Archbishop Hoban 41, Garfield Heights 7: Trayanum, Dickerson power Knights to Division II, Region 5 Final

HUDSON, Ohio – For one and a half quarters, Garfield Heights had No. 1 ranked Archbishop Hoban on the ropes.

Then, the experience of the defending state football champion Knights – behind an impressive offensive line and running game – found its groove.

Behind 444 yards and six touchdowns on the ground, Archbishop Hoban (12-0) rolled to a 41-7 victory over Garfield Heights in an OHSAA Division II, Region 5 semifinal on Friday. It was the Knights 26^th straight victory and 54^th in their last 57.

Garfield Heights (11-1) raced out to a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter when senior quarterback Marlon Jordan found pay dirt from 24 yards out.

It was all Hoban after that, as the Knights’ offensive line imposed its will, with the running back duo of senior Tyris Dickerson and junior DeaMonte Trayanum being the beneficiaries.

“We knew Garfield Heights was going to give us everything they had,” said Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell. “We just had to stay our course and continue with this weather to play physical football.”

With a little over six minutes to go in the second quarter, Trayanum found a crease and sprinted 39 yards to knot the game at 7.

Four minutes later, he found the end zone again, racing in from 13 yards out and giving the Knights a 14-7 lead going into the break – a lead they would never relinquish.

Then, as the snow began to pick up, so too did the Knights' running game, as they plowed their way to 255 yards rushing on 21 carries after the break. The defense also played its part, holding the Bulldogs' offense to 46 yards on 23 second half plays.

It didn't take long for Hoban to add to its lead in the third, as Trayanum put the game away with two more scores in the span of three minutes – one from 25 yards and another from 63.

“With our running game, we can rely on it anytime we want to,” said Trayanum. “With our great coaching staff and with the great play calls we had, it really set me and Tyris up the whole night... We’re grateful for our line.”

His backfield mate and Eastern Kentucky commit, Dickerson, cemented the game with two fourth-quarter scores of his own - one from 12 and another from 10.

Trayanum provided the finesse, finishing his efficient night with 179 yards on seven carries to go along with his four scores while Dickerson provided the heavy-lifting, adding 186 yards on 23 carries.

“The running game is our forte when it comes to this time of the year and this type of weather,” continued Tyrrell. "We were going to live and die running the football today.”

That they did, and it has them one step closer to yet another state championship.

"We have a lot to work on and it starts with better focus. We can't let people get in our head," said Tyrrell speaking on how his team can improve. "We have to clean up the penalties."

Archbishop Hoban looks to continue its postseason run toward a fourth straight state title next Friday, when it plays No. 2 Maple Heights (12-0) – a 44-14 winner over Riverside – in the Regional championship at a site to be determined by the OHSAA.

Austin Opfer is a freelancer from Lakewood.