When you drive down Karl Road on a crisp Friday evening in October, the air smells like popcorn and deep-seated North Side tradition. You can hear it before you see it. The rhythmic thumping of the drumline, the roar of a crowd that remembers the 70s, and the specific, metallic clatter of pads hitting pads. This isn't just another high school program. Columbus St. Francis DeSales football is basically a local institution that has survived demographic shifts, coaching changes, and the relentless evolution of Ohio high school sports.
It’s about the purple and white.
Honestly, if you grew up in Central Ohio, you either feared the Stallions or you were one. There’s no middle ground. While other schools chase the "spread offense" trends or try to reinvent themselves every five years, DeSales has largely stayed true to a brand of physical, smash-mouth football that feels a bit like a throwback, even when they’re running modern schemes. It’s a legacy built on the backs of legendary figures and a community that treats Alumni Stadium like a cathedral.
The Weight of the Tradition: More Than Just State Titles
Winning is hard. Staying relevant for fifty years is almost impossible.
DeSales has managed to do both, though it hasn't always been a straight line to the podium. You've got the historical giants like Coach Tony Pusateri, who basically architected the soul of the program. Under his watch, the Stallions weren't just a team; they were a machine. We’re talking about the state championships in 1985, 1997, and 1998. Those years didn't just happen. They were the result of a specific culture where the expectation was a deep playoff run, every single November. Period.
People often point to the trophies, but the real nuance of Columbus St. Francis DeSales football is in the lean years too. Even when they aren't lifting a gold trophy at the end of the season, they are almost always "the team you don't want to see in your bracket." Why? Because they play a style of ball that hurts. They specialize in defensive discipline and a running game that eventually wears you down to nothing.
The 1997-1998 back-to-back run is still the gold standard in the hallways of the school. It was a time when the CCL (Central Catholic League) was arguably the toughest neighborhood in the state. To come out of that gauntlet and then run through the playoffs? That takes a specific kind of mental toughness that seems to be passed down from older brothers to younger ones.
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The CCL Gauntlet: Why the Schedule is a Nightmare
You can't talk about the Stallions without talking about the Central Catholic League. It is a meat grinder.
Every year, DeSales has to line up against the likes of Bishop Hartley, Bishop Watterson, and St. Charles. These aren't just games; they are neighborhood wars. If you lose a CCL game, you're going to hear about it at the grocery store for the next six months. It’s that personal.
- Bishop Watterson: This is the big one. The "Holy War" or the "Karl Road vs. Cooke Road" showdown. When these two meet, the records usually don't matter. It’s about pride and North Side bragging rights.
- Bishop Hartley: A physical mirror image. Often, the winner of this game has a legitimate shot at a deep D-III or D-IV playoff run.
- The Independent Grind: Because the CCL is small, DeSales often has to schedule "up." You’ll see them playing D-I powerhouses or traveling across the state to play powerhouse programs in Cincinnati or Cleveland.
This schedule is the reason why a 7-3 DeSales team is often scarier than a 10-0 team from a weaker conference. They are battle-tested. They’ve been hit by the best. By the time Week 11 rolls around, the Stallions have usually seen every look and every level of speed the state has to offer.
The Coaching Legacy and the Ryan Era
Stability is a rare currency in high school sports. DeSales has been lucky—or maybe intentional—about who holds the whistle.
Ryan Wiggins is a name that defines the modern era of the program. A DeSales alum himself (Class of 1994), he understands the DNA of the school better than anyone. He isn't just coaching a team; he’s stewarding a legacy he lived as a player. Under Wiggins, the program has maintained its status as a perennial playoff threat, including a state runner-up finish in 2020 during that bizarre, shortened pandemic season.
That 2020 run was something else. They fell just short in double overtime against Chardon in the state final—a game that is still talked about as one of the best high school football games in Ohio history. It showed that even in a changing landscape where "super-teams" and recruiting (even at the high school level) are becoming more common, the DeSales system still works. It’s about grit. It’s about being better in the fourth quarter than you were in the first.
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Life on Karl Road: The Game Day Experience
If you've never been to a home game at Alumni Stadium, you're missing out on a piece of Americana.
The stadium itself isn't some glass-and-steel monstrosity. It’s functional. It’s intimate. The fans are right on top of the action. You have the "Stallion Pride" student section which is, frankly, one of the loudest in Columbus. They do the themes, they do the chants, and they make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks.
There’s a specific ritual to it. The pre-game prayer. The walk to the field. The way the band hits that first note of the fight song. For the players, it’s a heavy mantle. You see the retired jerseys and the banners, and you realize you’re playing for everyone who wore the purple before you. It’s a lot of pressure for a seventeen-year-old, but that’s what makes the program what it is. It filters for kids who can handle the spotlight.
Where the Talent Goes: From the North Side to Saturdays
DeSales isn't just a win-factory; it’s a talent incubator.
The list of guys who have gone from the North Side to Division I college football—and even the NFL—is long. We’re talking about guys like Luke Fickell, who is basically Ohio football royalty. Before he was coaching at Cincinnati or Wisconsin, he was a dominant force for the Stallions. Then you have names like Brian Bobek (Ohio State/Minnesota) and many others who found homes in the Big Ten, the MAC, or elite D-II and D-III programs.
The "DeSales player" has a reputation among college recruiters. Coaches know that if they recruit a kid from this program, they’re getting someone who is technically sound, extremely well-coached, and used to a high-pressure environment. They aren't "project" players; they are football players in the truest sense of the word.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Program
There’s a common misconception that DeSales just "gets all the best kids."
People look at the success and assume it’s all about recruiting or some unfair advantage. Honestly? That’s a lazy take. The reality is that the Columbus landscape is incredibly competitive. There are public school powerhouses like Upper Arlington or Gahanna Lincoln, and other private options. Kids choose DeSales because they want to be part of the specific culture.
It’s a blue-collar school in many ways. It’s not the wealthiest school in the district, and the facilities, while good, aren't the Taj Mahal. The "advantage" is the coaching stability and the fact that the alumni stay involved. You have former players from the 80s showing up to practice to talk to the defensive line. That kind of institutional memory is something you can’t buy. It has to be built over decades.
The Future: Can the Stallions Keep Pace?
The landscape of Ohio high school football is shifting. With the expansion of the playoffs to 16 teams per region and the constant shuffling of divisional lines by the OHSAA, the road to Canton is longer than it used to be.
But Columbus St. Francis DeSales football seems uniquely positioned to handle it. They don't rely on a "generational" quarterback or a single superstar. They rely on a system. Whether it’s a heavy-set I-formation or a modern spread look, the core philosophy remains: control the line of scrimmage, eliminate mistakes, and play defense like your life depends on it.
As long as the North Side community continues to buy into that "purple and white" identity, the Stallions will be a factor. They aren't going anywhere.
How to Follow the Stallions This Season
If you're looking to get the full experience or just want to track the team, here is the best way to stay in the loop:
- Check the OHSAA Brackets: Always keep an eye on Region 11 or Region 12, depending on the year's divisional assignments. That’s where the real drama happens in November.
- Attend the Watterson Game: If you only go to one high school game this year, make it the DeSales-Watterson matchup. Buy your tickets early; it will sell out, and the atmosphere is electric.
- Support the Boosters: The program runs on the "Stallion Club." If you're an alum or a local fan, that's where the funding for equipment and travel comes from.
- Follow Local Beat Reporters: For real-time updates, follow the Columbus Dispatch high school sports writers or local outlets like ThisWeek Sports. They provide the context that the scoreboard doesn't show.
The best way to understand the program is to see it in person. Put on something purple, grab a seat in the stands, and watch forty-eight minutes of the most disciplined football in Central Ohio. You’ll see why the tradition isn't just a slogan—it’s a way of life for the families on Karl Road.