In the OHSAA Division I State Football Championship matchup, St. Edward High School in Lakewood hopes to bring home another title as they take on Springfield High School.
The team has won four state titles since 2010.
“I mean, you got a target on your back when you're the St. Edward Eagles," said defensive line coach, Michael O'Malley, who played for St. Ed's himself. “You definitely feel that pressure each year and I definitely did going into both of my seasons here. I'd say that and then coaching as well you feel it.”
O'Malley was part of the 2014 and 2015 state championship teams before graduating in 2016.
The school has a reputation for strong athletics, but the football team hasn't won a championship since 2018 when the current senior class were freshmen.
“Everybody in my class and the class under me knew we wanted to be a part of that. It's just a different feeling to be there with your brothers and win the thing. We still have to win it, but win the thing," said senior defensive tackle CJ Harvey. “It's not been easy. We're working our butts off on and off the field. We put a lot of work into what we do. So, I feel like it's an added pressure but to us, we know it's not really there. To me, it's not really there.”
All that stands in the way of the No.1-ranked Eagles is the No. 2-ranked Springfield Wildcats.
"I can't really wait to play there is gonna be a really interesting game, no matter how it comes up,” Harvey said.
Springfield is playing in its first-ever state championship game.