Treyton Schroder pulls down one of two interceptions on the night as the Orange defense manhandled St. Edward to advance to the Division I title games in Canton. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Scott Reed)
Levi Davis and Lucas Fickel scored two touchdowns each to pace the offense, while Treyton Schroeder and Kingston Johnson made two interceptions each as Orange will take a 14-0 record into its first state title game Friday.
Mansfield, OH – For years on end, Arlin Field was the place Central Ohio’s top Division I football teams were laid to rest. More often than not, it was because their state semifinal opponent was mighty Lakewood St. Edward.
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Apparently, that infamous reputation is no longer.
“We didn’t care that their name was Lakewood St. Edward,” second-year Olentangy Orange coach Wes Schroeder said with a tone of defiance after his Pioneers whipped the seven-time state champions 28-0 Friday before a chilled and somewhat stunned crowd.
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That Orange (14-0) won perhaps wasn’t such a big surprise, but the dominant fashion it did so certainly was.
“We know they’re a prestigious program and all, but we weren’t too spooked by looking at that name,” Pioneers senior quarterback Levi Davis said. “We’ve achieved our share of success against a lot of great names, not only in football but basketball as well. I’ve said it all along: This group has a lot of love for each other and we’re extremely focused.”
Orange will meet Cincinnati St. Xavier (11-2) – a 21-6 winner over Middleton in the other semifinal – at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at Canton.
Coincidentally, Orange’s sister school, Olentangy Liberty, knocked off St. Edward 21-7 in last year’s semifinal on the way to capturing its first state title.
This matchup was all Orange, right from the get-go.
On the game’s opening series, St. Edward opted to go for it on fourth-and-1 at its own 43, and safety Zane Konczak stuffed Eagles record-setting running back Brandon White for no gain.
Kingston Johnson wraps up Brandon White during the Pioneers’ shutout of historic powerhouse St. Edward.
Two plays later, Davis raced 44 yards to the end zone on a designed draw for an Orange TD.
“That meant everything as far as the momentum,” Davis said.
Senior defensive back Treyton Schroeder added, “That’s about the most excited I’ve ever been. Our crowd was really into it and we rode that momentum the rest of the night.”
The Pioneers’ outstanding but somewhat underrated defense was lights-out all night long.
On the ensuing series, Schroeder (the coach’s nephew) intercepted a long pass by Eagles quarterback Jonny Evanchick.
Despite outgaining St. Edward 149-65 and allowing the Eagles just three first downs, Orange took a tenuous 7-0 lead to halftime.
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“Our big focus was shutting down No. 2 (White), “Wes Schroeder said. “Going into the game, we felt if we stopped him we had a chance to beat them.”
White, a Kent State commit who came in with 1,822 yards rushing, 249 yards receiving and 26 total touchdowns, wound up with 50 hard-earned yards on 21 carries – much of it when the outcome was already well out of hand. The program’s all-time leading rusher despite missing much of 2024, White was instrumental in powering St. Edward to state championships in 2022 and 2023.
Orange head coach Wes Schroder celebrates with defensive coordinator Bobby Roth after his squad’s first regional title.
Sparked by Konczak’s 38-yard kickoff return, Orange came out of the locker room smoking. The Pioneers needed just eight plays before running back Lucas Fickel scored on a 10-yard TD run.
Later in the third quarter, Aden Scott scooped up a fumbled reception by Noah Ratchford and returned it 32 yards deep into Eagles territory. Davis promptly scored on a 15-yard keeper to make it 21-0.
A second interception by Schroeder – his second of the game, eighth of the season and program-record 23rd of his career – put Orange in business again. Fickel’s 16-yard TD with 8:42 left sent many of St. Edward’s fans scurrying for the exits.
This marked the first time since 2008 that St. Edward, who came in scoring 37.4 points per game, was shut out in a postseason game.
“Our kids are just resilient,” Wes Schroeder said. “We just kept our foot on the pedal right to the end. Some people have disrespected our defense. That unit has been solid all year long, and tonight they were very opportunistic.”
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Orange forced five turnovers with Schroeder and Kingston Johnson grabbing two interceptions each.
“They had a big size advantage on us up front, but we used our quickness to try to get to them off the edge,” Johnson said. “Our biggest was keeping No. 2 (White) and No. 8 (receiver Zach Hackleman) from beating us with big plays.”
Levi Davis and the Orange offense took control in the second half, scoring three touchdowns.
Hackleman, who came in with 52 receptions for 859 yards and 21 total TDs (counting for kick/punt returns) managed just four catches for 29 yards against Orange’s stout secondary.
“Our offense and defense fed off each other tonight, and we’ve done that all year,” Davis said. “Our offense gets a lot of the accolades but it’s our defense that has been the backbone of this team. They’re special. They turned in a great performance tonight.”
Fickel gained 106 yards on 28 carries to pace the offense, which was more conservative than usual with the lead. Davis added 78 yards on 12 runs. With a big hand from the defense, Orange dominated the time of possession nearly 29 minutes to 19.
Brennan Kesler also had a big hand in the defensive performance. St. Edward managed just 188 total yards.
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The win continued a remarkable run for Orange, which prior to this season had won just three playoff games in its 16-year-history. St. Edward came in 72-23 with 15 final four appearances.
And a handful of these players also played vital roles in Orange’s basketball team capturing its first state title last March after reaching regional finals in 2023 and 2024.
Orange had its own version of the “12th Man” in the form of an energized and boisterous student section.
“This is kind of surreal to be going to the state championship for the second time in just a matter of a few months,” Treyton Schroeder said. “We’ve been through this type of competition before and I think that confidence and composure does carry over. There’s an expectation now to win these kind of games.’’
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