Archbishop Hoban and St. Vincent-St. Mary football series has been shut down

The high school football rivalry series between Archbishop Hoban and St. Vincent-St. Mary has been halted, STVM athletic director Kyle Sasala told the Beacon Journal in a text message Saturday morning.

St. Vincent-St. Mary made the decision. Sasala said STVM informed Hoban on Friday afternoon.

It means Hoban and STVM won't face each other in football during the 2023 regular season, rendering one of Akron's greatest sports rivalries inactive for the first time since 1995.

It's still possible the teams could meet in the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs, if they both remain in Division II and the Region 5 bracket takes a specific shape.

However, the annual game known as “the Akron Holy War” will no longer be scheduled by Hoban and STVM.

"We want to play football against St. Vincent-St. Mary, and, to me, it's just kind of a sad day for everybody that's been involved in 'the Holy War,'" Hoban coach Tim Tyrrell said by phone. "It's a sad day for the fans of Akron. They go to those games. To me, it's just a sad thing."

"It's just bad for the kids and the community on both sides," Hoban AD Matt Bing said by phone. "This was a longstanding thing that those kids got to do."

Phone calls to Sasala and STVM coach Terry Cistone were not immediately returned.

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In October, Hoban leadership was adamant it wanted to preserve the series whose victor claims the Shillelagh Trophy. STVM decision makers were noncommittal.

Since then, talks ensued. Each team had an opening on its 2023 schedule in Week 3, but to no avail.

STVM has secured a Week 3 opponent: Huber Heights Wayne, Sasala said in a text. Hoban still needs to find a Week 3 opponent, Tyrrell and Bing said.

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The demise of the series was finalized this week despite players from Hoban and STVM hoping it would survive.

Hoban has won the past 11 encounters, including three playoff games.

The streak began in 2015, Tyrrell's third season with Hoban. Under Tyrrell, the Knights have become a powerhouse, advancing to seven state championship games and winning five — two in Division III (2015-16) and three in Division II (2017-18, 2020).

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What happened the last time the 'Akron Holy War' game was played?

Last season, Hoban defeated STVM 28-14 on Oct. 7 at Green Street Stadium's John Cistone Field and 47-7 in a Division II regional semifinal Nov. 11 at the University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium.

The second loss dropped the Irish to 8-4 and ended their first season with Terry Cistone as his alma mater's head coach. Other recent changes at STVM include Leo Hyland becoming school president in 2021 and Sasala its AD last summer.

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Hoban finished the 2022 season with a record of 14-2 and a 28-21 loss to Toledo Central Catholic in the Division II state title game Dec. 1 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

Before Hoban's dominance, STVM had owned an eight-game winning streak (2007-14) in the series and won two Division III state titles (2012-13).

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Hoban went on a nine-game winning streak against STVM from 1998-2006 after they had split in 1996 and 1997.

This is not the first time the series has gone dormant. The programs did not meet from 1978-1995.

Terry Cistone was a junior on the 1977 STVM team. His legendary father, John, was the Irish's coach when the series shut down the first time.

St. Vincent and St. Mary merged in 1972. From 1972-77, STVM went 5-1 against Hoban.

Before the STVM merger, St. Vincent went 7-6 against Hoban from 1959-71. Hoban defeated St. Mary in 1958 and 1959.

For the past two decades-plus, the Hoban-STVM game drew large crowds to the Rubber Bowl in Akron and later InfoCision Stadium. COVID-19 restrictions forced the past three regular-season matchups away from UA.

Fans packed STVM's Green Street Stadium this past October. The next month, UA officials announced a crowd of 3,711 had attended the Hoban-STVM playoff game on a rainy night at InfoCision Stadium.

It might have been the last Hoban-STVM football clash for a while.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.