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TORONTO -- One of the biggest rivalries in the area is being renewed this week on the gridiron.
After a two-year hiatus, the Toronto and Catholic Central football teams are set to meet for the first time since 2023 at 7 p.m. Friday night at Clarke Hinkle Field.
"This game means a lot to our people, and it means a lot to them," Toronto (3-0) head coach Jaret Aubiel said. "It's really cool that we are able to renew this rivalry again."
The Red Knights defeated the Crusaders, 17-6, in the last meeting between the two Jefferson County rivals back in Week 10 of the 2023 season at home.
The Crusaders are excited about having the Red Knights back on their schedule.
"Absolutely, we are excited," first-year Catholic Central (1-2) head coach Greg Bahen said. "The community is excited. They don't like us, and we don't like them. They have been off the schedule for a couple of years. We haven't beaten them since 2018 or 2019, so it has been awhile. The kids are very excited. The community is excited. It is a rivalry game, so that adds another element to it."
Toronto defeated Catholic Central, 54-0, on Reno Saccoccia Field inside Harding Stadium in Week 10 of the 2022 season, however, Toronto was forced to forfeit the game due to the use of an ineligible player.
The Crusaders did defeat the Knights, 35-0, on the road in Week 1 of the 2018 season.
Both teams enter this week's game fresh off victories last week.
Toronto withstood multiple challenges to defeat Brookfield, 7-6, last Friday night at home. Toronto opened the season by shutting out Southern Local, 33-0, up at Wigwam Stadium before rallying to defeat Newcomerstown, 27-20, in Week 2 on the road.
"Our kids are gritty," Aubiel said. "They find a way to win in the late rounds. We returned some guys, and we have some new guys. We are relying on some of our older players. They are a good group."
The Red Knights have won all three games in different fashions.
"Obviously, they are a really-good football team," Bahen said. "They are playing well. They are finding ways to win games late in the game. Defensively, they made a lot of crucial stops last week, and they beat a good opponent. We are going to have to be at our best. We are going to have to be firing on all cylinders. We want to make it a four-quarter game. We want to keep it close into the fourth quarter and see what happens at the end of the game."
On the other side, Catholic Central picked up its first win of the season by defeating Bishop Rosecrans, 41-7, last Friday night on the road.
"Our defense played really well," Bahen said. "We held them to under 50 yards of offense. We did a lot of good stuff. Offensively, we made some big plays in our passing game. Our special teams were huge. We blocked two punts, and we recovered one for a touchdown. We blocked a field goal, and we returned a punt for a touchdown, but it was called back."
The win was Bahen's first as a head coach.
"It was a relief," Bahen said. "It was more of a relief. It is about wins and losses, but it is also about how you play and how you prepare. You have to trust the process. We started out 0-2. We were able to get the win last week. You take everything day by day. You want to have a good practice. You want to have good reps. You want to do your job. You want to do a good job with your repetitions. It is about the process."
Getting that first win as a head coach is a special moment for all coaches.
"It was really cool for Coach Bahen to get his first win," Aubiel said. "They are definitely going to be a challenge for us."
Catholic Central opened the season by falling to Lucas, 29-13, in Week 1 at Harding before losing to Strasburg, 28-0, in Week 2 on the road.
"They are a lot more balanced," Aubiel said. "They are threat. They can run the ball, and they can throw the ball. Their quarterback can run the ball, and he can throw the ball. They present a lot of challenges for us. They have modernized a lot of things."
The Red Knights have the potential to create a big play on offense from anywhere on the field.
"They have some really-good skill players," Bahen said. "Their quarterback is good. He's a lefty. He has a good arm. They like to take some big shots down the field. They like to create some splash plays. It all starts with us being able to stop the run. We have to make them one dimensional. We have to stop the run and take away the big play downfield. We have to eliminate the big play and keep them in front of us."
The Crusaders played a strong game defensively against the Bishops en route to the win.
"Defensively, they are physical upfront," Aubiel said. "They are fast in the secondary. They have a lot of athletes. They are going to be a challenge for us."
The Red Knights made crucial stop after crucial stop to pull out the one-point victory last week against the Warriors.
"Defensively, they have a lot of team speed," Bahen said. "No. 57 (Christian Briggs) is their best defensive lineman. He is super aggressive. He causes havoc. We are going to have to block him. We are going to have to take care of him. We cannot let him disrupt what we are trying to do. They gave up six points last week to a good team."
"We like our gameplan. We just have to execute. We have to stay on schedule. We have to stay out of third and long. We have to limit turnovers. We have had turnover issues. Their defense thrives on creating turnovers. They are going to be a good challenge for us."
Emotions tend to run high in rivalry games, and emotions will be high this week for both teams.
"We have talked to our kids about managing their emotions," Aubiel said. "We have made that a point of emphasis. Anytime you play a local team you are going to have that emotion. That has been a point of emphasis for us."
The Crusaders are also concerned about being two excited when they step onto the field Friday night.
"There is, but it is the same for them," Bahen said. "The game has been off for three or four years. Everyone is going to be excited. Everyone is going to be jacked up. Both teams are going to have some jitters. The best way to get over that is to go out and get hit.
"We just have to execute our gameplan. We have to be disciplined. We have to do our job."
The two teams first met all the back in 1937. Catholic Central leads the series against Toronto, 31-18-1.
"We ate excited about Friday night," Bahen said. "It is going to be a fun game. It is going to be a great atmosphere. There is going to be a great crowd. We want to keep it close. We want to stay attached. We want to make it a four-quarter game. We want to make them play all four quarters and see what happens."