Lake Catholic had not trailed in a game all season long through a 10-0 regular season and wins in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Cougars, the No. 1 seed in Division 4, Region 13 and ranked No.1 in Division IV in Ohio, had dominated on both sides of the ball, averaging around 35 points a game on offense while giving up just 99 points defensively through 12 games. But Lake Catholic ran into a defense even more dominant than its own in a regional semifinal against Glenville on Nov. 15 at Riverside. The Cougars turned the ball over six times against the lightning-quick and hard-hitting Tarblooders, who parlayed a couple of those miscues into scores in a 28-0 rout. Lake Catholic’s season ends with a 12-1 mark. Glenville (10-3), the two-time defending Division IV state champion, advances to play Perry in a regional final on Nov. 22 at a site to be determined. Senior QB Frankie Trinetti passed the Cougars down the field on the game’s opening possession, as the Cougars opted for short passes in lieu of trying to run against a Glenville linebacking corps that features Cincere Johnson, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior who has an offer from Ohio State. A catch-and-run by senior Patrick Radigan went for 50 yards and moved Lake Catholic deep into Glenville territory. But a fourth-down pass from the Tarblooders’ 14 was picked off in the end zone by Chris Newell. Later in the opening frame, Trinetti threw deep on third down, but the pass was intercepted by Aaron Scales, who evaded several Cougars on his way to a 92-yard touchdown return that gave Glenville a 7-0 lead and put Lake Catholic behind in a game for the first time this season. Glenville would go on to intercept two more passes in a span of four plays, as the Tarblooders’ defensive backs expertly played the Cougars’ routes and closed quickly on passes to make plays. Lake Catholic’s defense kept it in the game, getting a fourth-down sack by Jayson Cummings at the Cougars’ 27 after one turnover, and holding Glenville to a couple missed field goals on two other occasions. But the Tarblooders got a 3-yard touchdown run by Newell to take a 13-0 lead in the second quarter, and took that lead into halftime. Glenville’s defensive effort was even stronger after halftime. The Cougars managed just one first down and 14 yards in the second half. Meanwhile, Romell Phillips ran for a pair of touchdowns in the second half to put the game away for Glenville. Lake Catholic finished with just 112 yards of offense and four first downs against the tenacious Tarblooders. “Glenville is the real deal, they’re a really good team,” Lake Catholic coach Marty Gibbons said. “Their defense is really good. I think our defense did an awesome job. Obviously we had some turnovers, but there was a lot going on in the game, so it was a lot more than that. “We’re just really proud of the guys we have, and it was a great season for us.” @LCCougarFB Coach Marty Gibbons breaks down Lake Catholic’s season-ending 28-0 loss to Glenville in a D4 Regional Semifinal pic.twitter.com/3LOQ6SSwRv — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) November 16, 2024 Glenville had just 98 yards at halftime time, but pounded out 136 yards on the ground in the second half. Longtime Tarblooders coach Ted Ginn Sr. was impressed with his team’s defense, but credited Lake Catholic for being a tough opponent. “The defense has been holding us up all year,” Ginn said. “They’re unbelievable. We played a heck of a team here. Well-coached, great staff. It’s almost like family (how well we know them). We love them.” @TarblooderFB head coach Ted Ginn Sr. talks about Glenville’s 28-0 Div. 4 regional semifinal win over Lake Catholic pic.twitter.com/u595D9WxQn — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) November 16, 2024 Lake Catholic went 10-0 this season for the fifth time in school history, joining the 1974, 1990, 1992, and 1996 Cougars teams. “It was the first time Lake Catholic went 10-0 since 19-something,” Lake Catholic senior TE/DE Cross Nimmo said. “We just had a really strong group, really connected. It was a very fun season to play with these boys.” @LCCougarFB senior TE/DE Cross Nimmo gives his thoughts on playing for Lake Catholic and with his fellow seniors pic.twitter.com/FKD2SIwPNT — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) November 16, 2024 A decorated Lake Catholic senior class will leave having restored the program to its historically strong status. Lake Catholic went 1-9 in 2021, 3-7 in 2022, 8-2 in 2023, and 10-0 in 2024, making the playoffs the latter two seasons. “I think I met the greatest people that I will be friends with forever,” senior WR/DB Ace Peterlin said. “I think Lake Catholic is the greatest place I’ll ever be, not only from a football standpoint, but the whole environment is just amazing.” @LCCougarFB senior WR/DB Ace Peterlin discusses the Cougars’ great season and his four years at Lake Catholic pic.twitter.com/2dJfidQyZ9 — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) November 16, 2024 The finality of not being able to play any more high school football games with your friends hits hard, but the memories will remain forever. “I’m going to miss playing with them,” Cummings said. “At the end, I was just thinking that I can’t wear this (jersey) again.” @LCCougarFB senior DE Jayson Cummings, who had a big fourth down sack in the first half against Glenville, talks about his career at Lake Catholic pic.twitter.com/PAPOuaQhyp — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) November 16, 2024