OHIO — Thanksgiving and football is a tradition that may not go all the way back to the Pilgrims, but it is deeply ingrained in American culture.
In Ohio, high school teams celebrate getting to practice on that holiday, as it means they are still in the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs and participating in the state semifinals.
All 14 of those games will be available to Spectrum customers (links below), including the OHSAA Game of the Week on Spectrum News 1.
Division I: St. Edward (12-1) vs. Hilliard Bradley (13-1) at Mansfield
In Northern and Central Ohio, it’s two-time defending Division I state champion St. Edward taking on first-time regional winner, Hilliard Bradley.
The Eagles won Region 1 with a 42-7 win over Medina and have a 16-game postseason winning streak. The average score in four playoff wins this year has been an extremely lopsided 40-4.
The Jaguars got past Upper Arlington 35-28 in double-overtime in the Region 3 final. Elusive quarterback Bradyn Fleharty was injured on what turned out to be the winning touchdown. His availability and effectiveness remain to be seen in the first-ever meeting between the schools.
Division I: Moeller (10-4) vs. Springfield (9-5) at Piqua
In Southwest Ohio, for the third straight year, Moeller meets Springfield in a state semifinal. The Wildcats won 28-24 in comeback fashion last November, with a 48-yard touchdown with just over four minutes remaining. In 2021, the same player (Anthony Brown) scored the winning touchdown with 3:43 in the game, providing a 22-21 win.
Number 12 Springfield, which was 1-3 at one point and finished the regular season at 5-5, matches Lake Catholic in 2020 as the lowest seed ever to win an OHSAA football regional title, beating Dublin Coffman, 21-14.
The Crusaders, trying to get back to the state championship game for the first time since 2013, blanked Lakota West (22-0) in the Region 4 championship.
Division II: Massillon (14-0) vs. Anderson (13-1) at Historic Crew Stadium
Contrasting styles will clash in Historic Crew Stadium in a Division II semifinal. Anderson, a 49-28 winner against Withrow in the Region 8 final, averages over 42 points a game on offense. Massillon, meanwhile, boasts of a rugged defense that permits just 7.6 a contest.
The Tigers tamed Green 31-6 last week in the Region 7 title game and are still in search of the school’s first state championship in football since the current playoff format was introduced in 1972.
While this is the first meeting between the two schools, the Raptors won their only state title (2007) in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium and reached the championship game there again the following year.
There will be bonus coverage of this game available on Spectrum channel 314.
Division II: Hoban (12-1) vs. Avon (14-0) at Byers Field
No introductions will be needed in the other Division II semifinal. For the fifth time in seven years, all in the state semifinals, Avon plays Hoban. For the third straight time, the game is at Byers Field in Parma.
The Eagles are looking to finally breakthrough, losing the previous four meetings. Avon flew past Highland, 28-14, in the Region 6 championship game.
The Knights beat Walsh Jesuit 30-6 for the Region 5 title. Hoban is one win away from a fourth straight trip to the state championship game, but hasn’t won it all since 2020.
Division III: Chardon (11-3) vs. Toledo Central Catholic (14-0) at Elyria
While Chardon and Toledo Central Catholic are meeting for the first time, these programs are acquainted with recent playoff success. The Fighting Irish won the Division II title a year ago, and the Hilltoppers topped Division III in 2020-21.
Chardon got here with a Region 9 championship victory over Ursuline (31-14) and has ripped off eight straight wins after a 3-3 start.
Toledo Central Catholic has been dominant in its quest to repeat, scoring 40 or more points in seven straight games, the most recent a 41-6 triumph over Tiffin Columbian in the Region 10 championship.
Division III: Watterson (13-1) vs. Celina (12-2) at Xenia
Also, meeting for the first time in the other Division III semifinal are Watterson and Celina.
The Eagles captured their first regional title since 2010, defeating Bellefontaine 19-13 in the Region 11 championship game.
It’s been 25 years since the Bulldogs hoisted a regional title trophy, knocking off previously undefeated Badin (37-25) in the Region 12 championship.
Division IV: Canton South (14-0) vs. Glenville (11-2) at Wadsworth
The South Side of Canton is beaming with pride as the Wildcats have marched to 14 straight victories and Canton South’s first ever regional title, beating Struthers 35-13 in the Region 13 championship.
Defending Division IV state champion Glenville awaits in this semifinal, however. The Tarblooders’ losses this year were to Avon and Hoban (playing each other in a Division II state semifinal). Glenville also lost to IMG Academy in Florida, which didn’t count in the OHSAA rankings.
Division IV: Alter (11-3) vs. Steubenville (13-1) at Westerville Central
Plug Alter and Steubenville high schools into any map app, and it will show they are 224 miles apart. Cross-reference those two in the OHSAA history books and they are much closer.
All-time, the Big Red lead the series 3-1, however they split a pair of state championship games in 2008 (Alter won a Division IV title 21-6) and 2006 (Steubenville won a Division III title 34-33). The two also met in a 1987 state semifinal (also won by Steubenville 28-10).
Following a Region 15 title and a 14-7 win over Sheridan, the Big Red have won 13 straight after opening the year, with a loss to Ursuline.
The Knights have allowed just nine total points in four playoff wins, the most recent the Region 16 championship game over Wyoming (17-0). Legendary head coach Ed Domsitz has won two state titles in his 32 seasons at the school, with over 300 career wins.
Division V: Harvest Prep (12-1) vs. Perry (14-0) at Shelby
History will be made at Shelby in a Division V state semifinal, as either Harvest Prep or Perry will advance to the state championship game for the first time.
The Warriors captured their fourth regional title in eight years, knocking off Wheelersburg in the Region 19 final (22-0).
Meanwhile, the Pirates have been a machine in accumulating an undefeated record. Perry has six shutouts on defense and held 10 opponents to single digits. The offense has done its part, too, going over 30 points in all but one game.
Division V: Liberty Center (14-0) vs. Valley View (13-1) at Sidney
Back in 1997, both Liberty Center (Division V) and Valley View (Division IV) captured state championships. 26 years later, those two will square off in a Division V state semifinal.
The Tigers absolutely dominated their regular season, beating all ten opponents by at least 21 points. That included a 62-0 win over Patrick Henry, which is in a Division VII state semifinal. The tightest game of the year came in the Region 18 final, a 17-7 win over Coldwater.
The only thing keeping the Spartans from an undefeated season was a week 10 loss to Waynesville, which was avenged in the Region 20 championship game (42-24). Valley View has hit 40-plus points 11 times in the year.
Division VI: Kirtland (13-1) vs. Garaway (14-0) at Louisville
There are so many impressive stats that can be attributed to the run Kirtland is on over the last 13 years. All but one of those (2016) resulted in a regional championship, this time a 42-0 triumph over Mogadore in Region 21. The Hornets have never lost a state semifinal game and are two wins from the school’s seventh state title (first since 2020).
Trying to prevent that is Garaway, coming off its first ever regional final win, beating West Jefferson 42-7 in Region 23. The Pirates have been consistent in the post-season with winning scores of 45-7, 49-7 and 42-7 (twice).
Kirtland has won the three previous meetings, all in the playoffs.
Division VI: Versailles (12-2) vs. Columbus Grove (12-2) at Wapakoneta
In 2003, Versailles won the Division IV state title, while Columbus Grove was the last team standing in Division VI. Their first-ever meeting now comes exactly 20 years later in a Division VI state semifinal.
The Tigers knocked off fellow Midwest Athletic Conference rival Anna in the Region 24 championship game, 41-14. Versailles’ only losses were to MAC powers Marion Local and Coldwater.
The Bulldogs dropped two of their first three this season (to Pandora-Gilboa and Patrick Henry), but have won 11 straight since, including the Region 22 championship over Bluffton (17-10).
Division VII: Caldwell (11-3) vs. Dalton (12-1) at Zanesville
Both Caldwell and Dalton are celebrating a first-ever regional championship but hoping it doesn’t stop here in the state semis.
The Redskins endured a three-game slide to challenging opponents (Barnesville, Fort Frye and Toronto) in weeks 7-9, but have found a firm footing in the playoffs, capped off by a Region 27 championship and a 20-19 win over Reedsville Eastern.
The lone loss for the Bulldogs was a 14-7 defeat to Kirtland in week one, with 12 straight wins (including a Region 25 title and a 3-18 win over Danville) following. Dalton won the only previous meeting with Caldwell, an 18-7 decision in the 1991 regular season.
Division VII: Marion Local (14-0) vs. Patrick Henry (12-2) at Lima Senior
Marion Local has won 46 straight games, going back to the start of the 2021 season, which includes a state title in 2021 (Division VII) and 2022 (Division VI).
The Flyers shutout Ansonia 48-0 for the Region 28 crown and have beaten their four playoff opponents by a combined 208-7 score.
The Patriots edged McComb 40-39 in the Region 26 championship game and are looking to get back to the state championship game for the first time since winning it all in 2005.
Marion Local has captured all five previous meetings, four of which have been in the playoffs, including three state semifinals.
Stay with Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App next week for the state championships Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton:
Thursday, Nov. 30 (7 p.m.) – Division II
Friday, Dec. 1 (10:30 a.m.) – Division VI
Friday, Dec. 1 (3 p.m.) – Division III
Friday, Dec. 1 (7:30 p.m.) – Division I
Saturday, Dec. 2 (10:30 a.m.) – Division VII
Saturday, Dec. 2 (3 p.m.) – Division V
Saturday, Dec. 2 (7:30 p.m.) – Division IV
Coverage begins 15 minutes prior with OHSAA Championship Gameday, which returns following each game for interviews and analysis.