OHIO — There are 28 programs left in the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs. They are so close to a state title, they can taste it.
For some, that meal is traditional with all the familiar trappings. Newark Catholic (27 state semifinal appearances), Marion Local (19), Coldwater & Moeller (17), Versailles (13) and St. Edward (11) are no strangers to this point in the playoffs.
For others, it’s a meal they’ve only heard, described and witnessed from a distance. West Holmes, Granville and Port Clinton all captured the first regional titles in school history last weekend.
Before anyone gets a look at the menu, they have to win a state semifinal first. Spectrum News 1 will be the maître d, providing coverage of all 14 games on Spectrum News 1, the Spectrum News App and the OHSAA website.
Division I – St. Edward vs. Upper Arlington (Friday in Mansfield)
Watch: St. Edward vs. Upper Arlington
Friday night in northern and central Ohio, viewers will see the first-ever playoff match-up between St. Edward and Upper Arlington, played at Mansfield’s Arlin Field. The Eagles took home the Region 1 championship with an impressive 41-6 win over Medina. St. Edward is in search a fifth state title, winning most recently in 2018.
The Golden Bears lone state championship was in 2000, which is also the last year the school can claim a regional crown. UA outlasted Pickerington Central 21-14 in three overtimes last week to advance.
Division I –Moeller vs. Springfield (Friday in Sidney)
Watch: Moeller vs. Springfield
In southwest Ohio, a great storyline awaits the winner of Moeller vs. Springfield no matter the outcome. Yes, the Crusaders have a storied history with nine state titles (last in 2013), and 37 playoff appearances, but the program is rebounding from a 34-41 overall record since their last state championship. Moeller beat Lakota West 21-17 in the Region 4 final.
Springfield, meanwhile, won its third straight Region 2 title by blanking Marysville, 27-0. The Wildcats have run into (Cincinnati) Greater Catholic League South opponent each time, losing to Elder (2019) and St. Xavier (2020) the past two years.
Division II – Hoban vs. Avon (Friday at Parma Byers Field)
Watch: Hoban vs. Avon
Along similar lines, in Division II, Avon also finds itself in a familiar position. The Eagles are celebrating a fifth straight regional title (by beating Toledo Central 43-42 in overtime), but haven’t advanced to the state championship game since 2011. Three of those four losses in the state semis have been to Hoban. Avon is just the 13th program in OHSAA history with five straight state tournament appearances, and the only one from Lorain County.
All the Knights have done is win state championships in five of the past seasons, including in 2020, knocking off Massillon on the Tigers’ home field. Hoban wore down Walsh Jesuit in the Region 5 final last week, prevailing 49-30.
Bonus coverage of this game will be available on Spectrum channel 314.
Division II – Green vs. Winton Woods (Friday at Westerville Central)
Watch: Green vs. Winton Woods
No OHSAA “bracketologists” would have put two seven seeds together in a state semifinal, but here we are. One of the biggest surprises last weekend was Green’s 26-25 upset of Massillon in the Region 7 final. The Bulldogs scored the winning touchdown in the final seconds to advance to the state semifinals for the first time in 20 years.
Winton Woods has become one of those programs built for the post-season. First year head coach Chad Murphy has the Warriors in the state tournament for the third time in five years. Winton Woods won it all in 2009, and lost in the 2017 Division II championship to Hoban. The Warriors bettered top-seeded Piqua in the Region 8 final (38-17)
Division III – West Holmes vs. Chardon (Friday at Twinsburg)
Watch: West Holmes vs. Chardon
This Division III semifinal features a battle of undefeated teams. West Holmes (14-0) has reached the state tournament for the first time ever, thanks to a 31-21 win over Holy Name in the Region 10 final.
Chardon (also 14-0) is the defending Division III state champion, and is riding a 26-game winning streak, and victorious in 33 of its last 34 contests. The Hilltoppers topped Dover 31-3 to earn a Region 9 title.
Division III – Granville vs. Badin (Friday at London)
Watch: Granville vs. Badin
Granville is another first-time regional champion, surviving a wild, 57-49 game against Western Brown in the Region 11 final. The Blue Aces are one of eight teams still playing without a loss, including all four Division III semifinalists.
Hamilton Badin rallied from a 9-0 fourth quarter deficit against Bellbrook, to pull out a 21-9 win in the Region 12 final. The Rams are seeking the school’s first state title since 1998.
Division IV – Port Clinton vs. Ursuline (Friday at Euclid)
Watch: Port Clinton vs. Ursuline
Port Clinton upended defending Division IV state champion Van Wert (49-21) to take the school’s first-ever Regional (14) title back to the shores of Lake Erie. The Redskins only loss in 2021 was to Perkins in week three.
Similar to Moeller in Division I, Youngstown’s Ursuline has returned to previous glory. The Fighting Irish handed West Branch its only defeat of the season in a 64-35 win in the Region 13 final. Ursuline won three state titles under Dan Reardon from 2008 through 2010, but fell on hard times (8-32 from 2016-19) following that. Reardon has since returned, and has the Irish in position to add to the school’s trophy case.
Division IV – Clinton-Massie vs. Bloom-Carroll (Friday at Jonathan Alder)
Watch: Clinton-Massie vs. Bloom-Carroll
Clinton-Massie is another program used to playing into the holiday season, winning back-to-back state championships in 2012-13. Longtime head coach Dan McSurley coached the Falcons to a fifth regional title with a 28-27 win over McNicholas in the Region 16 final.
Bloom-Carroll is back as a state semifinalist for the second straight year (beat St. Clairsville 14-3 in the Region 15 final), hoping to make that next step. The Bulldogs have tough on defense all year, allowing seven points or less in 11 of 14 games, including the last six.
Division V – Kirtland vs. Ottawa-Glandorf (Saturday at Clyde)
Watch: Kirtland vs. Ottawa-Glandorf
In Division V, Kirtland is just a few wins short of history. The Hornets have won three straight state titles, and six since 2011. Kirtland also is on a 54-game winning streak, the longest active of any high school football team in the country. It ties Versailles (1993-97) mark as second-longest in OHSAA history, and is just three away (Delphos St. John’s 1996-2001) from the top mark. The Hornets beat South Range (38-15) in the Region 17 final.
Ottawa-Glandorf was sitting at 3-3 on the year, following a September 24 loss to Van Wert. Since then, the Titans have won eight straight, including a 31-6 triumph over Elyria Catholic in the Region 18 final, just the second regional championship in school history.
Division V – Versailles vs. Harvest Prep (Saturday at London)
Watch: Versailles vs. Harvest Prep
You can’t talk about the OHSAA playoffs without bringing up the Midwest Athletic Conference, which has three teams still playing. One of them, Versailles, is chasing the school’s first state title since 2003. The Tigers’ lone loss was to Marion Local in week three (more on the Flyers later), and reached the state semis with a 28-0 Region 20 final win over Preble Shawnee.
Harvest Prep, from Canal Winchester, was bumped up two years ago from Division VII, thanks to competitive balance, and the Warriors have gotten acclimated to their new surroundings. Harvest Prep beat Wheelersburg 20-17 to claim the Region 19 championship.
Division VI – New Middletown Springfield Local vs. Carey (Saturday at Euclid)
Watch: Springfield Local vs. Carey
Earlier we mentioned Springfield in Division I trying to get over the state semifinal hump, and in Division VI it’s Springfield Local looking to get past the next hurdle. The Tigers have lost in the Division VI state championship game in 2019 and 2020, but can’t overlook this Saturday’s state semifinal. Springfield Local topped Mogadore 43-27 in the Region 21 final.
Before Springfield Local can worry about finishing a championship run, it gets the Region 22 champion, Carey. The Blue Devils lost only their season opener to Hopewell-Loudon, which is still alive in the Division VII playoffs. Carrey beat Liberty Center 31-7 in that regional final, and the school last won a state title back in 1975.
Division VI – West Jefferson vs. Coldwater (Saturday at Piqua)
Watch: West Jefferson vs. Coldwater
West Jefferson also has state titles in that same time frame, winning in 1976 and 1982. The Roughriders advanced past Fort Frye, 16-14, in the Region 23 final. Head coach Shawn Buescher is hoping for two more games to coach his son, starting quarterback Tyler.
Coldwater, another MAC school, is the defending Division VI state champion, and has seven state titles on its resume. The Cavaliers were 49-7 winners over Allen East in the Region 24 final.
Division VII – Warren JFK vs. Newark Catholic (Saturday at Marlington)
Watch: Warren JFK vs. Newark Catholic
In Division VII, Warren JFK matches up for the second straight year against Newark Catholic in the state semifinals. The Eagles won Region 25 with a 20-13 overtime victory against Dalton. JFK won the school’s second state title in 2016.
Newark Catholic is one the most successful playoff programs in OHSAA history. The Green Wave have eight state titles (most recently in 2007), 14 championship game appearances, and an astonishing 27 trips to the state tournament. The most recent ticket was punched with a 25-20 win over Shadyside in the Region 27 final.
Division VII – Hopewell-Loudon vs. Marion Local (Saturday at Lima Spartan Stadium)
Watch: Hopewell-Loudon vs. Marion Local
Hopewell-Loudon finds itself in the hunt for a state title for the first time since 2007-08, when the Chieftains lost back-to-back state championship games. Hopewell-Loudon beat Lima Central Catholic 54-26 in the Region 26 final.
Marion Local, another flying the MAC flag, rolled to a Region 28 title by beating another MAC school, St. Henry (27-8). The Flyers beat both Versailles and Coldwater in the regular season, and are looking to add to the school’s 11 state championships.
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 next week’s state championships.
The OHSAA announced this week the games and times for the finals, December 2-4 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton:
Thursday, Dec. 2 – Division II (7 p.m.)
Friday, Dec. 3 – Division IV (10:30 a.m.)
Friday, Dec. 3 – Division III (3 p.m.)
Friday, Dec. 3 – Division I (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, Dec. 4 – Division VII (10:30 a.m.)
Saturday, Dec. 4 – Division VI (3 p.m.)
Saturday, December 4 – Division V (7:30pm)
It will all be on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App, your home for high school sports, with coverage beginning 15 minutes before each game on OHSAA Championship Gameday.