CLEVELAND, Ohio — Shaq Washington admits he did not expect this.
Not when he took the job at Maple Heights.
His Mustangs are undefeated entering Friday’s OHSAA Division II, Region 5 football championship in Twinsburg vs. powerhouse Archbishop Hoban. He knows what is ahead of Maple (12-0), a tall task in the form of the defending state champions — three-time champs, if you count there two D-III state titles.
“I knew coming into the season,” Washington said Sunday night, “I had two things in mind: take care of nonconference and win the LEL.”
Maple did that, dominating its nonleague schedule and winning the Lake Erie League. One of the area’s most explosive offenses, averaging 42.9 points, now faces one of the most powerful teams.
Washington's Mustangs advanced to this point by taking down Riverside, 44-14, behind senior quarterback Devin Dial's 400 yards passing and four touchdowns. Like he has all season, he utilized four standout receivers — a luxury even Hoban might not be able to match — with seniors Bernard Bates, De'Von Fox, Antoine Holloway II and Dante Abrams Jr.
Fox, a Kent State recruit, took 10 receptions for 197 yards vs. Riverside. Bates added 133 yards and three TDs, while Antoine Holloway II added another 70 yards on five receptions.
To Washington, they make for more potent offense than even the one he led in 2010 during Maple’s state championship run. In seven regular-season games that year, Washington threw for 1,243 yards and 14 touchdowns to one interception. He ran 60 times for 487 yards and six TDs.
Dial threw for 2,707 yards and 38 TDs to three interceptions — plus 385 yards rushing — in 10 regular-season games.
“To me,” Washington said, “it reminds me of that state championship team we had. To me, it’s more dynamic because we have more of a passing attack. I think this team has better skill position players.”
That is coming from the University of Cincinnati’s all-time receptions leader.
“The things I teach these receivers is stuff I learned in college,” Washington said. “They have it in their tool box now.”
The coach knows they will need every tool to survive Hoban. The Knights just tore through one of the area's best defenses in Garfield Heights, 41-7.
Fittingly, they advanced to one of the top offenses.
For more on Hoban, check out some of the weekend’s top performers below. Here is a rundown of the regional playoffs, leading up to this weekend’s championship games.
RELATED: OHSAA regional final sites are set.
Avon 35, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne 28: The defending Division II, Region 6 champions kept their repeat hopes alive.
Avon scored 21 unanswered points to close the third quarter and into the fourth and gave Anthony Wayne its only loss on the season.
The Eagles (11-1) advance to next week’s regional final vs. unbeaten Toledo Central Catholic, which cruised to a 56-16 win vs. Avon Lake. That leaves Avon as the only Southwestern Conference team still playing, and it leaned on seniors Ryan Maloy and Mark Steinmetz at Clyde’s Robert J. Bishop Stadium.
Maloy, the dual-threat quarterback, scored three touchdowns and ran 20 times for 158 yards. Steinmetz, the standout middle linebacker who doubles as a physical running back, chugged his way on a 51-yard TD run with 1 minute, 35 seconds left for the winning score.
Jordan Castleberry, St. Edward: Castleberry missed the second half last week vs. St. Ignatius. His fresh legs carried him and the Eagles on Friday for their 56-35 win vs. Euclid at Byers Field.
Castleberry scored three times and finished with 306 total yards. He ran 26 times for 196 yards and turned three receptions into another 110 yards. He opened early with a 90-yard swing pass from quarterback Garrett Dzuro that set the tone for what became a shootout.
Jacob Allen, Perry: The Pirates went down swinging in Niles, and they carried a big club in the form of Allen.
Perry scored on its first three offensive plays, including two quick strikes to the 6-foot, 220-pound receiver. Allen finished his career with 130 yards on just four receptions and two touchdowns, as Perry dropped a 42-33 heartbreaker to fifth-seeded Girard.
As the season settles for Perry (10-2), which had Division IV state championship hopes, this game might be remembered for a last-minute change of location. Scheduled to be played at Ashtabula Lakeside, the OHSAA moved it to Niles about five hours before kickoff.
About 8 inches of snow hit Ashtabula, which forced the move. As a result, a regional site that could have favored top-seeded Perry ended up being a detriment. Perry had to drive 60-plus miles to Niles, which is only a 5-mile trip for Girard.
C.J. Charleston, Gilmour: A fabulous senior season for Charleston, the Lancers' receiver-turned-running back, ended Saturday in a 50-43 triple overtime loss to Orrville.
Charleston rushed 27 times for 232 yards and three touchdowns. He finishes a historic senior season with 2,584 yards and 51 TDs.
And he is not done.
Charleston is a standout point guard on Gilmour’s basketball team and state track-and-field champion in the long jump and 4x100 relay.
Tyris Dickerson and DeaMonte Trayanum, Archbishop Hoban: Maybe this should go to Hoban's offensive line.
No team did what the Knights accomplished against Garfield Heights, rushing for 444 yards and six touchdowns in their 41-7 Division II, Region 5 win. Trayanum rushed eight times for 179 yards and four TDs. Dickerson added 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,” coach Tim Tyrrell said. “We were going to live and die running the football.”
Hunter Foster and Ethan Wright, Manchester: The junior duo combined for 403 yards and eight TDs in the Panthers' 56-14 Division V win vs. Leavittsburg LaBrae.
Foster rushed for 207 yards and four TDs. Wright had 196 yards and four more scores.
Manchester will face Orrville on Saturday for a regional championship. The Panthers won their regular-season meeting in Week 9, 67-31.
Ian Kipp, Mentor: It's safe to say the sophomore quarterback has his legs back under him — and they are fresh, too — leading up to this week's regional final showdown with St. Edward.
Kipp ran just eight times for 113 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals' 36-6 win Friday vs. Canton McKinley. He missed the last three games of the regular-season because of injury. In his second game back, he thought he should have had one more touchdown and falling short on a 48-yard run.
“I think I’m eating too much,” he said afterward.
Kirtland's defense: This is getting ridiculous.
The Hornets still have yet to give up more than seven points in any game this season. They secured their seventh shutout Friday in a 35-0 win vs Creston Norwayne, a team that won 10 straight games and averaged 41.2 points in its first 11 games.
Kirtland (12-0) allowed just 26 yards rushing and 124 total yards in its Division VI victory.
Kenston: The Bombers (11-1) ended Buckeye's 10-game win streak with a 40-21 victory Friday in Bedford.
Kenston jumped out to a 26-7 lead by halftime, led by the junior trio of quarterback Jon Tomcufcik (195 yards passing), running back Jack Porter (129 yards rushing) and receiver Tyler Mintz (two TD receptions).
“These guys have been the backbone of our offense,” said coach Jeff Grubich, who has one of the area’s most prolific machines on that side of the ball.
They could be in the middle of a powerful two-year run, but the Bombers’ sights are now set on top-seeded Canfield (11-1). The Cardinals just beat Akron East, 30-7.
Elyria is the first program looking for a new coach following the season.
The Pioneers parted with second-year coach Sean Arno following an 0-10 season and just one win during his stint. That came last year against Shaker Heights.
The Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reported that Arno's contract will not be renewed and that the job will be posted this week on the district's website, elyriaschools.org.
Elyria athletic director Heather Beck told the Chronicle-Telegram that she anticipates beginning interviews for the post in early December.
Get updated playoff brackets below for each region:
Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email ([email protected]). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.
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