OHIO — The expanded Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs certainly stretched the fun factor in the first weekend. A total of 33 lower-seeded schools were winners, including at least one from all 16 seed lines. Edison had a lightbulb moment, charging its way past top-seeded Bellevue in Region 14, the lone 16-seed to advance. 

The lowest seed in Division I to pull a shocker was number 13 Dublin Coffman, which knocked off number third-seeded Wayne in Region 2 with this play: 

There were thrilling finishes on Spectrum News 1 as well. Elder needed three overtimes to outlast Colerain 55-48 in Region 4, moving the Panthers on to face fellow Greater Catholic League South member (and defending state champion in Division I) St. Xavier. 

In northeast Ohio, St. Ignatius survived a furious Mentor rally to win 35-32 in Region 1. That earned a match-up in the regional quarterfinals against Stow. 

There’s plenty more in store this week, live on Spectrum News 1, and the Spectrum News App, Friday at 7 p.m. 

Division I, Region 1     5. Massillon Jackson (9-2) vs. 4. Canton McKinley (7-4) (northern Ohio)

Division I, Region 3     6. Pickerington North (8-3) vs. 3. Gahanna (7-2) (central Ohio)

Division II, Region 8    6. La Salle (6-4) vs. 3. Anderson (9-2) (in southwest Ohio)

Stark County neighbors Massillon Jackson and Canton McKinley will be on opposite sidelines of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (site of this year’s OHSAA Championships). 

The Federal League members met a month ago with Bulldogs eking out a 29-28 win, their 14th straight in the series going back to 2008. Since 2002, McKinley leads Jackson 17-3, and owns the only victory in a playoff match-up, winning 17-13 in 1998 in route to a state title. 

Interim Head Coach Antonio Hall was on that team as a player and is hoping a playoff run could potentially help remove the interim from his title. 

The Polar Bears’ 35-17 win over Strongsville last week was just the second-ever playoff win in Jackson history.

In central Ohio, Pickerington North visits Gahanna, seeking revenge from a 28-20 Lions win just two weeks ago. The teams have closed out the regular season each year since 2016, but Gahanna’s victory ended a five-game Panther winning streak in the series. 

All-time, Pickerington North has picked up nine of the 14 meetings, although this is the first one in the postseason. The Panthers other two losses this year were to undefeated Marysville and undefeated New Albany, while handing rival Pickerington Central its only defeat to date. 

It’s been a disjointed season for Gahanna, with two games canceled in September. The Lions resume includes wins over Centerville, Hilliard Darby and (previously mentioned) Pickerington North, all schools still alive in the playoffs. The only defeats were in week one to Mason, and to unbeaten New Albany. 

In southwest Ohio, the La Salle Lancers will joust with Anderson for the second straight year in the playoffs, defeating the Raptors 55-30 at home in 2020. La Salle won the only other meeting in series history, as well, by a 51-10 count in 2007. 

The Lancers have been one of the state’s most successful programs over the past eight seasons, winning multiple state football championships:

Most OHSAA Football State Championships Since 2014

  • 5 – Hoban
  • 4 – La Salle, Kirtland, Marion Local
  • 3 – St. Edward, Coldwater

La Salle will try and reverse recent fortunes, coming into this game having dropped four of its last six, although those were to GCL South rivals Moeller, St. Xavier and Elder, as well as powerhouse Indianapolis (IN) Cathedral Prep. The Lancers have been without star running back Gi’Bran Payne (injury) for most of this season, as the Indiana commit has only played in six games, and not since Oct. 1. 

Meanwhile, Anderson won it all in 2007, and hopes to build off a rigorous regular season schedule to try and make a similar run 14 years later. The two losses were to Division I Princeton (10-1) and fellow Region 8 member Kings (11-0). The Raptors handled business against Clinton-Massie (9-1), Winton Woods (8-2) and Milford (7-4). 

Other games available through https://ohsaa.tv are listed below. Spectrum customers can use their log-in information to access those games, but it’s highly recommended to use the Google Chrome web browser for best experience. 

Division I, Region 1                 6. St. Ignatius (7-4) vs. 3. Stow (9-2)

Division I, Region 1                 7. Cleveland Heights (9-2) vs. 2. Medina (11-0) 

Division I, Region 3                 9. Reynoldsburg (5-5) vs. 1. Upper Arlington (11-0)

Division I, Region 3                 5. Hilliard Darby (8-3) vs. New Albany (11-0)

Division I, Region 4                 12. Sycamore (6-5) vs. 4. Princeton (10-1)

Division I, Region 4                 7. Elder (5-5) vs. 2. St. Xavier (9-2)

Division II, Region 5                5. Walsh Jesuit (9-2) vs. 4. Hudson (9-2)

Division II, Region 7                5. Westerville South (8-2) vs. 4. Massillon (9-2)

Division III, Region 12             6. Wapakoneta (9-2) vs. Bellbrook (9-2) 

Coverage begins on Friday with High School Blitz at 6:55 p.m., and returns following each game when Neil Sika, Brett Hiltbrand and Matt D’Orazio break down the entire night and look ahead to the following week’s action. 

It all builds toward the OHSAA State Football Championships Dec. 2-4 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, and Spectrum News 1, your television home for high school sports.