CINCINNATI — The La Salle Lancers is known as one of Cincinnati’s best high school football teams.
So much so the program has been a pipeline to Ohio State at the specialist positions.
Two current Ohio State Buckeyes, Punter Drue Chrisman and Kicker Jake Seibert are counting down the days before playing in the National Championship game against Alabama.
Chrisman said it's been a tremendous five years in Columbus.
He said he can’t think of any other way to end his career.
“To win the thing? I mean, it’s storybook,” Chrisman said. “Already this season is going to be talked about for years to come. But to actually come out on top (after) everything that we’ve gone through. It’d be special for this team, in already what is a special season.”
Chrisman said it’s awesome that his High School alma mater is being represented on a national stage.
He also said it’s great to have a fellow Lancer along for the ride.
“Specialist U, La Salle High School,” Chrisman said. “Any kids thinking about playing for the Buckeyes one day go try to kick a ball at La Salle and that might happen. But Jake’s been great. It’s been awesome to pass on some of the knowledge that I’ve gained while I’ve been here. Reflect back on some high school memories that are unique to La Salle. He’s going to have a great career here and I’m excited to see the things that he does.”
Seibert’s younger brother, Ben, is a senior at La Salle.
Ben said he and his family are overjoyed that Jake will play on the biggest stage.
“It’s crazy,” Ben said. “I never would’ve thought my brother would be participating in a national championship. But he’s worked his butt off. He deserves it.”
Ben said his family will be traveling to the game to watch in person in Miami. He can’t imagine what it will be like if the Buckeyes win.
“Yeah, my family is probably gonna go crazy,” Ben said. “I don’t know what’s gonna happen.”
La Salle head coach Pat McLaughlin said he’s extremely proud that the Lancers program is going to be represented by two outstanding young men.
“I’m just happy for those kids,” McLaughlin said. “It’s good for our program. It’s great to see kids that work hard, do the right things, make good decisions have success on and off the field.”
But the La Salle pipeline doesn’t stop at Ohio State.
McLaughlin said the Lancers also have a senior cornerback, who shares the same name with Alabama’s Heisman Trophy-winning receiver DeVonta Smith.
La Salle's Devonta Smith is also headed to Alabama.
“Devonta’s been being hit up on Twitter and social media because they have the same name,” he said. “I gotta believe our Devonta Smith is going to have great success at Alabama just like the current one there.”
Chrisman said he has a lot of great memories from his time at OSU.
He's hopeful the Buckeyes can make one more.
“You mentioned the proposal, that’s always gonna be a big one, the wife,” Chrisman said. “That’s a special memory that we’ll have forever to show our kids and everything. But I still have one more memory to make. This is the one I’ve been looking forward to my entire career. This is a big reason why I came to Ohio State. Watching them on TV in high school in 2014 win it all. It was my dream to be in those shoes one day, so here we are.”
Ohio State faces Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship at 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.