"Credit to my receivers too, they get down and dirty and block," said Drew Bellisari after asking about his offensive line. "It's just everybody working as one unit."

TCC was down 14-0 as the quarter timed out.

In the second period of the game, Watterson's offense would slow down as TCC's defense would get some good stops and two key interceptions off Bellisari that put them in good field position, but could not convert. 

TCC held them to just three points for the period, an Eli Eagan 28-yard field goal to end the half at 17-0. 

Nate Henderson (7) looks down at Jerome Davis V as an Ali Beydoun pass would float over the running back's head during the middle part of the game. (Photo: Chuck Cordes/Ohsfbmedia.com)

The second half was just the same for the Fighting Irish, as they could not capitalize on good possessions coming into the third, converting just 1 of 8 on third-down conversions in the first half of play. 

Ali Beydoun had a total of 37 passing yards at this point. 

The Eagles put together another drive, resulting in Jack McCoy scoring on a 13-yard rush, extending their lead to 23-0 following a missed extra point at 3:07 of the period.

Beau Rugg, the OHSAA Director of Officiating, presents the Bishop Watterson Eagles with the Division III state trophy. (Photo: Gene Simmons/Ohsfbmedia.com)

A total of seven interceptions were thrown during the game. 

Watterson's Bellisari would toss two more interceptions down the stretch of the game, and again, TCC could not convert any of the turnovers into points. 

Beydoun would throw a late-game interception to Carter Bellisari, who would return it for a 35-yard touchdown to seal the win and another title for the Eagles.

"Unbelievably happy for our kids, umm, they have worked really, really hard from back in January through June, it's a tremendous group," said Kennedy.  "And I think a lot of our success is because the culture of the program."