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CENTRAL CATHOLIC LEAGUE

Overview

Thin leagues mean difficult schedules

By JARROD ULREY
ThisWeek Staff Writer
As long as the CCL-Silver Divi-
sion is comprised of just three pro-
grams, there might not be a more
important game in terms of winning
the championship than the one
between the DeSales and Watterson
high school football teams.
But in terms of playoff qualifica-
tion, having just three teams means
that every other game on the sched-
ule for DeSales, Watterson and St.
Charles — which hasn’t won a CCL
game since it beat Watterson 10-8 in
2000 — becomes that much more
important.
The Eagles advanced to the post-
season for the eighth consecutive sea-
son and 14th time in 15 years last
season and the Stallions qualified for
the 13th year in a row. The Cardinals
haven’t made it since 2002.
St. Charles inched back into con-
tention a year ago when it finished
7-3 and placed ninth in Division II,
Region 7, but knows it never will have
any easy league games.
In addition to playing defending
City League-North Division cham-
pion Beechcroft (away, Sept. 7), the
Cardinals have added a Bexley team
Inside the division
2006 SILVER STANDINGS 2007 SCHEDULE
Team League Overall Sept. 28
Watterson 2-0 9-4 DeSales at St. Charles
DeSales 1-1 9-4 Oct. 5
St. Charles 0-2 7-3 Watterson at DeSales
2006 GOLD STANDINGS Oct. 19
Team League Overall St. Charles at Watterson
Hartley 1-0 5-5 Oct. 26
Ready 0-1 7-3 Hartley at Ready
of snapping a nine-game losing streak of 10-win seasons snapped at five. In
against against the Eagles. addition to again facing Division I
The Stallions will try to accom- playoff qualifier Westerville South
plish that goal without Bob Jacoby (home, Sept. 7), the Eagles must play
as their coach. During his 19-year defending state champions
tenure, DeSales went 8-14 against Steubenville (away, Sept. 28) and
the Eagles, including three playoff Youngstown Mooney (home, Oct.
losses. 26). The Big Red have won 30 in a
Ryan Wiggins, a former assistant row but are moving to Division IV.
who wasAkron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Mason Takacs is back at quarter-
By Giles Clement/ThisWeek coach last year, took over last Decem- back after passing for more than 1,200
There will be a new look on the DeSales sidelines this season as Ryan ber. His first team faces a schedule yards last season and senior tackle
Wiggins has replaced Bob Jacoby. that includes 2006 playoff qualifiers Matt Grieser also returns to lead the
Toledo St. John’s (home, Aug. 31) offense.
which finished 8-2 last year (away, coach Ted Wierzbicki said. “It’s a and New Albany (home, Sept. 14) in “I don’t think (it changes any-
Aug. 31) and must play last year’s joke trying to find eight non-league addition to the league matchups. thing),” coach Dan Bjelac said of
Division IV state runner-up, Jonathan games. What other league in the state Last year, St. Charles lost to DeSales having a new coach. “It’s
Alder (away, Oct. 12). is like that?” DeSales 35-0 and Watterson 34-0, that it’s Watterson and DeSales that
“The reason for our schedule is DeSales plays Sept. 28 at St. and Watterson beat DeSales 40-34. is the big thing. No matter what, it
because the CCL is a joke with only Charles and then must face Watter- Watterson also has added strength
two (league games),” St. Charles son on Oct. 5 at home with its hopes to its schedule after seeing its string See CCL, page 68

Bishop Watterson
Eagles expecting another deep run in playoffs
By JARROD ULREY
ThisWeek Staff Writer
Watterson High School senior Mason Takacs
isn’t afraid to say it.
Beginning his second season as the starting
quarterback of the football team and one of four
captains, Takacs knows the Eagles are in a much
better position than they were at this point last
season when they returned only two seniors with
Central Ohio High School Football Preview ’07 • August 22, 2007
. . . .
The 6-3, 204-pound Takacs completed 70 of wing-T base offense a year ago and will con- touchdowns and Mahaffey had 22 rushes for
144 passes for 1,285 yards with 15 touchdowns tinue to show the same style, with juniors Jor- 140 yards and two scores. Seniors Kevin Brooks
and six interceptions and rushed 94 times for dan Gelhaus and Kevin Obyc and senior Mau- and Mike Krzan will be the wingbacks.
281 yards with seven touchdowns. rice Zigler expected to be the tailbacks. Obyc Expected to rotate at wide receiver are seniors
The second-team all-district selection has saw some action last year, when Gelhaus was a Ralph Farina, Scott Kabelac, Mark Laird and
received interest from Mid-American Confer- key running back for St. Charles. Alex Vaccaro and juniors John Wallace and Seth
ence schools and is backed up by juniors Chris Seniors John Passen and Michael Mahaffey Willoughby.
Byorth and Pat Nester. and junior Ryan Kiger will be the fullbacks.
The Eagles added a shotgun look to their Passen rushed 51 times for 189 yards and three See WATTERSON, page 51

experience.
With his teammates surrounding him in the
school’s weight room last Monday, he uttered
the team’s ultimate goal — and it’s a lofty one.
“I think we have a really good chance to win
Good Luck
Bishop Watterson
cs 082207 B77894-4

the state championship this year,” said Takacs,

whose team opens Friday at home against a
Willoughby South team that went 7-3 last sea-
son but failed to make the Division II playoffs.
“We’ve had some good teams the past couple Check on your rivals
years, but this is one of our best chances.”
The Eagles aren’t without holes after the loss
Go Eagles Meet the new coach
Good What kind of
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of 30 graduates, including Sam Jacobs, a

season will it be?
See award-winning
ThisWeek Super 25 selection at linebacker who
also was the team’s leading rusher with 816
yards and four touchdowns.
Other losses to graduation were Daryl Dot-
photography
Find up-to-date local
high school scores
Luck! This special sports
ter (792 yards rushing, five touchdowns), and from
Christine Loadman feature will cover all fall
tight end Thomas Kurth (19 catches for 401
Class of 1986 sports in central Ohio.
yards and seven scores). Kurth was first-team Visit us online
all-district along with Jacobs. Michael Gabriel See our Sports Section
was second-team all-district at offensive tackle
for the best August 23 and 30
local high school for in-depth coverage.
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but also is gone.

What the Eagles do have in addition to Takacs sports coverage, 740-888-6000
is a group of running backs who should com- every day. We’re in Your Neighborhood.
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pensate for the losses, one of the area’s top Office: 614-891-0000
linemen in senior tackle Matt Grieser (6-foot- Cell: 614-668-0411
5, 310 pounds) and a linebacking corps with Email: cloadman@columbus.rr.com ThisWeekNews.com ThisWeekNews.com
48 experience.