D6 State Finals: Newark Catholic vs Hopewell-Loudon

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cleveland.com: Everything Cleveland

Hopewell-Loudon vs. Newark Catholic

What, when, where: Division VI state final, 11 a.m., Fawcett Stadium, 1835 Harrison Ave. N.W., Canton. Call 330-458-2084.

Records: Hopewell-Loudon, 14-0; Newark Catholic, 12-2.

What to watch: Despite being the topranked team in the final state poll and qualifying for the playoffs seven times, Hopewell-Loudon has never played in a statechampionship game. Its counterpart, eighth-ranked Newark Catholic, is a 30-time postseason qualifier, five-time state runner-up and seven-time state champion. Hopewell-Loudon will try to continue a balanced offense that?s scored 40.6 points a game, accounted for close to 3,200 yards rushing and almost 2,500 yards passing, and features RB Adam Brickner and 6-5, 184-pound junior QB Tyler Brown. Nate Siebenaller and Lukas Schalk head a receiving corps where four players have 30 or more receptions, while the offensive line, which averages 210 pounds, is anchored by 5-11, 235- pound Anthony Reinhart and 6-0, 218- pound Robbie Oldaker. Its 4-4 defense, which is surrendering 12.8 points a game, didn?t allow a first-half touchdown during the regular season, is stingy against the run and has a plus-25 turnover margin. It is headed by three-year starters Schalk (DB), Oldaker (LB) and Siebenaller (DB), who has a team-high eight interceptions. Newark Catholic has scored 35.7 points a game by thriving on blue-collar, physical, grind-it-out football, and why shouldn?t it? RB Mark Nichols has gained more than 2,750 yards and has found the end zone 41 times, including a 256-yard, two-touchdown outing in a state semifinal win over previously unbeaten and second-ranked Springfield Catholic Central. QB Mark Elwell has passed for close to 1,000 yards behind a line that features 6-2, 255-pound Casey Cunningham and 6-2, 230-pound Clay Harris. Elwell?s primary targets are Tony Weisent, Marcus Baker and Matt Grieb, each of whom have caught at least 20 passes. Its 4-4 defense, headed by two-year starting ends Ryan Lewis and Nick Rhodes, and LBs Nick Brown, Bo Kreager, Grieb and Matt Lott, is giving up 18.5 points a game. The secondary is by committee, where Baker, Nichols, Elwell, Adam Annarino, Jarred Huey or Matt Lewis are all capable of coming up with an interception.

PD pick: Newark Catholic?s size advantage, playoff experience will be deciding factor.

The Columbus Dispatch : Division VI high school football: Newark Catholic players ride wave of traditon into final

Division VI high school football: Newark Catholic players ride wave of traditon into final

Friday, November 30, 2007 4:29 AM
By Mark Znidar

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

It's not required reading for Newark Catholic football players past and present, but Growing Up Green is the unofficial handbook of the tough little program in Licking County that rubs shoulders in the record books with Cleveland St. Ignatius, Cincinnati Moeller and Canton McKinley.

Author Bill Evans recounts his thrills and achievements as a senior playing on the 1985 Green Wave team that went 14-0 and won a state championship.

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