Hoban High School football enters OHSAA state final with interesting special teams unit
The Archbishop Hoban football team has a unique set of specialists as it heads into the Division II state championship game against undefeated Massillon at 7 p.m. Thursday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Senior Caleb Schlater is a nationally ranked long snapper committed to play on scholarship at Miami of Ohio.
Ryan Burns is a senior who handles kickoffs and is in consideration for All-Ohio honors as a punter.
Freshman Jeremy Hammel is enjoying his first year on the varsity team after serving as the extra point and field goal kicker the past three weeks in playoffs wins over Painesville Riverside, Walsh Jesuit and Avon.
"Our punter, Ryan Burns, was All-Northeast Ohio Inland District and I think he should be All-Ohio," Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell said Friday after the Knights won 17-14 over Avon in a state semifinal at Parma's Byers Field. "He kicks the heck out of the ball and he is great on kickoffs. He does a great job for us.
"Jeremy Hammel is a freshman who just played in a final four game. His first field goal [against Avon in a state semifinal on Friday] was so close. His second field goal [against Avon] was huge to end the first half. He is as smart as they come. We feel very comfortable with him kicking extra points and field goals.
"Caleb Schlater is one of the top long snappers in the country. The biggest thing for him is he gets forgotten. It is one of those 'you don't know what you have until it is gone.'"
Senior Joey Hardman is the holder. Seniors Parker Falkenstein and Tysen Campbell return punts. Sophomore Elbert Hill IV and Campbell return kickoffs.
What to know about Hoban senior Caleb Schlater
Schlater, 17, grew up playing football, basketball and lacrosse. He also earned All-Northeast Ohio Inland District honors.
"I started long snapping during my sophomore year," Schlater said. "Obviously at Hoban, we have so many great athletes, so I wasn't playing as much as a wide receiver. [Former Hoban kicker and punter] Charlie Durkin told me to try out long snapping, and I ended up starting my sophomore year and took off from there.
"I started going to camps and got better and I ended up being one of the best in the state. I think I am currently ranked the best in the state of Ohio for long snapping and I am ranked in the top 25 in the country. I have come a long way, and I am excited to continue my football journey at Miami."
Schlater, who has a 3.4 GPA, credited Durkin for teaching him fundamentals on long snapping and for Rubio Long Snapping for training him. He chose Miami (Ohio) over Toledo.
"What it came down to was Miami was a better fit for academics and athletics," Schlater said. "I am planning on majoring in business with a minor in sports management."
What to know about Hoban freshman Jeremy Hammel
Hammel, 14, played football, soccer, basketball and tennis as a youngster. He has a 4.4 GPA.
"It feels great to contribute," Hammel said. "I have been welcomed by all of these guys. It is a really nice opportunity to kick on the varsity, especially to kick in a state championship now.
"... I was actually a receiver in sixth and seventh grade, but then I started kicking and I really liked it."
Hammel has made 11 of 11 extra point attempts. The two field goal attempts against Avon, a 28-yard miss and a 25-yard make, were his first two on the varsity level.
What to know about Hoban senior Ryan Burns
Burns has been a varsity punter at Hoban since his freshman year and a varsity kicker since his sophomore year. He also plays baseball at Hoban after competing in soccer, hockey and basketball as a kid.
Burns is averaging more than 45 yards per punt with 11 inside the 5-yard line. He placed a punt inside the 1-yard line in Hoban's 30-6 regional final win over Walsh Jesuit that led to safety.
Burns regularly places his kickoffs inside the 10-yard line or the end zone. He has made 43 of 50 PATs and 6 of 11 field goals, with a long of 46 yards in a season-opening 45-6 win over Frederick Douglass (Kentucky) at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
"I’m grateful for our team and our seniors getting another chance at what we want and what we work for all season," Burns said. "It’s a blessing to have this opportunity to play with all my boys and do it at one of the highest levels in Ohio."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Hoban heads into OHSAA football state final with unique specialists
