TIFFIN, Ohio — Michael Warren continued his assault on the state record book Saturday night, but Toledo Central Catholic’s senior running back never had to work so hard.
Warren rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries as the top-seeded Fighting Irish defended their regional championship with a 19-0 win over No. 6 Lexington in the Division III, Region 10 final at snowy Frost-Kalnow Stadium.
TCC (13-0) will play Trotwood-Madison in the state semifinals next week at a site to be determined. Trotwood defeated St. Marys Memorial 34-27 in the Region 12 final Saturday in Piqua.
The University of Toledo-bound Warren now has 7,601 career rushing yards, fifth in state history. His 105 career touchdowns rank sixth on the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s unofficial list.
“I’ve played against a lot of good defenses in my years in high school and I think Lexington was at the top of my list,” Warren said. “They tackled me in the backfield, which I’m not really used to. Number 8 (Lex’s Cade Stover) did a great job of tackling me by himself. I’ve never been hit like that.
“They were one of the best defenses I’ve played in my high school career.”
Warren gave the Irish a 6-0 lead on the final play of the first quarter, scoring on a 16 yard run on fourth-and-one. The scamper capped a 12-play, 82-yard drive.
“He’s the kind of kid you’re going to watch play for a while,” Lex coach Taylor Gerhardt said. “He’s as good as advertised.”
Lexington (9-4) had a chance to cut into TCC’s lead late in the second quarter, but Ian Moore’s 33 yard field goal attempt in near white out conditions sailed wide left.
As conditions continued to deteriorate in the second half, the Minutemen couldn’t get anything going against a rugged Irish defense.
“If you can’t get the ball moving on offense, it’s tough,” Gerhardt said. “Their defense is a dog-gone good defense.”
Back Breaker: Central Catholic was clinging to a precarious 6-0 lead late in the third quarter when punt returner Jase Bowen delivered the knockout blow. The sophomore fielded an A.J. Nickoli punt at his own 20 yard line and weaved his way 80 yards for the score and a 12-0 lead.
“We usually like to directional punt to the corners,” Gerhardt said. “They had a nice rush and in that case our punter is taught just to get it off. The kid made a nice play.”
No Quit: The outcome was no longer in doubt, but Lexington’s defense came up with one final stand with less than a minute to play in the fourth quarter. TCC running back Devon Rivers was stopped short of the end zone on fourth-and-goal.
“Our guys are hurting right now, but as you saw they won’t give up,” Gerhardt said. “These seniors are probably the most special group of boys that I’ve been around and that’s saying something. I’m proud of them.”
