With a 3-3 start to the regular season, Chardon appeared a long shot to reach the Division III Final Four.
Game photos click here.
With a 3-3 start to the regular season, Chardon appeared a long shot to reach the Division III Final Four.
However, by defeating Youngstown Ursuline 31-14 in the Division III Region 9 regional finals Nov. 17 in Ravenna, the Hilltoppers proved they can never be counted out, and will now vie for a spot in the Division III State Championship game.
Heartbreaking losses to Tiffin Columbian (50-49) in Week 2, Bishop Watterson (14-10) in Week 5 and Kenston (31-21) in Week 6 only fueled the Toppers to become better. Since that time, Chardon has won eight straight games, a running clock in five of them.
As Chardon Head Coach Mitch Hewitt, his coaching staff and players enjoyed the postgame celebration after hoisting the regional championship trophy, they also took time to reflect on just how far this year’s program has come.
“At one point we were 3-3, and I don’t think many people gave us much hope, especially in this region,” Hewitt said. “I’m especially proud of these seniors because we’ve been on a streak and I don’t think we totally peaked yet.”
Senior quarterback Will Francis echoed his coach.
“I’m proud of everyone,” Francis said. “We were 3-3, and everyone was down because we are expected to win. We just kept fighting.
“The season could have taken a different turn. Our leaders stepped up and kept telling guys to keep on pushing to make the playoffs. Once we got in, we made a run.”
For senior linebacker Alexander Ash and senior cornerback/halfback AJ Bruce, the opportunity to play on this same field in the regional finals was a shot at redemption after falling short last year.
“Last year we lost to Canfield on this field, so it’s a good feeling to get this win,” Ash said.
“That loss sat with me all offseason, so this one means a lot,” Bruce said.
Hewitt credited the senior class for this success over the grind of the past 14 weeks.
“Anytime you have over 25 seniors — and not just the numbers but quality kids that do the right things when nobody’s watching — you have a fighting shot,” he said. “It’s a grind; we’re the only sport without a bye week. We’ve played 14 games and two scrimmages, 16 competitive things that takes a toll on these kids’ bodies. The state’s trying to make as much money as they can, like any organization does, and it comes at a cost to the kids.”
Despite being the seven seed and facing the one seed, Chardon was the aggressor and won most of the battles on the line of scrimmage.
The big difference in the game was how Chardon took takeaways and stops on downs and turned them into points.
Twice in the game, the Toppers capitalized on turnovers — a fumble and interception. They also stopped the Fighting Irish multiple times on downs, turning one stop into points as well.
“The game would have been a lot closer without those two turnovers,” Bruce said. “It was important for the us to cash them in.”
Ursuline had no answer for the Hilltopper defense and could not stop its offense on multiple fourth downs.
“We went for some crazy fourth-and-shorts, and that’s the advantage we have, of not being the favorite,” Hewitt said, then added,”although I didn’t feel in this week’s preparation that we were major underdogs.”
After stopping the Irish on their opening possession, Chardon embarked on a methodical drive down the field, which was capped by a five-yard Vinny Colombi touchdown run.
“It was huge,” Francis said. “You punch them in the face, and they probably thought they were going to push us around since they were 13-0.”
Ursuline answered back and tied the game at 7-7 thanks to a five-yard touchdown run by junior running back Joe Balog.
The Chardon defense created the first turnover of the game early in the second quarter when an Irish receiver caught a pass, was hit, and coughed up the ball. Junior Beckett Dotson recovered the fumble, and the Hilltopper offense went to work on a short field from the Ursuline 24 yard line.
About two minutes later with 8:15 left, Colombi, the junior fullback, punched it in from one yard out to give Chardon a 14-7 lead, which the team would never surrender.
“It’s the most important statistic outside of the score,” Hewitt said. “If you win the turnover battle, you win the football game, and we did that tonight.”
With 6:35 to go in the third quarter, junior kicker Sam Sacerich connected on a 28-yard field goal to increase the lead to 17-7.
The Irish responded right back and quickly drove down the field. Just over a minute after Sacerich’s field goal, junior wide receiver DC Ferrell hauled in a 13-yard touchdown reception from senior quarterback Jack Ericson to make it 17-14.
Up by a field goal, the Toppers offense was forced to punt, but the defense did not panic.
“There was never panic,” Ash said. “There are times where you question, but we kept looking forward and stayed positive.”
Momentum had swung back in favor of Ursuline, and it looked like the Irish were marching toward the end zone on their next possession. But Topper positivity prevailed as senior linebacker Austin Green picked off Ericson and returned it to the Irish 42.
Chardon took the momentum back with junior halfback Caleb Hewitt, who took a jet sweep 34 yards around the right side for a touchdown.
“It was a huge pick that set us up for good field position, and we punched it in,” Francis said.
The ensuing Ursuline possession ended in a turnover on downs when senior linebacker Alexander Ash batted down an Ericson pass.
On this drive, defensive coordinator Brian Landies unleashed strategic, unrelenting blitzes that defined the rest of the game.
“It was our heart and our effort,” said senior defensive lineman Maddox Ciancebello. “All week we were practicing against their tempo and got a good look by our scout team. We just went out there and hit harder.”
Once again, the Toppers would create points off the turnover.
Senior halfback AJ Bruce scored on a 13-yard touchdown run to make it 31-14 with 4:25 to play.
As was the case for most of the second half, Ericson was under a tremendous amount of pressure on his team’s final possession and turned the ball over on downs when he was sacked.
While the defense was making life miserable for Ericson, the Chardon offensive line was opening up some big holes.
“The offensive line played another lights-out game,” Bruce said. “Ever since Kenston, they’ve stepped up to the challenge and have done better.”
Watching his athletes enjoy their hard-earned regional title, Hewitt emphasized this is not taken for granted by anyone.
“It’s incredible,” he said. “A public school playing with our own kids; it means a lot to our own community. They were as loud as I’ve heard a Chardon sideline all season long. They came out in the rain, and I’m biased, but we’ve got a pretty great community.”
Now the only thing separating that community from a date with destiny is a David-and-Goliath-style battle with the reigning Division II state champions at Toledo Central Catholic, who were bumped down to Division III this year.
Toledo’s Fighting Irish enter the contest riding a 28-game winning streak. Their last loss came on the opening week of the 2022 season, when they fell to St. Edwards 23-20.
With multiple Division I recruits, TCC has outscored its four playoff opponents by 116 points (165-49).
The Toppers, though, seem undeniably up for it.
“I know we have the insurmountable object looming next week, but I believe in these kids and I wouldn’t bet against them,” Hewitt said.
“They might be a good team, but we just have to do what we do: play physical and play fast,” Ash said. “It’s a brotherhood, so we have to trust each other that things will go in our favor.”
This would begin with a week of practice — including practice on Thanksgiving Day.
Admitted Francis, “I love it. My time is running out on football, so one more week is awesome.”
“They’re probably the best team I’ll face in my career,” Bruce said. “A lot of us know they are the team to beat, the number one team in the state in Division III. We’ll have a great week of practice. We’re not backing down.”
