ADAMS TOWNSHIP — With the exception of a 31-point game against Hamilton Badin, Bishop Fenwick’s defense has been dominant this season.
The Falcons had four shutouts and surrendered just 85 points in 12 games.
“They’re big and strong,” CM coach Dan McSurley said of Fenwick. “They’re a defense very similar to Kettering Alter last year. They’re big, they’re physical.”
Alter dominated Clinton-Massie 35-7 in the Region 14 championship game in 2014.
Fenwick and Clinton-Massie will meet in this year’s Div. IV Region 14 title game 7 p.m. Saturday at Xenia’s Doug Adams Stadium.
Massie has wins over Taft, 70-14, and Indian Hill, 40-34, while Fenwick defeated Badin, 14-7, and Alter, 19-9, in the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Fenwick is 12-0 and the top seed in the region, in addition to earning No. 1 ranking in the final Associated Press statewide Div. IV football poll. As champions of the Greater Catholic League North Division, the Falcons steamrolled opponents each week with few exceptions. Take away a 38-31 win over Badin and a 24-10 win over McNicholas, Fenwick outscored its eight remaining regular season foes 300 to 28.
“It’s important we get off to a real fast start on these guys,” McSurley said. “They’re like we were 4 or 5 or 6 years ago … give it to Jordy Scanlon and say stop us. If you can’t, we’re going to win. If you can, we’re going to struggle.”
Using a Wing-T formation on offense, Fenwick ran the ball 515 times and passed it just 47 times during the regular season.
Nathan Jeffers was the top runner with 820 yards and 14 touchdowns in the regular season. Michael Sheridan was next with 857 yards and 9 touchdowns.
Though they’ve thrown the ball very little, Fenwick has yet to throw an interception. On defense, they’ve forced 13 turnovers by their opponents.
Up front, Sean Sherman (6-3, 265, senior) and John Stomps (6-6, 260, senior) pave the way for the Fenwick ball carriers.
The suffocating Falcons defense is spearheaded by a pair of linebackers — Vince Durham (6-0, 220, senior) and Ben Hinton (6-2, 220, senior). Hinton (10.5 sacks) was the GCL North defensive player of the year.
McSurley also likes Sammy DeBiasi, a 6-2, 200 pound junior linebacker. He has 14 tackles in last week’s win over Alter.
