CLEVELAND, Ohio — Archbishop Spalding quarterback Malik Washington had a strong first half as the Cavaliers defeated Archbishop Hoban 28-14 at Dowd Field in Akron. Spalding is the two-time defending Maryland Class A champion.
Hoban, which reached the OHSAA Division II state finals last season, was ranked No. 1 on cleveland.com’s preseason top 25 list. In the last nine years under head coach Tim Tyrrell, the Knights have made it to Canton eight times and won five state championships. They have lost in the state championship game the last three seasons.
Washington, a freshman from the University of Maryland, ran for a touchdown and threw three touchdown passes to Myles McAfee in the first half. McAfee caught seven passes for 114 yards, scores of 20, 22 and 16 yards. The Hoban defense held Washington to just 35 passing yards in the second half.
Tyler Boykin, the Knights’ starting quarterback last season, was moved to wide receiver, but Boykin got his team on the scoreboard in the first quarter, throwing a lateral and a 12-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Callaway.
Hoban’s defense held on fourth down and goal at the 1-yard line with 3:15 minutes left in the third quarter.
Knights quarterback Ethan Ronsandich scored with a 1-yard run with 6:36 minutes left to make it 28-14. It was the only goal of the second half.
Hoban will host Don Bosco Prep from New Jersey on August 30th.
