CANTON – For the third consecutive season, Watterson and Toledo Central Catholic squared off for Ohio high school football’s Division III state championship at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. For the second year in a row, Watterson won.
The Eagles dominated the game, winning 30-0. Watterson won 19-14 last year and Central Catholic won 27-7 in 2023.
Both teams were making their eighth appearance in a state final. Watterson also won titles in 2002 and 2010, and Central Catholic also won in 2005, 2012, 2014 and 2022.
Read our live updates and analysis.
And that’s it – Watterson is champion again
For the second year in a row and fourth time overall, all since 2002, the Watterson Eagles are state champions.
Watterson wins its 30th game in a row, 16 last year and 14 this fall, shutting out Toledo Central Catholic 30-0 here in Canton.
Much more to come, including Frank DiRenna’s game story and my sidebar, but that wraps it up for the live blog.
Come back later as Olentangy Orange faces Cincinnati St. Xavier in Division I right about 7:35.
Carter Bellisari pick-6 invokes running clock
Watterson has finally blown this one wide open, thanks to a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown from Carter Bellisari.
The Eagles lead 30-0 with 6:02 to play.
The 30-point margin means we will have a running clock until Toledo Central Catholic gets back within 30 … or the game ends. Whichever comes first.
Nate Henderson interception ends Central Catholic drive
Junior defensive back Nate Henderson continues his big day on both sides of the ball, intercepting Ali Beydoun in the end zone to maintain Watterson’s 23-0 lead with eight minutes left here in Canton, where nighttime has fully set in.
End 3rd: Watterson 23, Toledo Central Catholic 0
That pretty much sums it up. The Eagles are 12 minutes from a state title repeat.
Watterson will start the fourth quarter with first-and-15 at the Central Catholic 43.
Jack McCoy TD gives Watterson 23-0 lead
The Eagles went back to the ground game some talented scribe wrote about in The Dispatch earlier this week, running the ball on all seven plays of their most recent possession and taking a 23-0 lead on Jack McCoy’s 13-yard touchdown run with 3:07 left in the third quarter.
A two-point conversion pass from Drew Bellisari to Ben Uhlenhake was incomplete.
Bellisari throws third interception
Central Catholic’s Jerome Davis picked off Drew Bellisari at the goal line as the Watterson quarterback targeted Nate Henderson, Bellisari’s third interception of the day after throwing two the entire season prior to this game.
Watterson continues to lead 17-0 with 9:31 left in the third quarter.
Top first-half stats from Watterson-Central Catholic
Total yards: Watterson 199 (35 rush/164 pass), Central Catholic 68 (31/37)
Top Watterson stats: QB Drew Bellisari 11-17 passing, 164 yards, TD, 2 INT and 6 carries-27 yards; Caden Mangini 2 catches-51 yards and 2 rushes-3 yards; Jack McCoy 4 carries-9 yards, TD; Joe Hayes 2 catches-24 yards, TD
Top Central Catholic stats: QB Ali Beydoun 4-17, 37 yards; Preston Fryzel 3 catches-31 yards and 6 punts (36.8 yards per punt)
Halftime: Watterson 17, Toledo Central Catholic 0
Watterson drove to the Central Catholic 11 in the final 30 seconds of the first half, but had to settle for a 28-yard field goal from Eli Eagan.
Some stats in a few minutes, but one that immediately sticks out is the two interceptions for Eagles quarterback Drew Bellisari. That equals the number he had all year prior to today, and those turnovers are at least keeping the door open for Central Catholic.
Central Catholic hanging in, but still without a score
The Irish have forced punts on consecutive Watterson possessions, but the Eagles defense has been equally up to the task.
Watterson is driving near midfield with 3:30 left in the half, leading 14-0.
And just as this update sent, Drew Bellisari threw an interception and the Irish have the ball at their own 12 after a blindside block on the return.
End 1st: Watterson 14, Toledo Central Catholic 0
The Irish did force a Watterson punt late in the first quarter, and TCC opens the second with second-and-9 on its own 22.
Watterson has a 111-22 edge in total yards.
Bellisari-to-Hayes TD adds to Watterson lead
A 5-yard touchdown pass caught by a diving Joe Hayes at the goal line increases Watterson’s lead to 14-0 with 3:43 left in the first quarter.
This Watterson possession started at the Irish 31 after Nate Henderson’s 39-yard punt return, then moved to the 26 on an encroachment penalty.
It is obviously still early, but it just feels like Central Catholic needs to do something here before this gets out of hand.
McCoy touchdown gives Watterson early lead
Backed up to their own 10 to start the game, the Eagles covered 90 yards in eight plays in 3:30, taking a 7-0 lead over Central Catholic on a 1-yard touchdown run to Jack McCoy.
We have 6:53 left in the first quarter.
The big plays were a 30-yard pass from Drew Bellisari to Nate Henderson, who primarily plays defensive back, on third-and-6 from the Watterson 14 and a 35-yard pass to Caden Mangini on the next play to get the Eagles to the TCC 21.
The defending state champions will play from ahead.
Watterson wins coin toss, defers
It’s Dave Purpura, taking over the live blog for the duration of the afternoon (and early evening).
Watterson has its first win of the day, on the coin toss. The Eagles have deferred and Central Catholic will get the ball first in about 20 minutes.
Watterson tries for OHSAA championship repeat
The Eagles (13-0) are going for their second consecutive state title and second undefeated season in a row after going 16-0 last year. Their standout senior quarterback, Miami University signee Drew Bellisari, has started all of those games.
This season, Bellisari has thrown for 2,265 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushed for 658 yards and 11 scores. His scrambling ability is a key part of a ground game that also features senior Jack McCoy (910 yards, 16 TDs) and junior Caden Mangini (584 yards, 7 TDs).
Iowa State signee Pete Eglitis helps to pave the way as a three-year starter on the offensive line.
Central Catholic (11-4) has star power on defense in cornerback Victor Singleton, a Texas A&M signee.
Watterson’s defense, led by a dominant defensive line that features senior Ryan Alvis, junior Michael Boyle and junior Jack Schuler, will be focused on limiting junior running back Jeremiah Fuller and junior quarterback Ali Beydoun.
The teams took different routes to this game.
Watterson, the No. 1 seed in Region 11, has outscored its opponents 607-89. Central Catholic was the No. 6 seed in Region 10, in part because of a 0-3 start against three strong programs – Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, Detroit Cass Tech and Detroit Catholic Central.
In state semifinals last week, Watterson dominated Tipp City Tippecanoe 41-9 while Toledo Central Catholic edged Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 21-20.
