CANTON – Toledo Central Catholic looked to win its third high school football title in four years. Columbus Bishop Watterson wanted to win its second consecutive title.
Something had to give in the third straight Division III state championship when the two clashed at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium Friday, Dec. 5.
The Watterson defense didn’t give a thing to TCC and rolled to a 30-0 win to make the Eagles back-to-back state champs.
Here’s how the game unfolded through our live updates.
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Columbus Bishop Watterson wins 2nd straight OHSAA state championship
The Eagles are 30-0 winners to win back-to-back state titles in Division III. They have won 30 straight games.
Carter Bellisari scores for Watterson on pick-six, sending state final into a running clock
Carter Bellisari made a nice leaping interception and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. After the successful PAT, the Eagles lead 30-0 with 6:02 left. The game will enter a running clock.
Watterson football comes up with red zone interception of its own
The sixth interception of Friday’s Division III title game belongs to Watterson, as Nate Henderson picked off a TCC pass in the end zone with 8:27 left in the fourth quarter. Watterson has intercepted two passes, while TCC has four picks. Watterson leads 23-0.
Toledo Central Catholic gets another interception to turn away Watterson near the goal line
Toledo Central Catholic’s Zenaje Liggon intercepted a deflected pass to frustrate another Watterson trip into the end zone. It’s the fourth interception of the game by TCC. Liggon made the grab after All-Ohio teammate Victor Singleton tipped the ball. TCC takes over at its won 12 with 10:44 left in the fourth quarter. TCC is plus-3 in turnover margin for the game, but down 23 points.
Columbus Watterson heads to 4th quarter in command
The Eagles take their 23-0 lead into the fourth quarter as they look to defend their state title.
Bishop Watterson extends its lead on Toledo Central Catholic
Jack McCoy scored his second touchdown of the game, this one 13-yard jaunt up the middle. It’s 23-0 Bishop Watterson with 3:07 left in the third quarter after a missed two-point conversion.
Toledo Central Catholic turns it over on downs
The Fighting Irish got to the Bishop Watterson 47 but turned it over on downs for the second time this game. The Eagles lead 17-0 with 6:42 left in the third quarter.
Bishop Watterson comes out fire, but turns it over deep
Drew Bellisari hit Carter Bellisari on a 46-yard pass to start the second half and it looked like the Eagles were going to put things out of reach.
Jerome Davis saved the day for Toledo Central Catholic with an interception, Drew Bellisari’s third, at the goal line.
It’s 17-0 Watterson with 9:31 left in the third quarter. TCC has the ball on its own 21-yard line.
Halftime statistics from the Bishop Watterson-Toledo Central Catholic
Bishop Watterson leads 17-0. Here’s a look at the numbers:
Bishop Watterson goes up three scores on Toledo Central Catholic
Eli Eagan’s 28-yard field goal with 17 seconds left to give Bishop Watterson a 17-0 lead.
Bishop Watterson takes over just before the break
The Eagles have held Toledo Central Catholic to 65 yards offense. They take over on their own 33 with 1:10 left in the second quarter and hold a 14-0 lead.
Toledo Central Catholic with its second pick of the day
Keyon Robinson sat back in a soft zone and picked off Drew Bellisari to give Toledo Central Catholic the ball on its own 32 with 1:37 left before the break. It’s Bishop Watterson 14-0.
Toledo Central Catholic picks off Drew Bellisari
Fighting Irish cornerback Jerome Davis intercepted Drew Bellisari to give Toledo Central Catholic the ball on its own 13. It’s 14-0 Bishop Watterson with 3:14 left in the first half.
Toledo Central Catholic, Bishop Watterson settle in
Things have started to take shape from a defensive standpoint as the Eagles and Fighting Irish have traded three-and-outs. Bishop Watterson has the ball on its own 28 with 4:45. The Eagles lead 14-0.
Toledo Central Catholic stalls ends on downs
The Fighting Irish pushed into Bishop Watterson territory but stalled on the 37-yard line. The Eagles take over with 8:18 left in the first half and lead 14-0.
Bishop Watterson, Toledo Central Catholic first quarter ends
The Eagles lead 14-0. Bishop Watterson holds a 111-22 edge in offensive yards. The Eagles are averaging 8.1 yards per play.
Bishop Watterson, Toledo Central Catholic defense stands tall again
The Eagles take over on their own 23 after another three-and-out by Toledo Central Catholic. The Fighting Irish returned the favor and got the ball back. It’s 14-0 with 36 seconds left in the first quarter. TCC has the ball on its own 21-yard line.
Watterson takes double-digit lead over Toledo Central Catholic
Drew Bellisari’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Joe Hayes makes it 14-0 with 3:43 left in the first quarter. Bishop Watterson has amassed 117 yards to Toledo Central’s 16 in the first 8:17.
Bishop Watterson’s defense stands tall
The Eagles take over on their own line after a three-and-out by the Fighting Irish. Nate Henderson returned it to the Toledo Central Catholic 31-yard line. It’s 7-0 Watterson with 5:32 left.
Bishop Watterson wastes no time scoring
After stopping Toledo Central Catholic on its first drive, the Eagles drove 90 yards on eight plays with 82 of that coming through the air from Drew Bellisari, who went 3-for-3. Jack McCoy went in from a yard out. It’s Watterson 7, TCC 9 with 6:53 left in the first quarter.
Warren Moon honored before the game
Nine-time Pro Bowler and 1990 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Warren Moon was honored before the game. The 2006 Pro Football Hall of Famer led the NFL in passing yards twice and was the touchdowns leader once.
The rich playoff history of Toledo Central Catholic, Bishop Watterson
This is the 27th playoff appearance and 22nd straight for the Fighting Irish. Central Catholic won titles in 2005, 2012, 2014 and 2022-23. The Irish were runner-up in 2015 and 2024. TCC holds a 63-21 postseason record. … This is the 29th playoff appearance and sixth straight for the Eagles. Watterson won titles in 2002, 2010 and 2024. The Eagles were runner-up in 1972, 1999, 2001 and 2023.
Toledo Central Catholic High School football’s projected starters
Bishop Watterson High School football’s projected starters
How Toledo Central Catholic, Bishop Watterson reached the OHSAA state final
The Irish beat CVCA 21-20 in last week’s state semifinal. They beat Rocky River 57-28 in Week 14, Wapakoneta 41-7 in Week 13, Lexington 49-18 in Week 12 and Ontario 35-0 in Week 11 to win Region 10. … Watterson beat Tippecanoe 41-9 in last week’s state semifinal. The Eagles beat Steubenville 43-0 in Week 14, Dresden Tri-Valley 48-6 in Week 13 and Granville 56-0 in Week 12 to win Region 11. Watterson holds a 59-25 postseason record.
Players to watch for Toledo Central Catholic
Irish RB Jeremiah Fuller (219 carries, 1,528 yards, 28 TDs) leads the ground game with Notre Dame TE pledge Preston Fryzel (33 catches, 976, eight TDs) as the primary receiver for QB Ali Beydoun (129-for-218, 2,092 yards passing, 18 TDs). Northwest District Defensive Player of the Year Victor Singleton, Jr. is committed to Texas A&M. The CB has seven pass breakups, two interceptions, three fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and three defensive touchdowns. Gavin Eckhart (95 tackles, two sacks) and Tim Crowley (84 tackles, 15 for loss, six sacks) are a problem at linebacker. CB Keyon Robinson (95 tackles, interception, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles) is a perfect complement to Singleton.
Players to watch for Bishop Watterson
The Eagles have won 29 straight games behind Central District Offensive Player of the Year QB and Miami (Ohio) commit Drew Bellisari (124-of-200 passing, 2265 yards, 29 touchdowns, four interceptions and 75 carries-658 yards, 11 TDs). His top receiver is his cousin Carter Bellisari (71 catches, 928 yards, 11 TDs). Jack McCoy (141 carries, 910 yards, 16 TDs) and Caden Mangini (74 carries, 584 yards, seven TDs) flourish in the ground game thanks to Iowa State commit Pete Eglitis and Blaise Strasbaugh. … LBs Kaden Jones (98 tackles), Ben Uhlenhake (95 tackles) and Rocco Purcell (51 tackles) and linemen Michael Boyle (96 tackles, 42 for loss, 13 sacks) and Jack Schuler (43 tackles, eight sacks) lead the way on defense. Boyle, who will wrestle for Ohio State, is the Central District Defensive Player of the Year. … The Eagles’ average score this season is 43-7.
Toledo Central Catholic football scores, schedule
Bishop Watterson football scores, schedule
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatoday.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Columbus Watterson football score vs. Toledo Central Catholic recap
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Canton Repository / The Repository
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