High school football is different in certain pockets of the country. If you’ve ever stood on the sidelines in places like Toledo, Pittsburgh, or Modesto on a crisp October Friday night, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Central Catholic HS football isn't just a physical education requirement or a social hour for the students. It’s a machine. But it’s a human one.
When people talk about these programs—specifically the heavyweights like Toledo Central Catholic in Ohio or Pittsburgh Central Catholic in Pennsylvania—there is a tendency to assume it’s all about recruitment or fancy facilities. That’s a lazy take. Honestly, if you look at the actual data, these schools win because of a culture that most programs simply can't replicate. It’s about the "Irish" or "Viking" identity that gets drilled into these kids before they even hit puberty.
The Toledo Powerhouse: Greg Dempsey’s Dynasty
Let's look at Toledo Central Catholic (TCC). They moved to the Catholic High School League (CHSL) recently, a move that many thought would slow them down. It didn't. Under Coach Greg Dempsey, the Fighting Irish have become a perennial state title threat in Ohio. We’re talking about a program that has secured multiple state championships, including those back-to-back runs that solidified their spot in the history books.
Why do they win? It’s the trenches.
TCC consistently produces offensive linemen who look like they belong in a Big Ten weight room. They don't just run the ball; they impose their will. It's a specific brand of "bully ball" that is becoming rare in an era of 7-on-7 passing camps and "air raid" offenses. Dempsey has been there since 2000. Think about that for a second. In an era where coaches jump ship the moment a better offer comes along, twenty-plus years at one school creates a level of stability that is basically a cheat code.
What People Miss About the CHSL Move
The move to the Detroit-based Catholic High School League was a massive gamble. The competition in Michigan’s CHSL is widely considered some of the toughest in the Midwest. Most critics thought the travel and the elevated competition would lead to a "down" period. Instead, TCC went up there and started winning trophies. It proved that the brand of Central Catholic HS football played in Toledo wasn't just a local phenomenon—it was elite on a regional scale.
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The Pittsburgh Standard: A Pipeline to the Pros
Then you have the Vikings. Pittsburgh Central Catholic is a different beast entirely. If you walk through their hallways, you’re walking past the ghosts of NFL legends. This is the school of Dan Marino. It’s the school of Marc Bulger and Stefen Wisniewski.
In the WPIAL (Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League), Central Catholic is often the "villain" because they are consistently excellent. They play in Class 6A, the highest tier in Pennsylvania, and they do it with a roster that looks like a D1 college scout’s Christmas list.
- Damar Hamlin: Before he was a household name for the Buffalo Bills, he was a lockdown corner for the Vikings.
- Kurt Hinish: The Notre Dame standout and current NFL interior lineman.
- David Adams: Another Notre Dame product who defined the linebacker spot for years.
The difference in Pittsburgh is the speed. While the Toledo version of Central Catholic HS football is often defined by grit and power, the Pittsburgh version is often about sheer athleticism and professional-grade preparation. They run a pro-style system. They expect their players to watch film like coaches. It's basically a preparatory academy for the Saturday and Sunday levels of the game.
Why the "Private School" Argument is Mostly Noise
You’ll hear it every year. "They recruit." "They have an unfair advantage."
Here’s the reality: while private schools like Central Catholic can draw from a wider geographic area than a neighborhood public school, that doesn't account for the execution on the field. You still have to coach them. You still have to win the weight room in February when nobody is watching.
Public school traditionalists often point to the "boundary" advantage, but they ignore the "expectations" disadvantage. At a place like Central Catholic, if you go 7-3, it’s a failure. That is a heavy burden for a seventeen-year-old to carry. The pressure to maintain the legacy of those who came before you—the guys whose names are on the stadium or in the trophy case—is immense.
The Modesto Narrative: Central Catholic in California
We can't talk about Central Catholic HS football without mentioning the Raiders in Modesto, California. Coach Roger Canepa has turned that program into a small-school giant that plays like a large-school powerhouse. They have more state bowls than most entire counties.
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They are famous for the "Wing-T" and various power-running schemes that modern defenses have forgotten how to guard. It’s a bit of a throwback. While the rest of California is trying to be the next Lincoln Riley offense, Modesto Central Catholic is content to hit you in the mouth for 48 minutes. It works. They consistently take down schools with three times their enrollment because their conditioning is superior.
The Common Thread: More Than Just a Game
Across all these different "Central Catholics," there is a commonality that explains the SEO surge every Friday night. It’s the community. These schools have alumni networks that behave more like SEC colleges than high schools.
The funding is there, sure. But the presence is what matters. You have three generations of families showing up for a regular-season game. That environment creates a "big game" feel every week. When a kid steps onto that field, they aren't just playing for their teammates; they are playing for a lineage. It sounds cheesy, but if you've seen the pre-game tunnel at any of these schools, you know it's real.
Misconceptions About Recruiting
People think coaches are out there with suitcases of cash. Honestly, it’s mostly word of mouth. If a kid is a serious quarterback prospect, he wants to go where the offensive line is 6'4" and the coaching staff has NFL connections. Central Catholic HS football programs don't need to "recruit" in the traditional sense; the trophies in the lobby do the talking.
What to Expect If You’re Following the 2026 Season
If you are tracking these teams this year, keep an eye on the mid-season rankings. In Ohio, the computer points system (Harbin ratings) often rewards TCC because they play such a brutal out-of-conference schedule.
In Pennsylvania, the road to the PIAA state championship almost always goes through a matchup between Central Catholic and North Allegheny. It’s the "Clash of the Titans" that determines the state's hierarchy.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Parents
If you're a parent looking at these programs or a fan trying to understand the hype, here is the breakdown of what actually matters:
- Check the Coaching Tenure: If a Central Catholic program has a coach with less than three years of experience, they are in a "rebuild." If the coach has ten-plus years, they are a "system" team. Always bet on the system.
- Look at the Trenches: Don't get blinded by the flashy wide receiver stats. Central Catholic wins are built on the offensive and defensive lines. Look at the average weight of the starters. If they average over 260 lbs, they are going to win 80% of their games on sheer physics.
- Schedule Strength: These teams often travel across state lines. A loss in August or September to a national powerhouse doesn't mean they're bad; it means they are preparing for the playoffs.
- Alumni Involvement: Look at the sidelines. If you see former players who are now in college or the pros hanging out, that’s a sign of a healthy culture. It means the "brotherhood" isn't just a marketing slogan.
Central Catholic HS football is a unique subculture within the American sports landscape. It’s a blend of religious tradition, blue-collar work ethic, and high-level athletic talent. Whether you love them or hate them, you have to respect the consistency. They don't just have "good years"—they have "good decades."
To stay updated, you'll want to follow local beat reporters on X (formerly Twitter) rather than national outlets. The real nuances of these teams—the injuries, the line shifts, the locker room energy—are found in the local newspapers like the Toledo Blade or the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. That's where the real "expert" knowledge lives.