CANTON — It took Ted Ginn Sr. 25 years as head coach to win his first state championship. The second one came just one year later. 

What You Need To Know

  • Cleveland Glenville defeated Kettering Alter 38-3 to win the OHSAA Division IV football state championship

  • Ruel Tomlinson threw for 207 yards and ran for another 83 in the win
  • It's the Tarblooders second state title all-time

Glenville (13-2) beat Alter 38-3 in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division IV title game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. 

The Tarblooders controlled the entire first quarter, possessing the ball for all but 51 seconds, and outgaining the Knights (12-4) 140 to 4 in total offense, building a 14-0 cushion. Glenville was ahead 18-3 at halftime, outgaining Alter by 236 yards.

There were several outstanding performances from the Tarblooders. Running back D’Shawntae Jones carried 30 times for 161 yards. In three career games (2022 Division IV championship game vs. Wyoming & season opener against Dinwiddie, Virginia) in the shadows of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jones has over 500 yards rushing. 

While the Tarblooders rule Division IV, quarterback Ruel Tomlinson completed 10 of 17 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns. He added 83 yards on the ground.

Future Buckeye Damarion Witten was the recipient of two of those touchdown tosses, compiling five catches for 86 yards, and also hauled in a two-point conversion. 

For the game, Glenville finished with 461 yards of total offense. 

The Tarblooders improved to 13-0 in the season when scoring 34 or more points, and Ginn improved his career record to 248-62, as the Cleveland Metropolitan School District celebrates another state title.