1998 Football
Division-III State Champions
Record: 13-1
Head Coach: Bob Jacoby
Assistants: Chad Williams, Jeff Miller, Doug Antle, Justin Grimm, Mike Carter, Tyler Gantz, Shane Mauger, Jim Lucente, Bill Vasil and Ryan Wiggins
1998 SEASON QUICK FACTS
The Stallions captured the program's third state championship
DeSales became the first team to repeat as state champions since computer points were instituted in determining playoff teams (since 1972)
DeSales won its 5th consecutive CCL title (program record) and 16th overall
The Stallions made their 5th straight playoff appearance
The Stallions finished the regular season as the state's 2nd ranked team in Division-III
DeSales earned the #1 seed in Region 10, Division-III
The defense allowed only 8.8 points per game
The Stallions' defense intercepted 20 passes, led by Aaron O'Reilly, who had the most in Central Ohio with 12
Senior Quarterback Aaron Powell rushed for 1177 yards and 12 touchdowns and threw for 909 yards and 8 touchdownds
Running back David Cook led the Stallions in the regular season with 1,065 yards and 18 touchdowns
Andy McCurdy was 5th in Central Ohio in kick scoring at the end of the regular season (5 FG, 34 PAT)
The Stallions' starting offensive line average weight was 265 pounds
DeSales outscored opponents 258-68 in the first half
The Stallions returned 16 letterwinners from the 1997 state championship team
1998 REGULAR SEASON
(9 - 1)
@ Toledo St. John’s, (W) 22 - 8
Westerville South, (L) 17 - 30
Beechcroft, (W) 44 - 0
Brookhaven, (W) 26 - 8
Dayton Dunbar, (W) 29 - 7
St. Charles, (W) 64 - 14
@ Bishop Watterson, (W) 14 - 3
Kettering Alter, (W) 38 - 14
@ Sandusky, (W) 40 - 15
@ Lima Senior, (W) 35 - 0
1998 POSTSEASON
Division-III Region 10 Semifinal
DeSales (9 - 1) vs. Bellefontaine (7 - 3)
Date: November 14, 1998
Location: Springfield South High School
Result: DeSales 24, Bellefontaine 7
Division-III Region 10 Final
DeSales (10 - 1) vs. Napoleon (8 - 3)
Date: November 21, 1998
Location: Findlay High School
Result: DeSales 49, Napoleon 0
Key Stat:
David Cook and Aaron Powell combined for 350 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns
Division-III State Semifinal
DeSales (11 - 1) vs. Hamilton Badin
Date: November 28, 1998
Location: Xenia High School
Result: DeSales 27, Hamilton Badin 10
Key Stat:
The Stallions jumped out to an early lead, scoring touchdowns on each of their first 3 possessions including a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.
Division-III State Final
DeSales (12 - 1) vs. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit
Date: December 5, 1998
Location: Fawcett Stadium (Canton)
Result: DeSales 21, Walsh Jesuit 14
Key Stat:
It was a tale of two halves for the Stallions, with the offense coming up big in the first 24 minutes, scoring all of their 21 points in the first quarter. The Stallions defense, which gave up 14 points and 238 yards in the first half, did not allow a point and held the Warriors to 61 yards after halftime.
1998 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
First Team All-Ohio
