Nine playoff teams, four state champions — that's Hoban's 2023 nine-game football schedule
In order to be the man, you need to beat the man.
The problem for Hoban football is very few teams in Ohio are willing to play the Knights.
It’s caused one of the most unbelievable schedules in 2023 for coach Tim Tyrrell and, through three games, his squad is rolling. The Knights just finished knocking off two-time reigning Virginia champion Trinity Episcopal School 34-6 on Saturday.
More: Hoban football defeats Trinity Episcopal School
“I expect that team to go win the state championship in Virginia,” Tyrrell said. “They’re good. The biggest thing we can do going forward after playing these bigger teams from out of state is stay focused.
“We can’t let outside things start to bother us. They have to focus on each other. They have to focus on themselves, get better every week and not worry about what’s going on around us.”
The schedule for Hoban's football team is borderline absurd
There’s no room for error for the Knights.
They beat Kentucky state champion Frederick Douglass 45-6 in Week 1. Division IV state champ Glenville arrives in Week 7. Two-time Division I state champ St. Edward closes out the season.
Of the nine teams the Knights play — they don’t have a Week 6 game — every one made the playoffs last season, and four of them won state titles. Those nine teams were a combined 93-20 last season.
Three of those teams went undefeated (Frederick Douglass, Trinity and Glenville) and one lost once (St. Edward, 15-1).
“Us losing state in back-to-back years and playing all these state champions in the regular season is just going to keep us prepared for the state championship game,” Hoban running back Xavier Williams said. “That’s where we want to be and what we want to win. The regular season will make the playoffs easier.”
It's not where you've been, it's where you're going for Hoban football
At a school where success is measured by gold trophies, Hoban doesn’t mind the schedule.
The Knights have played in the last three state finals and seven of the last eight. They’ve lost the last two, however, and that’s what sticks in the craw of the current players.
“We’re playing the best in the country and we want to prove we’re the best in the country,” Hoban running back Caleb Jones said. “We don’t want to just be the best in Ohio. That’s what this does for us. We want to be better.
“It does get tough. We just have to get used to it. That means injuries and everything. We just have to get right and push through it.”
There’s never a big head because two consecutive losses in the finals — to Toledo Central Catholic and Winton Woods — keeps them grounded.
“We embrace the haters,” Hoban quarterback Tylan Boykin said. “When it’s time to block them out, we block them out. We embrace the target, but we feel like there’s a lot of being the hunter instead of being the hunted.”
It’s why a 148-yard rushing day that included three touchdowns by Jones was so impressive against Trinity.
The same can be said for the two interceptions — one a pick-six — by Elbert “Rock” Hill IV.
Williams ran for 75 yards on four carries, and Boykin has been the architect for three straight games that featured a running clock.
East is up next for a team ready to take on the next goliath.
“Every day we make each other better,” Hill said. “We’re just getting ourselves more prepared for the next game. … We have great players that hold each other accountable so we can get the job done.”
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 4 champs, 9 playoff teams; Hoban's schedule is great, so is the team
