Coming into Friday night’s regional championship, these two teams have both been battle-tested with two of Cathedral’s losses being by one possession while three of Ben Davis’s wins have been by one possession. 

Right from the get-go, Ben Davis quarterback and Miami (OH) commit Thomas Gotkowski would start to find his five-star wide receiver, Mark Zackery IV on a deep slant to get the chains moving. Gotkowski would continue to impress on the opening drive, finding running back Alijah Price on a wheel route for a third down conversion. 

The Cathedral defense would stand strong, though, and would force a field goal attempt that would end up just left in some heavy winds. 

Despite the impressive defensive efforts, the Irish offense could not take advantage and would wind up punting following a third down fumbled snap. 

On the following Ben Davis drive, Gotkowski would continue to utilize his legs like he did two weeks ago against Brownsburg in the opening round of sectionals. Behind the legs and arm of Gotkowski, the Giants would drive down and once again settle for a field goal which Ben Rudolph was able to drill this time to put his team up 3-0. 

Shortly after the made field goal, Jalen Harris would find the bobbled Cathedral screen pass in his hands and would take it all the way back to the endzone for a pick six. Putting the Giants up 10-0 late in the opening quarter. 

Cathedral would have the ball at the six yard line to start the second quarter, and who other than Colorado quarterback commit Danny O’Neil to scramble out and get his offense room to breathe after consecutive zero yard gains. 

O’Neil and the Irish offense would methodically make their way down the field, utilizing timely Jalen Bonds runs and short flat routes until Bonds was able to find the endzone to cap off the 94 yard, nine minute touchdown drive. 

Ben Davis would get the ball back with just over a minute left, and Gotkowski would end up finding Nate Williams in the back of the endzone to put the Giants up 17-7 with 33 seconds left in the half. 

Following an O’Neil kneel, Cathedral would get the ball to start the half and would go straight to one of the most electric athletes in the state in Devaughn Slaughter as he took the jet sweep 45 yards to get the Irish offense rolling. However, just a couple plays later, Bonds would end up coughing up the football and giving Ben Davis possession at the one yard line. 

Despite linebacker Oscar Kirch’s best efforts, Cathedral is not able to force a safety, but does wind up forcing a quick punt and getting the ball back at the 29 yard line. 

Despite the short field, the Ben Davis defense would stand strong and force a Cathedral field goal to make it 17-10 with 9:23 to play in the third. 

Cathedral would get the ball back on an onside kick attempt, something they did every single kick off against Lawrence North last week. Quickly after the recovery, O’Neil would find Zack Meeks in the flats who would run the rest of the way himself to make it a 17-17 tie with 8:01 left in the third stanza. 

Despite stalling on their next possession, Ben Davis would get a huge interception from Yassine Falkne to take over possession mid way through the quarter; however, a quick four and out would give the ball right back to Cathedral at their own 23 yard line. 

Another three and out by Cathedral would lead to a punt, but this time O’Neil would come up limping as he walked off the field. 

With 2:51 left in the third quarter, Alijah Price would weave through the Irish defense to find the end zone from 48 yards out. Making it a 24-17 Ben Davis lead. 

Despite being banged up, O’Neil would find Keith Long on 3rd and 17 to keep the drive going. Just a few plays later, he found Devaughn Slaughter right near the goal line who would pin the ball on the defenders back and complete the catch right at the one yard line before Long would finish the drive with an end around score. Tying the game up once more at 24 a piece with 10:21 left to play. 

Both teams would exchange punts for most of the final quarter, with O’Neil looking more and more in pain as the game went on. 

Ben Davis would finally be able to put a fourth quarter drive together and would watch as Ben Rudolph iced the game with 2:38 left to play, putting the Giants up 27-24. 

Despite the visible pain from O’Neil, he would continue to leave it all on the field driving his team down and past the 50 yard line. Then, disaster struck for the Irish as consecutive sack and holding plays had them facing a 2nd and 30. Bonds would get a chunk of it, making it 3rd and 10 before O’Neil would plow forward on 4th and 1 with 21 seconds left to get inside the 30 yard line. 

Rather than attempting a 44 yard field goal, the Irish would be called for a false start and elect to throw a lob to the end zone. O’Neil had time to throw, side steps to his left and released it down the seam but Alvin Contreas stayed glued to the receivers hip and would come up with the interception to end the game. 

Overall, this game lived up to every expectation it had. For Cathedral, this heartbreaker drops them to 8-4 on the year, but their talent and gameplay exceeded that win total. Better weather against Bishop Chatard and a few plays against Center Grove and they might have been going into this game with one loss as well. Nonetheless, they graduate an impressive senior class led by O’Neil but playmakers like Slaughter will continue to keep their winning reputation alive. 

Ben Davis moves to 11-1 and will face Center Grove in their third state-championship worthy game en route to a potential trip to Lucas Oil Stadium. They beat Brownsburg to open sectionals, they beat Cathedral Friday night and will now take on Center Grove in a rematch from last season that saw the Trojans bested the Giants 35-34 early in the second week of September. 

Ben Davis is battle tested and squeaked by Warren Central in a 14-0 victory Friday night, call me crazy but I do not think four in a row is in the books for the talented Center Grove squad. 

Game Awards

Impact Play of The Game: Ben Rudolph 4th Quarter Field Goal- there were a lot of impactful plays for Ben Davis Friday night. From Price’s 48 yard touchdown run to Contreas winning the game with his interception. However, Rudolph icing the game from distance is just as impactful as it gets. Plus, talk about performing under pressure- ice cold!

Unit of The Game/Player of The Game: Ben Davis Defense- Coming into this game, Ben Davis was averaging 2.5 takeaways and four sacks per contest. Tonight the talented defense came up with three interceptions, a fumble and at least four sacks against a great quarterback and good Cathedral offensive line. 

This defense gets after it and they play fast and despite some solid offensive performances from Price and Zackery IV, the entire defense is getting my player of the game as well. They made O’Neil feel hurried and flustered all night and hardly any big run plays. I have seen a lot of good defenses this year, but Ben Davis might be the best of them all in the state. 

“[Leading this team] means the world to me, man,” Kent State commit and Ben Davis linebacker Nylan Brown said. “We preach ‘1-0’ in everything we do, we do not see losses as ‘we fail’ we see losses as a place to learn, that is what the ‘L’ is for. You do not get these moments back and I am trying to take it one day at a time.”