TOLEDO, Ohio — Central Catholic's football program has claimed back-to-back state titles in the last two seasons.
But coming into this year, there were questions on whether they'd sustain that success. Fast forward to now, week 14, where the Irish will compete for the regional final on Friday.
One of their biggest offensive threats never had a doubt.
"We definitely knew it was gonna be a big change," said senior running back Tyler Morgan. "We had the team because coach Dempsey - regardless of what he has, he's going to make something work and we all came together and realized, either take the narrative of being the team that could've been or be the team."
The team put their heads together and are now in a position to compete in the regional final on Friday.
Morgan has been a driving factor in the Irish's success the last couple of seasons and now as a senior, he said he's leaned more into his role as a leader, both physically and vocally.
"It's just either you got to win or you got to go home and they're not ready to go home," Morgan said. "I know through the past years, I've basically said things that our former seniors would say to me."
Morgan added that the opportunity to still be playing at this point is not something he takes for granted and wants to continue to do it with his teammates.
"It's another opportunity for me to prove something, even if I have nothing left to prove," Morgan said. "A chance for me to let others win as long as I'm winning and we're winning and the team is winning. So I'm just happy to still be here."
But his reason for why it's important for him to keep going goes beyond the field. It's to pass down the tradition that was once passed to him.
"My older cousin got me a ring my sophomore year and I want to be able to give my sophomore younger brother a ring. I want to give him the chance to win the state championship, give a lot of other players a chance to win a state championship," he said. "Regardless of what the scoreboard says, what the clock says, we're giving 100% every single play and that's what I love about this team."
Tyler Morgan of Central Catholic High School is our Athlete of the Week.