Head Coach:  Bob Jacoby
Assistant Coaches:  Chad Williams, Jeff Miller, Doug Antle, Justin Grimm, Mike Carter, Tyler Gantz, Jim Lucente, Bill Vasil, Ryan Wiggins

1998 Regular Season

Toledo St. John’s, W 22-8
Westerville South, L 30-17
Beechcroft, W 44-0
Brookhaven, W 26-8
Dayton Dunbar, W 29-7
St. Charles, W 64-14
Bishop Watterson, W 14-3
Kettering Alter, W 38-14
Sandusky, W 40-15
Lima Senior, W 35-0

1998 OHSAA Playoff Games

Divsion-III, Region 10 Semifinal
DeSales (9-1) vs. Bellefontaine (7-3)
Date:  November 14, 1998
Location:  Springfield South

Result:  DeSales 24, Bellefontaine 7
In a rematch of the 1997 Regional Final, Bellefontaine proved to be a much more formidable opponent than in the previous season.   Exactly one year prior to the day, it was the Stallions who jumped out to a 34-0 halftime lead against the Cheiftans, but in this Regional Semifinal matchup, it was Bellefontaine who held the halftime advantage.  The number four seeded Cheiftans took a 7-0 advantage into the locker room and were close to adding to their lead but DeSales defensive back Aaron O’Reilly intercepted a pass late in the 2nd quarter at the goalline.  After halftime, it was all DeSales.  On their first possession of the 3rd quarter, DeSales signal caller Aaron Powell had consecutive runs of 15 and 37 yards that set up the Stallions first touchdown - a 3 yard run by David Cook.  Bellefontaine looked to respond, but the Stallion defense turned the Cheiftans back on the DeSales 25 yard line due to a loss of downs.  On the following possession, the Purple and White took their first lead of the evening, thanks to a 30-yard field goal by Andy McCurdy.  The Stallions recovered the ensuing kickoff and two plays later Powell scored from 10 yards out, making it 17-7 DeSales.   David Cook would later add a touchdown and the Stallions advanced with a 24-7 victory. 

Divsion-III, Region 10 Final
DeSales (10-1) vs. Napoleon (8-3)
Date:  November 21, 1998
Location:  Findlay

Result:  DeSales 49, Napoleon 0
David Cook and Aaron Powell combined for 350 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns as the Stallions cruised to a 49-0 Regional Championship.  DeSales shut out the Wildcats, who only threatened to score one time.   Halfway into the 2nd quarter, Joe Dura stuffed a Napoleon player at the 1 yard line on 4th and goal.  With the ball deep in their own territory, Powell went 96 yards for the score and the Stallions never looked back en route to a 35-0 halftime lead.  

Divsion-III, State Semifinal
DeSales (11-1) vs. Hamilton Badin 
Date:  November 28, 1998
Location:  Xenia

Result:  DeSales 27, Hamilton Badin 10
Head Coach Bob Jacoby (100-31) won his 100th game and the Stallions advanced to their 5th state championship game.  The Stallions jumped out to an early lead, scoring touchdowns on each of their first three possessions including a 75-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.  Perhaps the only negative news to come out of the game for DeSales was the injury to running back David Cook.  Cook, who scored on an 8-yard touchdown run, his 25th of the season, left the game due to an injured ankle. 

Divsion-III, State Final
DeSales (12-1) vs. Cuyahoga Fall Walsh Jesuit (13-0)
Date:  December 5,1998
Location:  Canton Fawcett Stadium

Result:  DeSales 21, Walsh Jesuit 14
The Stallions captured their third overall state championship and second consecutive with the 21-14 win over Walsh Jesuit in front of more than 14,000 people in Canton.  The game featured the top two teams in Division-III according to the Associated Press.  The Warriors finished the regular season as the state’s top ranked team, receiving 22 first place votes, with the Stallions in second, getting three votes.  Walsh Jesuit also swept all of the postseason awards handed out by the AP.  The Warriors featured the Co-Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Dan Larlham, who was committed to play football at Michigan State.  The defense, allowing just 11 points per contest, was led by Ohio State commitment Pat O’Neill, who was recognized as the Defensive Player of the Year in Division-III.  Their head coach Gerry Rardin was named Coach of the Year after leading his squad to their first-ever state title game after falling short in 1993, 1994 and 1997, losing in each of those years in the state semifinals.  

It was a tale of two halves for the Stallions, with the offense coming up big in the first 24 minutes, scoring all of their 21 points in the first quarter.   The Stallions defense, which gave up 14 points and 238 yards in the first half, did not allow a point and held the Warriors to 61 yards after halftime.  DeSales got on the scoreboard early, on their 2nd play, when Roy Williams took a pitch 81 yards for a touchdown to grab a 7-0 lead.  On Walsh Jesuit’s first possession,  DeSales lineman Grant Bowman, the 1997 Defensive Player of the Year in Division-III, forced a fumble that was recovered near midfield by Tom Marre.  It only took the Stallions five plays to score again as Aaron Powell took it in from 13 yards out and DeSales led it 14-0 with 9:14 remaining in the 1st quarter.  The Warriors responded when Larlham ran for a 48-yard touchdown to cut the Stallions lead to 14-7.  DeSales quickly answered when Aaron Powell connected with Roy Williams for a 31-yard touchdown pass.   Three possessions and three touchdowns for the Purple and White who led it 21-7 with 5:06 to play in the first quarter.   On the second play of the 2nd quarter, Larlham found his tight end Bryan Beige for a 13-yard touchdown and once again it was a 7 point game.  The Warriors missed a field goal near the end of the 2nd quarter and did not offer much offense after halftime, except for their final drive.  With under 3 minutes remaining, Walsh Jesuit drove the ball to the Stallions’ 34 yard line.  DeSales lineman Chris Leonard then sacked Larlham for a 10 yard loss.  Later, on 3rd and 25, Larlham, who finished 2-of-9 passing for 24 yards in the 2nd half, was intercepted by Aaron O’Reilly, his second pick game and the Stallions clinched the victory.  Powell finished with 123 yards rushing and had 44 yards passing.  The Stallion defense registered 5 sacks, led by Leonard and Charles Gilstrap, who had 2 each.  

1998 Quick Facts

• The Stallions captured the program's third overall state championship

• DeSales won its fifth consecutive CCL championship (a program record) and 16th league title overall

• It was the 5th straight OHSAA playoff appearance for the Stallions

• The Stallions finished the regular season as the state's 2nd ranked team in the AP Poll

• DeSales finished as the #1 seed in Region 10, Division-III

• Defense allowed only 8.8 points per game

• The Stallions intercepted 20 passes, led by Aaron O'Reilly, who had the most in Central Ohio with 12

• Senior quarterback Aaron Powell rushed for 1,177 yards and 12 touchdowns and threw for 909 yards and 8 touchdowns

• Running back David Cook led the Stallions in the regular season with 1,065 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns

• Andy McCurdy was 5th in Central Ohio in kick scoring at the end of the regular season (5 FG, 34 PAT)

• The Stallion starting offensive line average weight was 265 pounds

• DeSales outscored opponents 258-68 in the first half

• The Stallions returned 16 letter-winners from the 1997 State Championship team

• Defensive lineman Grant Bowman was named First-Team All-Central District and All-Ohio

• Bowman was recognized as the Central District Player of the Year

• Defensive back Aaron O’Reilly was named First-Team All-Central District and All-Ohio.

• Lineman Chuck Black was named 2nd-Team All-Ohio