Warriors find Redemption and a State Title in Canton

In 2017 the Winton Woods football team made it all the way the way to the State Championship game, and the only thing that stood between them and a state championship was Archbishop Hoban.  The Warriors would go on to lose that game 42-14.  Fast forward to 2021 and the two would again meet at Tom Benson Stadium for the right to hoist the Division II State Championship Trophy. The game got off to a rough start for both teams offensively.  The first two drives for Hoban resulted in 22 yards and 2 punts.  Winton Woods would go three and out on their first drive.  On the impending punt KC Spears would have his knee touch the ground while fielding the snap.  This would result in him downing the ball and thus turning it over to Hoban on downs on Winton Wood's own 10 yard line.  The Warriors defense would rise to the occasion though and hold Hoban to a 20 yard field goal by Charlie Durkin.  That lead, however, was short lived as Winton Woods would respond with a scoring drive of 7 plays for 70 yards capped off by a 4 yard Buddy Ellery TD run.  On their next possession they would drive 80 yards on 7 plays that was capped off by a 2 yard TD run by Tyrek Spikes.  With that the Warriors would take a 14-3 lead into the locker room at the half. On the first play of scrimmage in the second half Tyrek Spikes had the ball stripped and would find it's way into the hands of Hoban linebacker Caleb Kepler who would take it 22 yards for the touchdown to cut the lead to 14-10.  As it seemed to play out all evening, just when Winton Woods would encounter adversity they would fight back.  On the very next drive Winton Wood's KC Spears would rip off a big 53 yard TD run that would again advance the lead out to 11 at 21-10.  The lead would stay that way until Lorenzo Hudson would intercept a Jayvian Crable pass that would seal the victory for Winton Woods. Tyrek Spikes lead the way for Winton Woods on offense with 153 yards on 22 caries.  Lamar Sperling led the way for the Knights with 121 on 24 carries.  The running attack told the story of the evening as the Warriors outrushed Archbishop Hoban 288 to 127.  Neither passing attack was able to drum up much success.  Sperling was relatively contained compared to the tear he's been on throughout the playoffs. Hoban Head Coach Tim Tyrell credited the sure tackling of the secondary for Wood's success against Sperling. Winton Woods Head Coach Chad Murphy spoke to the resiliency of his team.  Things started off slow this season for the Warriors as they lost 2 of their first 3 games.  For the coaching staff, Murphy, was in his first year with the Warriors along with a new Offensive Coordinator and a new Defensive Coordinator.  "Sometimes it just takes time," and "the kids rolled with the change" said Murphy. The road to Canton was long, and there was adversity along the way, but in the end the Warriors found a way overcome.  In doing so they take down the mighty Archbishop Hoban Knights and claim their first state championship since 2009.