Archbishop Hoban eliminates Avon again after comeback semifinal win: Live updates recap
Archbishop Hoban and Avon played a classic smash-mouth game Friday night at Parma Byers Field at Robert Boulton Stadium, but the Knights once again came out on top.
Hoban (13-1) took over on the ground in the fourth quarter to grind out a 17-14 win over Avon (14-1).
Caleb Jones' 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter held up as the winning score.
Avon's biggest lead was 14-3 in the third quarter after a 6-yard Jakorion Caffey touchdown run.
The Knights will advance to the Division II Ohio high school football state championship game against Massillon next week.
Read below for our live-updates recap from Hoban's state semifinal win over Avon.
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FINAL: Archbishop Hoban 17, Avon 14
FOURTH QUARTER UPDATES
FIELD GOAL NO GOOD! 43-yard kick is short and Hoban will go into victory formation with five seconds left.
Three first-down catches by Grant Barr and a defensive holding by Hoban and Avon is on the Hoban 26 with 43 seconds left.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Avon stops Hoban with 1:59 left and will try to tie or win. They have it on their own 25 trailing 17-14.
Hoban's killing the clock on this drive with its power run game, but a big third and 10 is coming from the Avon 23 with 2:49 left.
Avon gets a couple of first downs but has to punt. Hoban ball on its own 19 with 7:48 left, leading 17-14.
TOUCHDOWN HOBAN! Caleb Jones plunges in from 2 yards out and Hoban has its first lead of the game. It's 17-14 Knights with 10:17 left.
INTERCEPTION! Trick play goes awry and Hoban has it back on the Avon 35. Matt Maxey threw the pick to Elbert Hill.
THIRD QUARTER UPDATES
What a play by Avon. QB Blake Elder walks toward his coach, and then Jakorion Caffey takes the direct snap and converts on fourth and 1. And that ends the quarter with Avon leading 14-10 with the ball and a first down.
TOUCHDOWN HOBAN! Xavier Williams busts out an incredible 39-yard run to get the Knights back in the game. It's 14-10 Avon with 2:18 left, and the Knights kicking from deep after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Tysen Campbell with a nice punt return and Hoban has it again in good field position, at its own 42 with 3:53 left.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Hoban punter drops the snap, then tries to run for the first down and fails. Avon ball on its own 48 with 5:21 left, leading 14-3.
TOUCHDOWN AVON! Jakorion Caffey runs in from 6 yards out after gaining 66 on the previous play. Avon extends its lead to 14-3.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Avon trips up Brayton Feister just short of the line on fourth down and takes over on its own 32 with 9:26 left.
ONSIDE KICK! But Hoban recovers and will start in great field position on its own 47.
Second half is about to begin! Avon will kick to Hoban leading 7-3.
SECOND QUARTER UPDATES
FIELD GOAL HOBAN! Jeremy Hammel nails a 24-yard kick as time expires, and Avon heads to the half leading 7-3. Hoban will get the ball to start the second half.
Pass interference on fourth down gives Hoban a first at the Avon 13 with 26 seconds left.
Lots of mistakes in this one. A long Jakorion Caffey run gets nullified by a holding penalty and then a bad snap drives Avon way back. Avon will punt from its own 10 with 1:44 left in the half, leading 7-0.
Hoban gets a couple of big plays from Brayton Feister and Jackson Callaway, but penalties and a sack stop the drive and force a punt. Avon ball at its own 24 with 3:55 left, leading 7-0.
TURNOVER ON DOWNS! Hoban drives Avon backward and takes over on its own 31 after holding on fourth down. 7-0 Avon, 7:14 left.
INTERCEPTION! Connor Rowlison with a leaping pick deep in Hoban territory. Illegal block on the return sets Avon back a bit, but still great field position at the Hoban 26, 7:30 left.
And then a miscue on the kickoff return and Hoban starts on its own 6.
TOUCHDOWN AVON! Matt Maxey owns that drive and ends it with an 18-yard touchdown catch. Avon leads 7-0 with 8:26 left.
Hoban has to punt and it's Avon ball on its own 36 with 11:19 left, 0-0.
FIRST QUARTER UPDATES
No score after one quarter. Hoban will have it third and 3 from its own 21 to start the second quarter.
Avon moves the ball well but stalls just outside the Hoban 40. They punt and Hoban has it on its own 14 with 1:04 left in the quarter.
FIELD GOAL NO GOOD! After a false start penalty forces a fourth and 6, Hoban's 28-yard field goal attempt sails wide. Avon ball 0-0 with 6:32 left.
Quick three-and-out to start the game. Hoban gets its first drive on its own 39, 10:40 left.
We've kicked off! Avon starts at its own 25.
PREGAME READING
Both teams are coming off impressive wins in the quarterfinals.
Hoban routed Walsh Jesuit last week, while Avon knocked out Medina Highland 28-14.
Hoban and Avon met in the state semifinals in 2021 and played a game that went down to the wire, but Hoban won 31-24 on a late touchdown from Lamar Sperling.
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(Feature photo by Mike Cook)
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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports
