1988 DIVISION IV CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Saturday, December 3     Ohio Stadium-Columbus     Att. 14,318
Canton Central Catholic Crusaders 21              Versailles Tigers 6
Head Coach  Lowell Klinefelter                               Head Coach Al Hetrick
Colors:  Green and White                                            Colors:  Orange and Black
 

Canton Central Catholic        7        0        0        14            21
Versailles                              0        6        0         0               6

CCC-Tom Allison 1 run (Joe Vitale kick)
V-Ken Baltes 67 pass from Jamie Mescher (kick failed)
CCC-Tom Allison 7 run (Joe Vitale kick)
CCC-Tom Allison 60 run (Joe Vitale kick)
 

Final Records:            Canton Central Catholic (12-2)        Versailles (12-2)
 
 
       A stingy defense and Tom Allison's three touchdown runs carried the Canton Central Catholic Crusaders to a 21-6 victory over Versailles.
    The Crusaders jumped out to a 7-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown run by Allison and Joe Vitale's extra point kick.  Allison's scoring run was set up when Dan Massarelli dashed 52 yards to the one-yard line.
    Central Catholic's defense manhandled Versailles for most of the first half.  They held the Tigers to a grand total of 17 yards in the first 22 minutes-until lightning stuck.
    The bolt of lightning was a Division IV record 67-yard touchdown bomb from Versailles quarterback Jamie Mescher to Ken Baltes.  The long play stunned a Crusader defense that had not allowed a touchdown in 19 consecutive quarters.  The extra point kick was blocked, but the Tigers had cut the deficit to 7-6.
    The second half was all Central Catholic.  The Crusader defense regrouped by intercepting three passes and completely negating Versailles' ground attack.  A late third-quarter interception by Nick Mascitti shifted momentum away from Versailles.  After the turnover, Central Catholic's seven-yard touchdown run with 8:59 left in the game.  Vitale kicked the extra point, increasing the lead to 14-6.
    Jeff Turner intercepted a Mescher aerial on the Tigers' next possession, but the Crusaders turned the ball over on downs with 5:00 left to play.  Three plays later, Central Catholic standout Eric Wolfinger made a diving interception of a deflected Mescher pass.  Allison cashed in the turnover with a spectacular 60-yard touchdown dash to seal the victory.
    Allison led the Crusader rushing attack with 133 yards in 24 carries.  Massarelli chipped in with 97 yards in 18 attempts.  Offensive tackle Dave Monnot paved the way as Central Catholic rushed the 234 yards and 15 first downs.
    Versailles finished with four first downs, five yards rushing in 22 tries, and 97 total yards.

Cheers:  " I just told our kids at halftime to suck it up an dget after them. We went back to what we do best in this game-play physically-and what we've done all season-come up with big plays."
Canton Central Catholic head coach Lowell Klinefelter

Tears:  "You've got to win at the line, and we didn't.  I thought our quickness would work to our advantage.  They (Canton Central Catholic) were just as quick as we were."
Versailles head coach Al Hetrick