Central Catholic wins DII football state championship final

11/30/2012
BLADE STAFF
Central Catholic running back Amir Edwards scores a touchdown against Trotwood-Madison during the second quarter during the Division II state football championship at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, Ohio.
Central Catholic running back Amir Edwards scores a touchdown against Trotwood-Madison during the second quarter during the Division II state football championship at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, Ohio.

MASSILLON, Ohio -- The Central Catholic Fighting Irish are state champions.

Behind Amir Edwards' pair of first-half touchdown runs and a lockdown defense, Central bruised to a 16-12 win over Trotwood-Madison in tonight's Division II state title game at Paul Brown Stadium.

Central became the fourth state champion from Toledo since Ohio adopted a playoff system in 1972, joining its Irish predecessors in 2005 and two St. Francis teams.

Edwards ran for a 3-yard score on the first play of the second quarter and delivered again just before the half after the Irish stopped Trotwood-Madison on fourth-and-2 at the Rams 44. Edwards punched in the second touchdown from 7 yards. Central added a safety to push ahead 16-0 in the third quarter.

Trotwood-Madison got on the board with a 13-yard pass from Messiah Deweaver to Ryon Lucas early in the fourth quarter and pulled within four on a touchdown with less than 3 minutes left. But the Irish recovered the ensuing onside kick and, after punting with less than a minute left, stopped the Rams a final time.

3RD QUARTER

Central Catholic is one quarter away from bringing the city of Toledo its fourth high school football state championship.

Amir Edwards' pair of scores and a lockdown defense have lifted the Fighting Irish to 16-0 lead over Trotwood-Madison after three quarters of tonight's Division II state title game at Paul Brown Stadium.

Edwards ran for a 3-yard score on the first play of the second quarter and delivered again just before the half after the Fighting Irish stopped Trotwood-Madison on fourth-and-2 at the Rams 44. Edwards punched in the second touchdown from 7 yards.

Central Catholic added a safety in the third quarter.

HALFTIME

Amir Edwards' pair of touchdown runs have lifted Central Catholic to a 14-0 halftime lead over Trotwood-Madison in today's Division II state championship game at Paul Brown Stadium.

Edwards ran for a 3-yard score on the first play of the second quarter and delivered again just before the half after the Fighting Irish stopped Trotwood-Madison on fourth-and-2 at the Rams 44. Edwards punched it the second touchdown from 7 yards.

1ST QUARTER

Central Catholic and Trotwood-Madison remain scoreless after the first quarter of tonight's Division II state championship game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

The teams traded punts on the first four possessions, though the Fighting Irish were driving at the end of the quarter. Central Catholic faced a third-and-goal at the 3-yard line.