St. Ignatius bags 10th title for record

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CANTON — Andrew Holland passed for 208 yards and three touchdowns to lead Cleveland St. Ignatius to an Ohio record 10th state championship, 28-20, over Cincinnati Elder in Division I on Saturday night.

Holland found Connor Ryan for two TDs and started the scoring with a 21-yarder to Brendan Carozzoni at Fawcett Stadium. That helped the Wildcats (14-1) to their first title since 2001 — in a record 21st consecutive appearance in the playoffs.

They overcame a record-setting performance by Elder’s (13-1) Mark Miller, who went 28-for-51 for 401 yards and three TDs.

St. Ignatius bolted to a 21-0 lead with 8:56 left in the first half.

The Wildcats went 80 yards for their first TD, capped by Carozzoni’s catch.

The tight end went up between two defenders for the grab at the 5, then bulled into the end zone.

First team All-Ohio linebacker Scott McVey stopped Elder with an interception and Holland directed a 10-play, 76-yard drive.

He connected with Ryan from 21 yards for a 14-0 lead two plays after overthrowing him on the same route.

Aurora 21, Columbus Eastmoor 10

CANTON — Brendan Gallagher passed for 120 yards and two touchdowns to lead Aurora to its first state championship, in the Div. III final.

Gallagher went 7-for-15 for the Greenmen (13-2), who won their last 12 games after a 1-2 start.

Eastmoor (13-2) had outscored opponents 617-97 in its 13 wins, including four straight midseason victories. The Warriors outgained Aurora in total yards, 297-191, but could not match Aurora’s 21-point second quarter that came on a combination of ball-hawking defense and opportunistic offense.