Story by
How Chip Trayanum and Darryl Peterson pushed Hoban football to 2023 regional title
- Story by
- How Chip Trayanum and Darryl Peterson pushed Hoban football to 2023 regional title
The names of yesterday's Hoban football greats flew off the tongue with ease.
Tyrell Sutton , Darryl Peterson , Shane Hamm , Chip Trayanum , Lamar Sperling , Matt Salopek , LaTroy Lewis and Damon Ollison II .
Advertisement
When you play football for the Knights, success isn't measured in wins and losses, but by state titles and state championship appearances.
That's why pictures of the above alumni sit all around the school as constant reminders of just what it means to play at One Holy Cross Boulevard.
It's also a big reason why Hoban beat Walsh Jesuit 30-6 on Friday to win the Division II, Region 5 final .
It's the eighth regional title for the Knights (12-1) in the last nine years.
"There are little kids in the stands screaming our names," Knights 16-year-old quarterback Tylan Boykin said. "When I was a little kid in the stands, I remember watching Shane Hamm and all the other greats at home. Those kids watching us play helps us build their confidence so when they come to Hoban they can do the same thing."
Advertisement
Hoban football players inspired by those who played before them
Hoban defensive end Jordan Prichard-Sewell sacks Walsh Jesuit quarterback Keller Moten in a Division II regional final Friday in Akron.
Hamm quarterbacked the Knights to three state titles and went 50-3 as a four-year starter from 2017-2020. Included in that was the last state title for Hoban, which has finished second the last two seasons.
That 2020 is the one this band of Knights remembers the most.
"Coming into Hoban, you know you want to compete for a state championship," 17-year-old linebacker Devin Bell said. "Me coming in and watching that special 2020 class that had Darryl Peterson , Damon Ollison and all those guys, they paved the way for us to prepare for these moments. It makes you want to live for moments like this.
Advertisement
"You go hard every day like those guys did. They were once in our shoes. They progressed as we once did. We want to strive to be better than those guys, so we can play on the big stages like Darryl Peterson, Chip and all those guys. They motivate us."
The numbers for Hoban against Walsh show the Knights are ready
That legacy pushed Caleb Jones to a 113-yard rushing performance on 17 carries against Walsh (12-2).
Boykin was 3-for-6 passing for 74 yards passing but ran for 101 yards and two scores on eight carries.
Add Xavier Williams ' 84-yard, two-touchdown showing on five carries and a 73-yard, 12-carry performance by Brayton Feister . That offense finished with 382 yards rushing on 44 carries.
Advertisement
The Warriors were held to 90 yards on 30 carries and a 10-of-23 passing night with Jones and Tysen Campbell logging interceptions. Bell also had a safety to start the fourth quarter.
"It can be really tough but we have coaches that prepare us," 17-year-old running back Williams said. "If you want to go to the next level, it starts here at Hoban. I feel like we're ready for it. We have state championship pictures of the teams before all around. We have a lot of people we can look up to around Hoban. We want to be one of the best teams Hoban has ever seen."
Thanksgiving begins with a practice in the morning for Hoban football
The Knights will convene the day before the state semifinal once again for practice at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving. It's the eighth time in nine years coach Tim Tyrrell will meet with his team before they eat to their heart's content later with family.
Advertisement
If things go well, those same Knights will join the teams of 2015-18 and 2020 as state champions.
The next step is a state semifinal against Avon. Hoban is 4-0 in the round of four against the Eagles . The Knights count wins over Avon in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021.
"There's always a challenge," Tyrrell said. "A lot of those older guys come back. They're constantly with us in the summer when they have time off. You've got your Chip Trayanum s, your Matt Salopeks and your Darryl Peterson, who came back and spent a week with them.
"They talk to the kids about living up to the challenge of what they built. I think deep down it's a group that takes that challenge of wanting to be known as the best teams."
Advertisement
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hoban football defined by state titles, inspired by ghosts of past
