On Friday, August 23, the Hoban Knights football team suffered a 28-14 defeat against the Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers, marking the Knights’ first season-opening loss in seven years.
Hoban’s defense is widely considered one of the best in Ohio, led by seniors Tanner Mintz, Nicholas Crawford, Ohio State commit Elijah Lee, and Eastern Michigan commit Tylan Boykin. Junior defensive backs Elbert Hill and Antonio Williams round out the stacked defensive unit. Despite this impressive squad, the Knights’ defense struggled early, allowing all 28 points in the first half. Archbishop Spalding’s offense was propelled by wide receiver Miles McAfee, who caught three of the Cavaliers’ four touchdowns. McAfee finished with seven receptions for 114 yards.
The Knights’ defense wasn’t the only aspect that seemed off in the first half. The Hoban student section was noticeably quieter than usual, a stark contrast to the usual roar from the home bleachers.
Senior Super Fan Brian Bulgrin pointed to the large freshman class as the cause, saying, “While the senior class did a good job leading chants, the freshmen were so high up in the student section that they couldn’t hear what was going on below.”
Due to the slow start and lack of school spirit, the Knights’ offense managed only one score, and none in the second half. However, Hoban’s defense returned to form after halftime, allowing only 35 passing yards in the second half.
Following the disappointing loss, the Knights had to reset their mindset. Senior Toledo commit Tayten Crable reflected on the game, stating, “We really just weren’t there mentally… it was a reality check that we needed, but we’d rather take that loss in Week 1 than Week 16.”
The second game against Don Bosco Prep saw a much stronger start. The Ironmen’s opening drive looked promising, but Crawford made a key sack that forced a fourth-down stop.
Hoban’s defense dominated throughout the first half, forcing three interceptions and holding opposing quarterback Deven Sisler to just 85 passing yards. On offense, sophomore running back Brayton Feister found his rhythm, rushing for 69 yards on eight carries and scoring two touchdowns.
In the second half, the Knights continued to shine. Feister finished with 125 yards and added a third touchdown, though an 80-yard touchdown run was called back due to a penalty early in the fourth quarter. The Ironmen were completely stifled by the Hoban defense, failing to score in the second half.
Although the Knights’ season began with a tough loss, they quickly recovered with a decisive win. This week, they face St. Ignatius and look to improve their record to 4-1. Be sure to get out there and cheer them on to victory!
