SHELBY — Ted Ginn Sr. is not shy about what he wants his Cleveland Glenville football team to do offensively.
“I’m old school. If you can’t run the rock, you don’t have a team,” Ginn said Tuesday morning during a teleconference conducted by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.
Ginn, who took the helm at Glenville in 1997, is guiding the Tarblooders (11-3) into their third Division IV state championship game in the past four seasons. Glenville claimed back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, but fell to Sandusky Perkins in a regional final last season.
In his 29 seasons leading the Tarblooders, Ginn has a 274-69 record. Glenville enters this week’s state final against top-seeded Shelby (14-0) riding a six-game winning streak.
But don’t let the Tarblooders’ three losses fool you.
Glenville played arguably one of the hardest non-conference schedules of any team in the state this season — including games against Massillon Washington (Division II), Olentangy Liberty (Division I), Avon (Division II), Lakewood St. Edward (Division I) and Akron Hoban (Division II).
Those five teams have a combined record of 51-15 this season. Avon will compete Thursday night for a Division II state title.
Out of those five games, all of which Glenville played on the road, the Tarblooders defeated Massillon Washington and Olentangy Liberty. But Glenville only lost its three other non-conference games by a combined 29 points.
“I think this team is capable of that type of schedule,” Ginn said. “I’ve got a great senior group that has played together (since they were kids).”
To get back to Canton this year, Glenville’s postseason odyssey included wins over Salem, Lake Catholic, Perry and a fourth-quarter, come-from-behind victory over Indian Valley, the defending Division IV state champions.
The Tarblooders have averaged 31 points per game in the playoffs, while only giving up about one score per game defensively.
Two future Buckeyes lead Tarblooders’ defense
Glenville has five players who have accepted Division I scholarship offers, including linebacker Cincere Johnson (6-foot-3, 225 pounds), a four-star Ohio State commit and the state’s top-rated recruit in the Class of 2026.
“Cincere (Johnson) is the quarterback (of the defense),” Ginn said. “Cincere is smart, big and strong.
“But the key to him is his intelligence. It’s the intelligent part of him that keeps us going as a defense.”
A finalist for Ohio’s Mr. Football Award, Johnson led Glenville during the regular season with 112 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Not to be outdone, the Tarblooders also boast another OSU-signee in Jamir Perez (6-4, 330), a powerful defensive tackle.
Shelby coach Rob Mahaney said he recognizes Glenville spreads talent all over the field.
“Their defense plays fast and physical,” Mahaney said. “They’ve got size up front and defensive backs that can cover really well.”
We have to pay attention to him (Brayden DeVito) because he can kill you in several ways.
GLENVILLE COACH TED GINN SR.
The Tarblooders will be tasked with containing a Mr. Football finalist of their own Friday in Shelby senior quarterback Brayden DeVito, who will play at the U.S. Air Force Academy. DeVito has accounted for 69 touchdowns this season and 205 in his four-year career.
Ginn coached Glenville to a regional semifinal win over DeVito and the Whippets back in 2023. But the legendary coach said the senior has improved his game significantly over the past two years.
“(DeVito) is one of the most athletic quarterbacks that we have seen this year,” Ginn said. “He has grown a lot (since 2023). He is way different and better than he was in his younger years and he is more experienced.
“We have to pay attention to him because he can kill you in several ways. He can throw it and he can run it, so we’ve got to be disciplined in how we handle him,” he said.
Shelby expects to play the best in Glenville
Glenville is led offensively by senior quarterback Arvell Nelson Jr., who compiled 2,002 yards from scrimmage during the regular season and 22 TDs. Nelson has offers from Kent State and Youngstown State, according to 247Sports.
C.J. Newell, one of three Tarblooders being recruited by Bowling Green, rushed for 1,000 yards last season. Newell has spent more time focusing on defense this year, but still assists Glenville in the backfield on occasion — along with senior Romell Phillips and junior Da’Von McDougle.
Ginn said he likes to balance his offensive approach to 60 percent run and 40 percent pass.
“I’m a downhill guy, but we’ve got a lot of talent,” he said. “We’ve got great receivers and our quarterback has grown a lot.”
Mahaney said he knows it’s no secret Glenville wants to run the football.
“Their offensive line is pretty big and they want to run behind those guys,” he said. “They’ve got playmakers at receiver and a running back that can make plays.
“They have been battle-tested and there is a reason they are playing in this game. But there is a reason we are playing in this game too, and that’s what we talked to our guys about today.
“When you are playing in the state championship, you expect to play the best and that’s who we’re playing (in Glenville),” Mahaney said.