The fourth round of the OHSAA football playoffs arrived on Friday, Nov. 21, and the Division II, Region 5 final featured rival high schools from Summit County.
No. 1 seed Archbishop Hoban and No. 2 seed Walsh Jesuit met at Bedford Bearcat Stadium, and the Warriors rolled to a 35-7 win.
Walsh controlled the line of scrimmage on offense and defense to improve to 11-1. Hoban concluded its season with a 10-2 record.
Walsh advances to meet Avon, a 36-19 winner over Highland, in a state semifinal at 7 p.m. Nov. 28 at the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium.
Here is how Walsh versus Hoban unfolded through our updates:
Watch Ohio High School Football Live on the NFHS Network all season
Walsh Jesuit football extends lead to 35-7 over Archbishop Hoban in fourth quarter
Walsh Jesuit senior Carlos Smith runs 9 yards for a touchdown and Freddie Marcell kicks the PAT to give the Warriors a 35-7 lead over the Knights with 3:41 to go in the fourth quarter.
The drive included a Smith 18-yard run and a Smith 15-yard run.
Smith is up to 50 yards on eight carries.
Final stats from Walsh’s win over Hoban
Walsh senior running back Marty Tobin finished with 23 carries for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Junior quarterback David Ternosky went 6-of-9 passing for 114 yards and two touchdowns, a 6-yard pass to senior wide receiver Milan Parris and a 39-yard pass to junior wide receiver Cambell Lann. Senior running back Carlos Smith rushed eight times for 50 yards and a TD.
Hoban junior Brayton Feister rushed 13 times for 125 yards and a touchdown. Senior quarterback Nick Kinsey went 10-of-15 passing for 97 yards. Junior wide receiver John Johnson compiled four receptions for 118 yards, including a 69-yard catch on a trick-play pass from senior Payton Cook. Junior running back Jance Henry rushed 12 times for 59 yards.
Walsh Jesuit leads Hoban 28-7 at the end of the third quarter
Walsh leads Hoban 28-7 at the end of the third quarter.
Archbishop Hoban senior offensive lineman Sam Greer ejected from football playoff game against Walsh Jesuit
Archbishop Hoban senior offensive lineman Sam Greer has been ejected with 31 seconds remaining in the third quarter. Greer was called for his second personal foul. This penalty came after an argument with a ref.
Walsh Jesuit football extends lead to 28-7 over Archbishop Hoban in third quarter
Walsh Jesuit junior quarterback David Ternosky connects with junior wide receiver Cambell Lann on a 39-yard touchdown pass and Freddie Marcell kicks the PAT to give the Warriors a 28-7 lead over the Knights with 1:25 to go in the third quarter.
The drive included a Ternosky 15-yard pass play to senior wide receiver Milan Parris, a 15-yard penalty on Hoban and a 9-yard run by senior Marty Tobin.
Ternosky is 4 of 7 passing for 100 yards with two touchdowns. Tobin is at 190 yards rushing with two touchdowns on 21 carries.
Hoban’s defense gets a stop after a special teams mistake against Walsh
Hoban’s defense gets a stop after a special teams mistake against Walsh. The Knights fumbled a kickoff on their own 27-yard line, but the defense steps up and stops a 4th-down-and-1 play with a minus-1 run to get the ball back to the offense on the 19-yard line.
Walsh Jesuit football recovers an Archbishop Hoban fumble in third quarter
Hoban senior Elbert Hill IV fumbles a kickoff and Walsh Jesuit junior Emmett Tobin recovers the fumble.
Walsh has the ball on the Hoban 27-yard line with 8:57 left in the third quarter.
Walsh Jesuit scores on its opening possession of second half to increase lead to 21-7 vs. Archbishop Hoban football
Senior Marty Tobin breaks loose up the middle and runs 71 yards for a touchdown. Freddie Marcell kicks the PAT and Walsh Jesuit leads Hoban 21-7 with 9:06 left in the third quarter.
Walsh leads 14-7 at halftime after Hoban misses field goal at the end of the second quarter
Hoban drove to the Walsh 13-yard line and called timeout with 32 seconds left. After junior running back Jance Henry lost a yard on a backward pass, Knights coach Tim Tyrrell allowed the clock to run before calling his final timeout of the first half with two seconds remaining.
Hoban summoned junior kicker Jeremy Hammel for a 31-yard field goal, but he missed with time expired in the second quarter.
Walsh led 14-7 at halftime.
In the first half …
Walsh Jesuit senior running back Marty Tobin had 15 carries for 101 yards and one touchdown. Walsh junior quarterback David Ternosky went 2-of-4 passing for 46 yards and a touchdown, a 6-yard scoring strike to senior wide receiver Milan Parris.
Hoban senior quarterback Nick Kinsey went 6-of-9 passing for 75 yards. Junior wide receiver John Johnson had three catches for 112 yards, including a 69-yard reception from senior wide receiver Payton Cook. Junior running back Brayton Feister rushed twice for 13 yards, including a 2-yard TD run.
Walsh Jesuit football answers Hoban to capture 14-7 lead with 2:05 left in the second quarter
Walsh countered with a touchdown drive on the possession after Hoban tied the score.
The highlight plays during Walsh Jesuit’s march were a 40-yard pass from junior quarterback David Ternosky to senior wide receiver Milan Parris and a 26-yard run by senior running back Marty Tobin.
Tobin finished the drive with a 3-yard rushing touchdown, and senior Freddie Marcell made the extra-point kick as Walsh took a 14-7 lead.
Archbishop Hoban football ties score with Walsh Jesuit 7-7 with 9:05 left in the second quarter
Hoban created a spark with a trick play and tied the score 7-7 with 9:05 left in the second quarter.
On third-and-7 from the Hoban 29-yard line, Knights senior quarterback Nick Kinsey gave the ball to senior wide receiver Payton Cook, and Cook launched a pass to junior wide receiver John Johnson. Near the Walsh 35, Johnson caught the pass and ran to the 2. The trick play went for 69 yards.
On the next play, Hoban gave junior running back Brayton Feister his first carry of the game. It resulted in a 2-yard touchdown, and junior Jeremy Hammel made the ensuing extra-point kick to tie the score 7-7.
Walsh football leads Akron Hoban 7-0 at the end of the first quarter
End of first quarter: Walsh Jesuit 7, Archbishop Hoban 0
Walsh Jesuit registers defensive stop on Hoban’s first possession
Walsh Jesuit’s defense got a stop on Hoban’s first possession of the game, forcing a punt with 1:37 left in the first quarter.
Warriors senior linebacker Alex Dachille had a tackle for loss on second-and-12 from the Walsh 34-yard line, and Hoban threw an incomplete pass on third-and-16 before punting.
Walsh Jesuit scores on game’s opening possession and takes 7-0 lead vs. Archbishop Hoban football
Walsh Jesuit started the game with the ball and produced a 67-yard touchdown drive to seize a 7-0 lead with 6:15 left in the first quarter.
Walsh junior quarterback David Ternosky rolled to his right on second-and-goal and threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Milan Parris to finish the drive.
Walsh senior running back Marty Tobin rushed for 30 yards on six carries during the opening march, and the Warriors were also aided by a 15-yard defensive pass interference penalty called on Hoban.
Walsh Jesuit starting quarterback David Ternosky returns to lineup
After sitting out last week against Austintown Fitch because of an injury, Walsh Jesuit junior starting quarterback David Ternosky returned to action to face Hoban.
Below is some pregame information.
Archbishop Hoban vs. Walsh Jesuit football | How they got here
The Knights received a first-round bye before defeating No. 9 Boardman 38-0 two weeks ago in a regional quarterfinal and beating No. 5 Hudson 35-3 last week in a regional semifinal.
The Warriors received a first-round bye before beating No. 7 Nordonia 49-18 two weeks ago in a regional quarterfinal and defeating No. 3 Austintown Fitch 42-21 last week in a regional semifinal.
Hoban’s history in the OHSAA football playoffs
Hoban is in the playoffs for the 11th year in a row and 21st time overall. Hoban won Division III state championships in 2015 and 2016 and Division II state championships in 2017, 2018 and 2020. The Knights were Division II state runners-up in 2021, 2022, 2023, and also made a Division III state semifinal appearance in 2002 and Division II state semifinal appearances in 2008 and 2024.
Walsh’s history in the OHSAA football playoffs
Walsh is in the playoffs for the sixth year in a row and 23rd time overall. Walsh won the Divison II state championship in 1999 and was the Division III state runner-up in 1998. The Warriors were also Division I state semifinalists in 1993, Division II state semifinalists in 1994 and Division III state semifinalists in 1997.
Archbishop Hoban vs. Walsh Jesuit | Regular-season series and recent OHSAA football playoff games
This is the 58th meeting between Hoban and Walsh. The Warriors hold a 31-26 edge, but have lost 13 of the last 14 games.
Walsh won the first nine meetings, all in the regular season, from 1974-82. Hoban sprinkled in five wins by 1991, but Walsh held a 22-5 edge by 1999. Hoban closed the gap with eight wins and trailed Walsh 25-13 head-to-head. Walsh won five games in a row to stretch its series advantage to 30-13 by 2014, and then Hoban has won 13 of 14 meetings since 2025.
Walsh won a playoff game against Hoban in 1998. Hoban topped Walsh in playoff games in 2002, 2021, 2023 and 2024.
This is the third consecutive regional final between the teams, with the Knights coming out on top both previous times. Hoban won 21-7 in 2014 at Twinsburg Tiger Stadium and 30-6 in 2023 at the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium.
Host Hoban topped Walsh 19-14 in a regular-season game Sept. 26 at Dowed Field.
Hoban High School football players to watch
Hoban quarterback Nick Kinsey (80-for-137 passing, 1,246 yards, 10 TDs) has looked good in his return, but the Knights can go to Payton Cook (16-for-25 passing, 149 yards, TD) if they want to show a different look.
Brayton Feister (103 carries, 925 yards, 16 TDs) and Jance Henry (129 carries, 913 yards, nine TDs) have contrasting styles at running back for Hoban.
The Knights like to spread the ball around, as John Johnson (20 catches, 361 yards, three TDs), Jackson Callaway (25 receptions, 330 yards, two TDs), Cook (22 catches, 173 yards, two TDs) and Grady Falkenstein (16 catches, 143 yards) prove it at wide receiver.
Colorado State commit Ace Brown at defensive end, Division I recruit Patrick Kinsell at edge and Power Four linebacker recruits Brayton and Brydon Feister make the Knights nearly impossible to run on.
USC commit Elbert Hill, Division I college level recruits Jaiden Daniels and Kahlil Dimming lead Hoban’s secondary.
The Knights are outscoring opponents 32-15 on average.
“In all three phases, it’s going to take a complete game,” Walsh coach Nick Alexander said. “We’re going to have to tackle. We’re going to have to get off blocks. We’re going to have to get them off the field offensively, and we’re going to have to sustain drives on offense without turning it over. And then special teams is going to be a big part.”
Walsh Jesuit High School football players to watch
Walsh quarterback Ben Biel (10-of-13 passing, 108 yards, two TDs) has been solid in place of David Ternosky (93-of-157 passing, 1,260 yards, 17 TDs), who is a game-time decision.
Marty Tobin (135 carries, 1,555 yards, 16 TDs) leads a Warriors squad that runs for 249 yards per game. Carlos Smith (81 carries, 509 yards, seven TDs) and Ternosky (61 carries, 361 yards, four TDs) are complementary pieces.
Walsh’s top receiver is Miami (Fla.) recruit Milan Parris (42 catches, 670 yards, 10 TDs). Cambell Lann (17 catches, 229 yards, three TDs), Kian McHugh (eight catches, 146 yards, three TDs), Sawyer Del Busso (18 catches, 179 yards) and Vinnie Courtad (seven catches, 81 yards, three TDs) are more than capable as well.
Toledo commit Grant Blascak (87 tackles, three pass breakups, interception), Ohio pledge James Brewer (41 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions), Tommy Pulletti (32 tackles, five pass breakups) and Biel (48 tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions) make for a great secondary.
Bowling Green commit Caden Carter (84 tackles, four for loss, four sacks, three pass breakups, two interceptions, two defensive TDs) is a standout at linebacker. Dario Jeras (66 tackles, 12 for loss, five sacks) anchors the defensive line.
The Warriors outscore opponents 35-10 on average.
“They are a great team that is solid in all three parts of the game,” Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell said. “There isn’t much they can’t do.”
Hoban football’s returning lettermen (33) entering 2025 season
Walsh Jesuit football’s returning lettermen (44) entering 2025 season
Hoban football scores, schedule
Walsh football scores, schedule
Who will the winner of Hoban vs. Walsh face next week in the OHSAA football playoffs?
The winner of No. 1 Hoban vs. No. 2 Walsh Jesuit (9-1) in the Division II, Region 5 championship game will advance to a state semifinal and meet either Highland or Avon at 7 p.m. Nov. 28 at a site to be determined by the OHSAA.
No. 1 Highland (12-0) and No. 3 Avon (11-1) are meeting Friday, Nov. 21, in the Division II, Region 6 championship game.
Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Brad Bournival contributed to this article.
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA football playoff scores, Hoban vs Walsh Jesuit recap, highlights
Reporting by Michael Beaven and Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
