Varsity Football set to host Dohn Community High School (10/14)

The St. Francis DeSales Varsity Football Team has filled its Week 9 opening and will host Dohn Community High School from Cincinnati on Friday, October 14. Dohn Community High School is a charter school and the game will not count as an official OHSAA computer points game.

There will be no broadcast on Pouring Purple this week, but the game can be streamed live via the NFHS Network.

Pouring Purple will return for the conclusion of the regular season, when the Stallions host Columbus St. Charles on October 21.

This Date in SFD Football History (10/7/72)

This Date in SFD Football History - today we go back 50 years to October 7, 1972! The Stallions rallied from down 22-7 and scored the game’s final 17 points in a 24-22 win over Bishop Hartley. The Stallions blocked a punt and Michael Cua returned it 35 yards for the eventual game-winning touchdown with 1:42 remaining.

Joe Trout (13 yards) and Jim Winans (4 yards) each had rushing touchdowns in the first half for DeSales, in a game in which there were no offensive scoring in the second half.

(Pictured: the program from the 1972 game)

Where Are They Now? - Dion Keaton '09

Week 8
Dion
KEATON

Defensive Back
2005-2009

The 8th edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2022 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Dion Keaton ‘09!

A starting corner on the 2008 Division-II Regional Championship team who went on to play at Ashland University.

Here the former Stallion talks about his playing days at SFD…

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

DeSales 23, Dover 16 3OT

The Stallions outlasted Dover in three overtimes 23-16 to improve to 4-3 overall. Gabe Caruso had 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns, including the eventual game winner in the third overtime. After being held to 16 yards of offense in the first half, the game was tied at 6, thanks to an interception return for a touchdown by Isaac Pekarcik.

This Date in SFD Football History (9/30/16)

This is the first time that I've used the same season in consecutive weeks, but that's how dominating the 32-8 win over Bishop Watterson was in 2016. Alonzo Booth did Alonzo Booth things, with 208 yards rushing and two touchdowns, but the defense held the Eagles to -7 yards of offense, prior to their late scoring drive. Cincinnati linebacker Ty Van Fossen had two safeties as the Eagles finished with -16 yards rushing. Brian Asamoah and Cole Silvestri each had rushing touchdowns as Coach Wiggins improved to 10-3 against Watterson.

Where Are They Now? - Santino Cua '11

Week 7
Santino
CUA

Offensive Lineman / Linebacker
2007-2010

The seventh edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2022 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Santino Cua ‘11!

Another week, another Stallion now in the field of medicine! Dr. Cua is in his first year of Neurosurgical residency at Ohio State University. Before that, he was an All-Big Ten Rugby Forward for the Buckeyes after playing college football at Davidson for a year. While at DeSales, Santino was a Third Team All-Ohio performer for the Stallions and was a two-way player. He was also a starter on the offensive line on the 2009 Division-III State Runner-up Team

Here, Dr. Cua reflects on his playing days at DeSales…

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

Cua (53) set to snap the ball against Cardinal Mooney in a regular season game in 2009

DeSales 7, Bishop Harley 2, final.

Junior corner Elijah Charles’ second interception of the game clinched a 7-2 win for the Stallions in the CCL opener against Bishop Hartley (2-4). Gabe Caruso’s fourth quarter touchdown with 10:14 remaining, ended up being the difference. On the game’s lone scoring drive, sophomore quarterback PJ Noles, in his first start, connected with Caruso 63 yards on a third down and 14 conversion.

This Date in SFD Football History (9/23/16)

Today we go back to September 23, 2016.  Senior running back Alonzo Booth set a school-record with 320 rushing yards in a 49-17 win over Covington Catholic.  Booth also scored five times and the Stallion Defense forced five touchdowns, highlighted by highlighted by Jared Noble's 104-yard interception return for a touchdown.  Brian Asamoah had a 15 yard score and Ryan Corkrean recovered two fumbles.  It was the sixth win over Covington Catholic in six games.

Where Are They Now? - Griff Saunders '14

Week 6
Griff
SAUNDERS

Linebacker
2010-2014

The sixth edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2022 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Griff Saunders ‘14!

Griff was a three-year letter-winner for the Stallions who went on to play at Bowling Green State University.

These days, he goes by Dr. Saunders, as he is an Emergency Medicine Resident Physician at Maricopa County Hospital in Phoenix.

Here, Dr. Saunders reflects on his playing days at DeSales…

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

Where Are They Now? - Aaron Powell '99

In the State Final, Powell rushed for 123 yards and threw for a touchdown in a 21-14 win over Walsh Jesuit

Week 5
Aaron
POWELL

Quarterback / Punter
1998

The fifth edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2022 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Aaron Powell ‘98!

In honor of the Stallions hosting Walsh Jesuit, let’s go back to the first time DeSales played the Warriors - the 1998 Division-III State Final. Powell was the starting quarterback on the 1998 State Championship team and he helped lead the Stallions to the program’s third title.

Here, Aaron reflects back on his days as a Stallion…

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

1998 Division-III State Champions

DeSales 14, Clinton-Massie 3, final

The Stallion Defense held Clinton-Massie, the defending Division-IV State Champions, to 126 yards of total offense and improved to 2-2 overall. Gabe Caruso’s three-yard rushing touchdown gave the Purple and White an early 7-0 lead. On the first possession of the second half, Avery Garlock raced 50 yards for his fifth rushing touchdown of the season, which extended the lead to 14-3 and that would be the final.

This Date in SFD Football History (9/9/66)

This Date in SFD Football History! Today we go all the way back to September 9, 1966. Jay Casey’s ten yard touchdown run with 27 seconds remaining propelled the Stallions to a 14-12 victory against Linden McKinley in the 1966 opener. DeSales put together an 80-yard first quarter scoring drive, capped-off by a four yard rushing touchdown by Butch Blackburn and Mike Benedetti’s two point rushing conversion, ended up being the difference in the game as the Stallions beat the Panthers for the second year in a row.

Where Are They Now? - Evan Killilea '10

Week 4
Evan
KILLILEA

Linebacker
2006-2009

The fourth edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2022 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Evan Killilea ‘10!

We’re running it back this week with another standout linebacker from the 2009 Division-III State Runner-up team! Killilea was a starter on two Regional Championship teams and finished his career with 277 tackles, including 155 his senior year when he earned First Team All-Central District honors.

After DeSales, Evan went on to play at Wittenberg, where he was a four-year letter-winner and a starter on three Tiger NCAA Division-III playoff teams. While at Wittenberg, Evan recorded 297 career tackles in 43 games played and was voted the team’s MVP in 2014.

Here, Evan talks about his playing days at DeSales…

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

This Date in SFD Football History (9/2/94)

After returning 23 lettermen from the 1993 team which finished 6-4, with three of those losses by a combined eight points, the Stallions opened up their 1994 season with a 34-13 win over Brookhaven. The Stallions jumped out to a 34-0 lead after a four-yard rushing touchdown by quarterback Matt D’Orazio.

The 1994 Stallions would go on to become the program’s first team to go undefeated in the regular season since 1986 and would set a school record for most points scored in the regular season (387). Brookhaven junior and current SFD parent Kenyetietta Quinn, led all rushers with 136 yards on 24 carries.

Where Are They Now? - Malcolm Burrell '10

Week 3
Malcom
BURRELL

Linebacker / Running Back
2006-2009

The third edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2022 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Malcolm Burrell ‘10!

Malcolm led the 2009 Division-III State Runner-up Stallions with 180 tackles and was also a Wrestling State Qualifier at 189 pounds! After DeSales, he went on to play collegiately at Ohio Northern University, where he appeared in 37 games for the Polar Bears.

Here, Malcolm talks about his playing days at DeSales and how him and his wife are expecting the birth of their first child!

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

The Stallions captured the 2009 Region 12 Championship - the 10th in program history.

This Date in SFD Football History (8/26/05)

Chris Thomas (pictured above) and the Stallions steamrolled Toledo St. Francis in a 42-7 win in the 2005 season opener. Thomas led the way with 238 yards rushing and two touchdowns as the Purple and White piled up 484 yards in the victory. Senior quarterback Matt Mangini crossed the goal line three times for DeSales, the eventual 2005 Division-III State Runner-up.

Where Are They Now? - Jamey Cua '86

Cua rushed for 185 yards against Ironton in a State Semifinal

Week 2
Jamey
CUA

Running Back
1982-1985

The second edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2022 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent, is Jamey Cua ‘86!

After setting the DeSales rushing record on the 1985 State Championship Team, Cua went on to play at Marietta, where he was a four-time All-OAC selection and a two-time All-American. The 2005 Marietta Athletic Hall of Fame inductee also played two years professionally in Europe.

Here, Jamey talks about playing for Coach Pusateri and being one of 53 family members to graduate from St. Francis DeSales.

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

1985 Division-III State Champions

DeSales 28, Tri-Valley 0, final

Junior quarterback Avery Garlock (128, 3TD) and senior running back Gabe Caruso (103) each had 100-yard games rushing in the first-ever meeting between the two programs. For Caruso, it was the time in his career eclipsing the 100-yard rushing plateau.

DeSales held the Scotties to 14 yards of offense (0 in the first half) and just two first downs to improve to 1-0 on the season. Sophomore nose guard Ty Neubert scored on an interception return from 18 yards out. Isaac Isaac Pekarcik and Cooper Simpson recorded interceptions for the Stallions in the program’s first shutout since 2018.

Where Are They Now? - Aaron O'Reilly '99

Week 1
Aaron
O’REILLY

Defensive Back
1995-1998

The first edition of "Where Are They Now" for the 2022 season, presented by Ben Aucoin, State Farm Agent. In honor of the upcoming 25-year anniversary of the 1997 Division-III State Championship Team, it's Aaron O'Reilly '99!

A starting corner in THREE state championship games at DeSales, Aaron was a First Team All-Ohio performer as senior in 1998, who went onto become a two-time All-Conference selection at Ashland, where he was a captain as a senior.

Tomorrow night against Franklin Heights, Aaron officially begins his 15th season as the Defensive Coordinator for Hamilton Township. Additionally, he's entering his 18th year as a teacher and is also the Head Wrestling Coach and an Assistant Track Coach at Hamilton Township.

Here, Aaron reflects on his playing days and being a part of two State Championship Teams: www.pouringpurple.com/where-aaron-oreilly

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

1997 Division-III State Champions

St. Francis DeSales Stallion Football

  • 3 State Championships  

  • 6 State Runner-Up  

  • 32 Playoff OHSAA Playoff Appearances

  • 63 Playoff Wins

  • 12 Regional Championships

  • 26 CCL/OCL Titles

  • 9 Undefeated Regular Seasons