Ursuline, Hartley, Maple Heights, Bishop Watterson win Ohio football titles

Ursuline (Youngstown) won its third consecutive Division V state championship last Saturday by doing what it had done all season — by attacking opponents with large doses of senior running back Akise Teague.

During a 51-21 victory over Coldwater in Canton Fawcett Stadium, Teague finished with 249 yards on 19 rushes, 94 yards receiving, 42 yards in kickoff returns and a 20-yard punt return. His five touchdowns broke a Division V championship game record and tied an all-divisions record for the Fighting Irish, who finished 15-0.

"One of the keys to winning this game was stopping the long, long touchdown runs," Coldwater coach Chip Otten, whose team allowed five touchdowns of at least 42 yards including four by Teague, told the Youngstown Vindicator. "Unfortunately we didn't do that. There was something about that kid. He's hard to take down."

All of Ursuline's opponents would agree with that assessment.



The senior was a runaway choice by a statewide media panel last week to be named the 24th winner of AP's Ohio Mr. Football.

Teague scored 48 touchdowns this season. During the regular season, he rushed for 1,756 yards and 26 touchdowns, had 25 catches for 545 yards and five scores and returned 10 kickoffs for 328 yards and an additional touchdown. He also added five interceptions while playing defense.

Standing at just 5-foot-8, 176 pounds, Teague has offers from Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Ohio, Toledo, Wisconsin and Youngstown State.

Ursuline (Youngstown) won 53 games over the past four seasons. Coldwater finished with an 11-4 record and settled for a state runner-up finish for the second consecutive season.

The Fighting Irish joined St. John's (Delphos), St. Ignatius (Cleveland), Newark Catholic, Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) and Versailles as the only schools from Ohio to win three consecutive titles.

HARTLEY DOMINATES CHAGRIN FALLS
Bishop Hartley (Columbus) was nearly as impressive as Ursuline in winning its first Division IV state championship since 1986 last Friday in Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.



The Hawks had more fourth-down conversion attempts (five) than punts (four) and were successful each time on the way to a 34-13 victory. They also had an onside kick in the fourth quarter that they recovered to help seal the win.

Senior running back Noah Key, who was the state Player of the Year in Division IV and rushed for 2,755 yards and 40 touchdowns this season, finished with 138 yards and two scores on 24 carries.

The Hawks built a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter on the way to finishing with a 13-2 record. Chagrin Falls, which also was the state runner-up last year, also closed at 13-2.

MAPLE HEIGHTS OUTLASTS RAMS
Featuring a standout performance from senior quarterback Shaquille Washington, Maple Heights beat Trotwood-Madison 45-33 to capture the Division II state title last Friday in Massillon.

Washington finished 11-for-19 passing for 216 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 174 yards and four scores for the Mustangs, who piled up 406 yards of offense.

Maple Heights, which overcame a 20-7 first-quarter deficit, was the only public school in Ohio to win a state title last weekend.



WATTERSON HOLDS OFF BUCHTEL
Bishop Watterson (Columbus) beat Buchtel (Akron) 13-12 to earn the Division III state championship last Saturday in Massillon.

Despite committing six turnovers, the Eagles scored the game-winning touchdown on a 3-yard run by Ray Cook early in the fourth quarter and then made several key defensive stops during the Griffins' final two drives.

Buchtel did not attempt an extra point on either of its touchdowns and failed to convert on both of its 2-point attempts. Bishop Watterson (Columbus) kicker Tim Carter had one extra point blocked but was successful after Cook's touchdown.

The Eagles finished with a 13-1 record. The Griffins finished 11-4.

TOP PERFORMERS
* Jordan Leininger, St. John's (Delphos) football: St. John's blasted Shadyside 77-6 in the Division VI state championship game last Friday in Canton as quarterback Jordan Leininger led the way. He finished 7-for-10 passing for 136 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 101 yards and two additional scores.

* Kevin Burke, St. Edward football: On the way to beating Wayne (Huber Heights) 35-28 to win the Division I state championship last Saturday in Canton, St. Edward (Lakewood) got a standout performance from quarterback Kevin Burke. A 5-11, 175-pound senior, Burke finished 9-for-13 passing for 89 yards and one touchdown and rushed for 130 yards and one score.

RECRUITING NEWS
Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls) senior punter Drew Kaser received a scholarship offer last week to play for Central Michigan, according to ScoutingOhio.com. Kaser also has been offered by Illinois. … St. Francis DeSales (Columbus) senior defensive back Evan Kendrick has been offered an appointment to play for Navy. Kendrick also has been offered by Illinois State.

BRIEFLY
Worthington Christian will be adding football as a varsity sport in 2014. The Warriors have won two state boys soccer championships since 2006 and have competed at the state tournament nine times since 2000.



Jarrod Ulrey covers Central and Northern Ohio for MaxPreps.com. He covers prep sports for ThisWeekSPORTS.com and can be reached at julrey@thisweeknews.com.