Gahanna Lincoln to face defending champion Lakewood St. Edward in OHSAA state semifinal
Embracing its stiffest challenges has served Gahanna Lincoln well all season.
The Lions' toughest competition to date, at least on paper, comes this week when they make their first appearance in a Division I state semifinal since 1982 and their third overall at that level.
On Nov. 25 at Arlin Field in Mansfield, Gahanna will represent Region 3 against defending state champion Lakewood St. Edward, which won the Region 1 title, in a matchup of teams that are 13-1.
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The winner faces Cincinnati Moeller or Springfield for the championship at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Along the way, Gahanna has had to adjust to not having a home game at its school since Week 2 − because of a construction project − while beating two of central Ohio's top teams, New Albany and Pickerington Central, during both the regular season and in the playoffs.
'We’ve faced adversity all the time and we love it'
The Lions are on an 11-game winning streak.
“We’ve faced adversity all the time and we love it,” junior defensive lineman Elijah King said. “We love being doubted. We love being the underdog. It drives us to be better.”
The only other time Gahanna and St. Edward have met was in 1976, when the Lions won 28-0 in a state semifinal before losing to Moeller 43-5 for the championship in Class AAA.
In the Lions’ other state appearance, they lost 38-0 to Moeller in a 1982 semifinal.
St. Edward was the No. 1 seed in Region 1, defeating third-seeded Mentor 27-0 last week for the regional title. Last season, the Eagles beat Upper Arlington 16-10 in a state semifinal at Arlin Field and defeated Springfield 23-13 for their fifth state championship.
Gahanna, which was Region 3's top seed, beat New Albany 25-17 on Nov. 18 at Historic Crew Stadium to capture the regional title.
It gave the Lions a sweep over their OCC-Ohio Division rivals, after also beating the Eagles 38-24 in Week 7, and set a single-season program record for wins.
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Pickerington Central had won five consecutive Region 3 titles before UA won it last year.
“We’re glad to add our name,” Gahanna coach Bruce Ward said. “There’s a lot of good football teams in central Ohio, and to come out of Region 3 is a tough task. New Albany is a good team. They’re tough. Our defense got it in gear. They’ve been stout all year and that’s what we lean on. We got the job done.”
As was the case when they had two touchdowns go for more than 50 yards during a 38-14 win over Pickerington Central in a regional semifinal Nov. 11, the Lions used big plays to seize control against New Albany.
Junior running back Diore Hubbard, who finished with 152 yards rushing and has 2,295 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season, ran for a 57-yard first-quarter score. Sophomore quarterback Brennen Ward threw for two touchdowns, including a 64-yarder to senior wide receiver Makai Shahid in the second quarter.
Shahid returned a kickoff 84 yards for Gahanna’s final score.
“Offense, defense, special teams, that's what regional championships are about,” coach Ward said. “Makai is a heck of an athlete and a heck of a player.”
'Right now is our time to shine'
St. Edward’s only loss was 31-28 on Sept. 16 at Massillon Washington, which is in a Division II state semifinal.
Since that game, the Eagles have won nine in a row, with their closest victory being 6-0 over Moeller in Week 9.
Junior quarterback Casey Bullock rushed for 90 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries and completed 14 of 18 passes for 185 yards and one score against Mentor.
Senior running back Marvin Bell, who ran for 126 yards and two touchdowns on 26 attempts against Mentor, was first-team all-Northeast Lakes District along with juniors Kyan Mason (WR/DB) and Ben Roebuck (OL).
Senior linebacker Wyatt Gedeon was the district’s Defensive Player of the Year and was joined on the first team by senior lineman Michael Kilbane and senior punter Ben Lavelle.
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Coach Tom Lombardo was named district Coach of the Year.
Kilbane is a Northwestern recruit and Gedeon has committed to Coastal Carolina. Junior offensive lineman Devontae Armstrong has 17 offers, Roebuck has 20 offers and Mason has seven offers.
Helping to lead Gahanna's defense are senior lineman Kamari Burns and senior linebacker Jaden Yates, who have committed to Cincinnati and Marshall, respectively. The Lions allow an average of 11.6 points per game.
“Right now is our time to shine,” King said. “The class of (2023) came together, and with all these seniors, I’m really glad we did it and that we are really top tier.”
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Gahanna to meet St. Edward in Ohio high school football playoffs
