This Date in SFD Football History - 9/27/13

DeSales knocked off the defending Division-4 State Champions 21-16 Clinton-Massie, thanks to three touchdown plays over 75 yards.  Josh DeLozier returned a kickoff 78 yards for a score to tie the game at 7 in the first quarter.  The Stallions would take a 14-7 lead in the second frame, thanks to a 76-yard run by Tucker Yinger.  Yinger would once again give the Stallions the lead, this time for good, after a 77-yard run early in the 3rd quarter. Clinton-Massie, who would go on to win the Division-4 State Championship, had 17 first downs for the game, compared to just five for DeSales.   It would be the only loss for the Falcons in their two state championship seasons in 2013 and 2014.

Where Are They Now? - Jason Barnett '01

Week 6
Jason
BARNETT

1998-2001

The sixth edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2024 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, Jason Barnett ‘01.

Barnett, a three-sport athlete at DeSales, was a 2024 St. Francis DeSales Athletic Hall of Fame inductee.  He was a three-year letter-winner in football and was a member of the 1998 State Championship Team.  He was a four-time District Champion wrestler and a four-time State Qualifier.  As a freshmen, he placed 4th in the state at 119 pounds and the next season, he was the 125 pound State Runner-up in Division-II.  As a junior, he finished 46-0 and captured the 130 poun Division-II State Championship, helping the Stallions finish as the State Runner-up as a team in 2000.  His final season on the mat, he won the 135 pound Division-II State Championship and was a Wrestling USA All-American.  At the time of his graduation, his .442 batting average as a senior was good for 9th best in program history.

Click here to read more about Jason’s playing days on the gridiron…

A special thanks to State Farm Agent and SFD Assistant Coach Ben Aucoin for sponsoring this series once again! 

2024 St. Francis DeSales Athletic Hall of Fame Inducutees

Barnett makes a tackle against St. Charles

DeSales 35, Bishop Ready 21, final

The Stallions improved to 4-1 as Jonathan Brown set a new career-high with 147 yards rushing and three touchdowns. John Hockaday also had a career-best, 102 yards rushing, with a score. RJ Day had a 13-yard touchdown run for the Purple and White, who piled up a season-best 289 yards rushing, the most for a DeSales team in 43 games (Jonathan Alder in 2020).

This Date in SFD Football History (9/20/19)

Jaylen Ball’s 11-yard go-ahead touchdown run with 54 seconds remaining gave the Stallions a 35-31 win over Kettering Alter, the 2018 Division-III State Runner-up. After being delayed due to lightning at 10:06 mark in the first quarter, the game resumed and it was a back-and-forth contest, with four ties

Quintell Quinn led the way for the Stallions with 147 yards rushing with a touchdown, and also returned a kickoff 90 yards for a score. Jaylen Ball added 63 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner, after the Knights took a 31-28 lead with 3:39 left in the 4th quarter after a 42-yard field goal. Reno Godfrey scored the game’s first points, one a 1-yard touchdown, as the Stallions ended a 12-game regular season winning streak for Alter.

See the game’s highlights below

Where Are They Now? - Jalen Noble '12

Week 5
Jalen
Noble

2009-2012

The fifth edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2024 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, Jalen Noble ‘12.

Noble was a two-year starter for the Stallions, including the 2011 team that captured the Central Catholic League Championship.  As a senior, on a Regional Semifinalist team, Noble earned special mention honors on the Division III All-Central District football team.  He signed with Air Force in 2012, but transferred to Army in 2013, where he appeared in 5 games for the Cadets as a returner.  He concluded his collegiate career with Miami of Ohio before moving on from football. 

These days, Jalen resides in New York City, where he is a social media influencer / content creator. Recently, Noble interviewed former President Barack Obama on his instagram account.

Here the former Stallion talks about his playing days…

A special thanks to State Farm Agent and SFD Assistant Coach Ben Aucoin for sponsoring this series once again! 

Noble drinking from the Winner’s Cup after a 25-14 win over Bishop Watterson in 2011 (photo credit: Barb Dougherty)

DeSales 49, Linsly (WV) 13

Jonathan Brown had a career-high three touchdowns and RJ Day went a perfect 7-for-7 passing with two touchdowns as the Stallions improved to 3-1 on the season. DeSales erupted for 28 first quarter points with touchdown receptions by Dax Middleton and Nolan McSweeny. Adam Faulkner added a 22-yard interception return for a score for the Stallions to close out the scoring in the first quarter.

With 161 passing yards, Day became the sixth Stallion quarterback to surpass 2,000 career passing yards.

John Hockaday recorded his first career rushing touchdown for the Purple and White.

This Date in SFD Football History

Quarterback Alex Cherubin (24, 12) and running back Matt Stewart each scored two touchdowns as the Stallions beat Beechcroft 30-10.  The Stallions extended the lead in the second quarter, thanks to two forced fumbles.  Stewart led DeSales with 74 yards rushing and had two 5-yard scoring runs. Adam Foust kicked a 27-yard field goal for the Purple and White, who won their 24th regular season game, out of their last 25. 

Click here for highlights.

Where Are They Now? - John-Paul Slupski '75

Week 4
John-Paul
SLUPSKI

1971-1975

The fourth edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2024 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is John-Paul Slupski ‘75.

John-Paul was a two-time First Team All-Central Catholic League defensive back, who also earned All-District and All-Metro honors in his playing career. As a junior, he set a school-record for longest punt return (95 yards), on the first DeSales team to win 8 games in a season. As a senior, he was given the John Brockington Award, which recognized the area’s top defensive back at the annual Sidelines, Inc. Honors Banquet.

After playing collegiately at the University of Montana, Slupski dedicated 33 years to the Columbus Fire Department!

Click here to hear from John-Pual’s playing days, including the game in ‘73, where he had that school-record return…

A special thanks to State Farm Agent and SFD Assistant Coach Ben Aucoin for sponsoring this series once again! 

DeSales 35, Africentric 14, final

Jonathan Brown rushed for a career-high 131 yards and had two touchdowns in a 35-14 win over visiting Africentric, in the first-ever meeting between the schools. RJ Day threw two passing touchdowns, including a 94-yarder to Nolan McSweeny. Sophomores Dax Middleton (23-yard reception) and Kaleb Johnson (15-yard run) each scored their first varsity touchdowns for the Stallions.

This Date in SFD Football History (9/6/02)

Razzano scores the game’s first touchdown on the second play

The Stallions traveled to Cincinnati and blanked the #2 ranked St. Xavier Bombers 21-0. Senior quarterback Dino Razzano led the Stallions with 175 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns, including a 56-yard run on the game’s second play from scrimmage. The Purple and White held the Bombers to 107 total yards and it was the first time St. Xavier had been shut out in eight years.

Click here to see highlights from the 2002 St. Xavier game

Where Are They Now? - Chris Stoll '17

Week 3
Chris
STOLL

2013-2017

The third edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2024 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Chris Stoll ‘17.

Chris is set to begin his second season in the National Football League as Seattle’s starting long snapper. Last year, he appeared in all 17 games for the Seahawks. He signed as a free agent with Seattle, after a successful career at Penn State, where served as the primary long snapper. Stoll played in 48 games for the Nittany Lions and was recognized as the nation’s best long snapper in 2022, winning the Patrick Mannelly Award.

Click here to hear about Chris’ playing days with the Stallions…

A special thanks to State Farm Agent and SFD Assistant Coach Ben Aucoin for sponsoring this series once again! 

DeSales 17, Badin 3, final

Jonathan Brown and RJ Day each had rushing touchdowns as the Stallions improved to 1-1 with a 17-3 win against Badin at Hamilton High School. Elazar Hood and Jake Williams recorded interceptions for a Stallion Defense that held the Rams to 104 total yards, including negative five yards rushing. Ty Neubert set a career-high by recording three sacks in one game.

This Date in SFD Football History (8/30/85)

The 1985 Team

Onto this date in St. Francis DeSales football history.  It’s our first of the season, since DeSales had never played on August 23, in their previous 62 seasons of football.  This week, we go back to August 30, 1985, the season opener for the Stallions, who were picked to finish 4th in a preseason CCL poll.  DeSales began the ’85 campaign with a 10-0 win against Dublin High School, with all ten points coming in the third quarter.  Shawn Ream opened the scoring, with a 26-yard field goal, and Jamey Cua added a 53-yard score, as the Stallions out-gained the Shamrocks 208-77 on the ground.  The Stallion Defense forced three turnovers, including two fumbles.  Paul Haynes led the way with 97 yards rushing for DeSales, while Cua had 86.  The 1985 team would go on to set a school record for most points scored in a regular season (288), but the game against the Shamrocks was their lowest total of the year.  The Stallions were without the services of returning letter-winning quarterback, Mike Asbeck, due to a knee injury. 

The official DeSales scorebook from the 1985 Dublin game

Where Are They Now? - Nick Gentile '11

Week 2
Nick
GENTILE

2007-2011

The second edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2024 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Nick Gentile ‘11.

Nick was a two-year starting quarterback for the Stallions and helped lead DeSales to a 2009 Regional Championship.  As a junior, he finished with over 2,000 all-purpose yards, including 1,301 rushing yards on the State Runner-up Team.

These days, Nick resides in Austin, Texas with his wife and former SFD Cheerleading Captain, Alana (Balzano) ‘11, and their son Giovanni ‘41.

Click here to hear more about Nick’s playing days….

A special thanks to State Farm Agent and SFD Assistant Coach Ben Aucoin for sponsoring this series once again! 

2009 Regional Champions

Where Are They Now? - Frank DeMatteis '64

Week 1
Frank
DEMATTEIS

1962-1963

The first edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2024 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Frank DeMatteis ‘64.

On September 8, 1962, Frank became the first DeSales Varsity Football player to score a touchdown in a varsity game. DeMatteis crossed the goal line in a 28-12 loss at Portsmouth Notre Dame.

Click here for more…

A special thanks to State Farm Agent and SFD Assistant Coach Ben Aucoin for sponsoring this series once again! 

The 1962 Varsity Football Team

The program cover for the first Varsity Football Game for DeSales

SFD Alumnus Cole Potts '20 named Preseason All-Sun Belt Team for James Madison

Photo Credit: James Madison Athletics

Former Stallion lineman Cole Potts ‘20 was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team, the league announced Monday (7/23). Potts was one of two JMU players to be named to the First Team. Potts is a four-year starter at right guard, having started 53 of his 54 career games.

Last season, the Dukes lost to Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl 31-21 and finished 11-2. Potts started all 13 games at right guard and was a part of an offensive line that helped JMU rank top 30 in the FBS in six offensive categories, which included tied for sixth in passing touchdowns (36), 13th in pass efficiency rating (162.6), completion percentage (67.3%), 17th in yards per pass attempt (8.6), 20th in passing yards (284.8) and 23rd in scoring offense (34.1).

DeSales set to join the Ohio Catholic Athletic Conference in 2026

DeSales will begin competition in Varsity Football in the newly formed Ohio Catholic Athletic Conference in the Fall of 2026. The participating schools in the first year will be: Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, Cleveland Villa Angela Saint Joseph, Bishop Hartley, Bishop Watterson, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, and Youngstown Ursuline.

The Ohio Catholic Athletic Conference will begin as a football only conference in 2026 with future plans for competing together in all Ohio High School Athletic Association sanctioned sports.

All-time against the schools in the new Ohio Catholic Athletic Conference, DeSales is 59-60-3, including 3-3 against Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, 2-2 versus Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit, and a 2-3 series record against Youngstown Cardinal Mooney. DeSales has never faced Cleveland Villa Angela Saint Joseph or Youngstown Ursuline. Joining SFD from the Central Catholic League are Bishop Hartley (22-14-2) and Bishop Watterson (30-38-1).

This will be the third league DeSales will compete in with varsity football. The school joined the Ohio Catholic league from 1988 to 1990 when the CCL combined with Kettering Alter, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne and Hamilton Badin.

SFD Senior Lineman Ty Neubert Commits to Ohio University

Ty Neubert, a rising senior lineman, verbally committed to play football at Ohio University. Neubert has started 36 straight games on the defensive line and was named First Team All-Central District last season. As junior he finished with 42 tackles, 12 of them for a loss, with three sacks and on offense, he also started all 11 games at left tackle.

Neubert, a two-time First Team All-Central Catholic League player, chose Ohio over Kent State and Eastern Michigan.

Bob Jacoby Inducted into the OHSFCA Hall of Fame

Last evening (June 14), former SFD Head Football coach, and current Assistant Coach, Bob Jacoby was inducted into the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame

Coach Jacoby led the Stallions for 19 seasons from 1988-2006, compiling a 169-68 overall record. DeSales won two state championships in 1997 and 1998, and were state runners-up four times in 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2005. The Stallions made the OHSAA playoffs 15 times under Jacoby (out of 19), including 13 straight from 1994-2006

He returned to DeSales in 2021, where he serves as an Assistant Coach and a Physical Education Teacher.

SFD Alumnus Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling '22 Commits to UCONN

SFD alumnus and former Stallion punter Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling ‘22 committed to play football at UCONN on April 26.

Wallace-Dilling played last season at Riverside City College in California. For the Tigers, he had 41 punts, averaging 40.1 per with 15 inside the 20 yard line as was named First Team All-Southern California Football Association.

While at DeSales, Wallace-Dilling was a two-year starter and as a senior he was named Second Team All-Ohio. He averaged 38 yards per punt on 44 attempts and pinned opponents inside the 20 yard line 15 times