Cincy Team of the Year: La Salle

Every challenge that confronted La Salle the Lancers conquered in a grandiose style on the way to second straight Ohio Division II state championship. The Lancers were a resilient bunch. La Salle was a team that acted like champions rising to the occasion time after time.

First year head coach Jim Hilvert took over during January. The players bought in right away. Sacrifices were made for the betterment of the team. Hilvert had a group that was in tune with what he was teaching.

The 2015 Ohio Division II state champion La Salle Lancers (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

A potent offense that returned eight starters from the ’14 title squad. Scoring points wasn’t going to be a problem. The question was could the defense stop foes and prevent shootout on the scoreboard on Friday nights. La Salle would win its first six games of the season, three of those by seven points or less. The offense averaged 39.2 in that span.

Losses to St. Xavier in Week 7 and Elder in Week 10 saw the Lancers finish a grueling regular season at 8-2. In both those defeats La Salle lost the time of possession battle by a fair margin. There looked to be a way to take down this team heading into the playoffs.

That schedule toughened up La Salle for the postseason. The Lancers took no prisoners over the next five weeks. They scored no less than 42 points in any contest. The defense was just as stellar allowing just 12.2 points. The 42-0 win over Massillon Perry in the title game was 10th consecutive playoff victory for La Salle. The Lancers have been dominant during their two year run, winning eight of their postseason affairs by 32 points or more.

La Salle’s Jeremy Larkin (Michael Noyes/TSF).

La Salle beat teams that went a combined 115-44 for 72.3% winning percentage (that includes 13 losses La Salle). The Lancers had wins over Indiana Class 4A state runner-up, East Central (12-3), the Indiana Class 6A final four finisher, Carmel (10-3) and Ohio AP No. 1 Division II team, Perrysburg (13-1).

The honors poured in for the hard work as senior RB Jeremy Larkin was named Ohio Division II Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. Larkin rewrote the record books at La Salle and also became the Greater Catholic League’s all-time leader in touchdowns scored. After finding the end zone 25 times as a sophomore DB Jarell White was asked to move to strong safety. It instantly made the Lancers defense formidable. He earned Third Team All-Ohio accolades for his work. Joining White on that unit was classmate OL Thayer Munford. Seniors P Drue Chrisman and OL Luke Doerger were Honorable Mention All-Ohio and First Team All-Southwest District. Second Team All-Southwest District members included QB Nick Watson and Jayden Jester.

La Salle OL Luke Doerger (photo by Mike Noyes/TriStateFootball.com)

Larkin who was the 2014 TriState Football Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year is a finalist for the same award again this season. White is a finalist for the TSF Cincinnati Defensive Player of the Year. Larkin, White and Chrisman garnered 2015 Postseason First Team All-TSF acclaim. Doerger and Munford were named Second Team All-TSF. Jester was a Third Team All-TSF selection.

The cupboard isn’t bare for Hilvert with key pieces like Munford, White, RB Christian Turner, DL Nick Rielag, LB Garrett Bledsoe, LB Brady Flynn, DB TraSean Smith, DB Tyler Richardson and DB DaMeak Brandon. Bledsoe started as a freshman a year ago.

Join us as we recognize La Salle, Team of the year winners from Dayton, Kentucky, Indiana, Player of the year finalists from all of those areas, WCPO Player of the Week winners and all members of the 2015 Postseason All-TSF squad as they will be recognized at our upcoming TSF Year in Review Show on Wednesday, February 10th at The Holy Grail – Banks in downtown Cincinnati.

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