YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — For high school football fans in Ohio, it all comes down to this week’s state championships.

With an undefeated season, the South Range High School Raiders are preparing for their first-ever shot at the Division V title, and some in the community are looking to show their support for the team on their sleeves. 

Diane Croston and her kids Wesley and Cecilia visited Autograph Network in North Lima to shop for something special to wear to the big game. 

“It’s exciting, who knows when this will happen again,” Croston said. “We’re just excited.”

Jay Jones, the owner of Autograph Network, said he doesn’t get to go to a lot of the games, but glancing at the South Range stands, you’re likely to see him represented. 

Autograph Network designs and prints South Range spirit gear. It’s a top shop for Raider pride and has been for the past 25 years. Jones said he started the business after retiring from a 40-year career in civil engineering. 

“You don’t realize it until you look back and see how long it’s been,” he said. 

But with the team’s run to the playoffs this season, he’s been staying busy. 

“Just about every Friday we get packed in here,” he said, with fans shopping for last-minute team apparel. 

And Jones said this year’s team is worth rooting for. 

“South range has had a good team, they’ve had a good team for the last four or five years and now you’re just really reaping the rewards of it,” he said. 

The team faces off against Ironton for the state title at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.  

“Kids really deserve a shot nowadays,” he said. “They need a pat on the back when they’ve done something. And these kids have done something.”