Tarblooder Legacy Grows as Glenville Claims Third Title in Four Years
CANTON — Glenville did not simply win another championship on Saturday. The Tarblooders delivered a complete performance that reflected everything Ted Ginn Sr. has poured into this program for decades. The night belonged to toughness, unity, purpose, and a defense that made one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Ohio history look ordinary.
The Division IV state championship opened as a defensive battle until special teams created the first spark. Jaquan Gibson’s 92-yard punt return broke the game open and set an early tone for a Glenville team that was faster and more physical across the board.
Shelby briefly answered with a creative goal-line package that allowed Michael Shepherd to sneak in for a score after a long catch set them up near the end zone. However, from that moment on, Glenville began closing the door on the Whippets. The defense tightened, the run game found its rhythm, and the Tarblooders slowly took full control of the night.
Game MVP Romell Phillips hammered away for 138 yards on 14 carries. C. J. Newell added 81 yards and two touchdowns, including a powerful 10-yard run that helped Glenville create separation before halftime.
“This was our last game, so it was more of an emotional game,” Newell said. “That is what really took over for me.”
He played the full game despite a dislocated toe from the previous week and ran with the urgency of someone determined to finish the season on his terms.
By the end of the night, Glenville’s defense produced a near perfect performance. Shelby quarterback Brayden DeVito, a Mr. Football finalist who entered the game with more than 17,000 career yards, was held under 40 yards passing and was sacked four times. The Whippets finished with fewer than 50 total yards of offense. That number is remarkable against any opponent, and it becomes even more striking when the opponent is a high powered offense led by one of the most productive players in state history.
“They have not faced a defense with our speed, our size, and somebody in the middle like myself,” said Ohio State commit and Mr. Football Finalist Cincere Johnson. His presence forced adjustments on every snap and allowed Glenville’s pass rush to overwhelm the pocket.
The Tarblooders shrugged off 140 penalty yards and continued applying pressure. Arvell Nelson threw two touchdown passes, including a 38-yard strike to Joseph Saffold in the fourth quarter that pushed the lead to a running clock at 38-7. Uriah Webber added a late touchdown that brought the final score to 45-7.
Afterward, Coach Ginn reflected on what this group means to the city that raised them.
“They had the intent to be the example of hope for other kids. To be the example for our city and our public schools,” he said. “I am huge on that.”
He later offered one of the most meaningful lines of the night.
“In the academic realm, they teach you the lesson and then they give you a test. In the spiritual realm, they give you the test and you learn your lesson. Today we passed the test for 16 weeks.”
It was a fitting reflection for a team that battled adversity, injuries, and one of the toughest out of conference schedules in the state. Glenville never wavered, and in that resilience Ginn saw the true identity of his group.
“It was not going to be easy this year,” he said. “He put these obstacles in front of you. You got to get through it. They believed the whole time. Today sealed the deal.”