Head Coach:  Bob Jacoby
Assistant Coaches:  

1996 Regular Season

Toledo St. John’s, L 14-10
Northland, W 34-18
Beechcroft, W 30-10
Cin. Mt. Healthy, W 52-12
Zanesville, W 23-6
Lancaster, W 20-19
Bishop Watterson, W 7-3
Kettering Alter, W 23-20
Cincinnati Moeller, L 20-9
St. Charles, W 48-0

1996 OHSAA Playoff Games

Divsion-III, Region 12 Semifinal
DeSales (8-2) vs. Kettering Alter
Date:  November 8, 1996
Location:  Springfield North Stadium

Result:  DeSales 25, Kettering Alter 7
In a rematch of a regular season matchup, the Stallions out-gained Alter in total yards 311-113, led by Matt Stewart’s 139 yards rushing, a touchdown, 8 tackles and 2 sacks.  Ten of Stewart’s 36 carries came on the first drive, which led to a Travis Marter touchdown on 4th down.  Marter finished the game with with 17 rushes for 73 yards.  The Stallions took a 15-0 lead into the locker room after Stewart’s 1-yard touchdown run.  DeSales totaled 278 yards on the ground and held Alter to just 2 yards on 21 attempts.  The Purple and White defense also posted 4 sacks in the game.   Alex Cherubin also added a touchdown in the 4th quarter.  

Divsion-III, Region 12 Final
DeSales (9-2) vs. Jackson (11-0)
Date:  November 16, 1996
Location:  Lancaster Fulton Field

Result:  DeSales 21, Jackson 7
DeSales knocked-off previously undefeated Jackson to advance to the State Final Four for the first time since 1991.  The Ironmen came into the Regional Final averaging 40.8 points per game and featured a running back in Shane Wolford, who had run for over 1,500 yards.  Wolford was held in-check, gaining just 17 yards on 11 carries.  In fact, the DeSales defense limited Jackson to only four total first downs and all of them came in the first half.   The Ironmen ran 52 plays and gained 72 yards.  Both teams were actually stout on defense through the first two quarters and it took a defensive play to break a scoreless tie in the 2nd half.  Jackson struck first, returning a fumble 50 yards to take a 7-0 3rd quarter lead.  After a Loren Dobbins interception, the Stallions took over at the Jackson 37 yard line.  DeSales would capitalize on the turnover when Matt Bajorek found Travis Marter for the 16 yard touchdown.  The Stallions would take the lead for good on a 1-yard touchdown run by Matt Stewart, which was set up by two receptions by Mike Mayhew of 10 and 25 yards.  Mayhew finished with 4 catches for 79 yards.  

Divsion-III, State Semifinal
DeSales (10-2) vs. Thornville Sheridan (11-1)
Date:  November 23, 1996
Location:  Lancaster Fulton Field

Result:  DeSales 26, Sheridan 7
For the third time in as many playoff games, the Stallions dominated the total yards category, out-gaining Sheridan 362-165.  Sheridan came in averaging 332 yards rushing per game.  Backup quarterback Matt Bajorek threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns as the Stallions advanced to their 3rd State Championship game in school history.  Bajorek found Mike Mayhew 5 times for 96 yards and a touchdown.  Tight end Tom Weilbacher led the Stallions with 102 yards receiving on two catches, including a 64-yard score.  Matt Stewart scored the other touchdown for DeSales and finished with 108 yards rushing on 24 carries.  Adam Foust kicked 2 field goals (18, 41) and the defense held Sheridan to only one first down in the second half, which came on their last drive.  The Generals got on the scoreboard first, in the opening quarter, before the Stallions rallied for 26 unanswered points.  DeSales took to the air in the 2nd half as 11 of Bajorek’s 12 passing attempts came after halftime. 

Divsion-III, State Final
DeSales (11-2) vs. Benedictine (11-1)
Date:  November 30, 1996
Location:  Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium

Result:  Benedictine 14, DeSales 3
Cleveland Benedictine captured their 4th state championship with the 14-3 win over DeSales, who was making the program's 3rd State Final appearance.  Pat Minnillo opened the game with a 93-yard kickoff return to the Stallion 3 yard line and the Bengals would take advantage, jumping out to a 7-0 lead.  Tim Cheatwood would add to the Benedictine lead with 48 seconds remaining in the 3rd quarter after a 29-yard touchdown reception.  Just one week after throwing for 198 yards, the Stallions passing attack could not get on track, finishing 0-for-14. 

1996 Quick Facts 

• DeSales won its 3rd straight CCL title and 14th overall

• DeSales finished as the top seed in Region 12, Division-III

• The Stallions were ranked 6th in the final Division-III AP Poll

• Matt Stewart and John Kelley were named Division-III Co-Defensive Players of the Year in the Central District

• Matt Stewart (LB), John Kelley (DL) and Scott Smith (OL) were named Division-III 1st-Team All-Ohio

• Placekicker Adam Foust led the area in kick scoring with 11 field goals and was named Special Mention All-Ohio

• Defensive back Mike Mayhew was named 1st-Team All-District and Special Mention All-Ohio after tying for the area lead in interceptions (8)

• Stewart set a school record with 1,634 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns

• Stewart was recognized as the Dispatch Agonis Lineman of the Year

• Stewart and Grant Bowman (Honorable Mention All-District) each made NFL rosters

• 6 letter-winners on the ’96 team committed to play Division-I College Football - Stewart (Vanderbilt), Tom Weilbacher (Ohio), Kelley (Army), Smith (Akron), Mayhew (Miami OH) and Bowman (Michigan) 

• Smith and Kelley were each four-year letter-winners