OHIO — Friday night in Mercer County, the Ohio High School Athletic Association Game of the Week will feature two teams each ranked number one, with 21 combined state championships and 38 regional titles.

There’s also a state record winning streak on the line.

What You Need To Know

  • The OHSAA Game of the Week concludes the regular season on Friday, with the playoffs beginning Nov. 1

  • Marion Local goes for an OHSAA record 58 straight wins, playing its rival Coldwater with both teams coming in 9-0
  • The top spot in Region 3 is on the line when Olentangy Orange hosts Olentangy Liberty

  • Chardon visits Riverside in Northeast Ohio

Yet the number fans in attendance might most be concerned with? The 50/50 raffle, which can top over $10,000 for the winning ticket. What’s even more impressive is the stadium’s capacity is listed at 4,000. 

It’s one of the biggest games in the state annually, and Marion Local versus Coldwater figures to be worth every penny in 2024. 

For the third straight year, these Midwest Athletic Conference rivals meet on the final Friday of the regular season, each sporting a perfect, 9-0 record. 

The host Cavaliers are tied with Kirtland for top-ranked team in the state (Ohio Associated Press High School Football Poll) in Division VI, while the Flyers maintain that distinction in Division VII. 

Both schools can be found all over the OHSAA football record books. Marion Local’s 14 state championships are the most all-time, with Coldwater’s seven titles are only bested by five other programs. 

They each won four straight state titles in recent times, with the Flyers accomplishing the feat from 2011 through 2014, with the Cavaliers running nearly parallel from 2012 through 2015.

Marion Local can reach that feat again this year, should the Flyers win the Division VII championship, something they’ve done each of the past three seasons. In fact, you would have to go back to Nov. 6, 2020, for the last Marion Local loss, a span of 57 consecutive games without defeat, matching Delphos St. John’s (1996-2000) for the longest such streak in OHSAA history. 

Ironically, it was the Flyers that ended the Blue Jays’ 57-game run by knocking off Delphos St. John’s in a state semifinal back in Nov. 2000. 

This year’s Marion Local team has been dominant, outscoring nine opponents 428-22, with the closest margin of victory 21 points (Minster). The Flyers defense has six shutouts on the season, including the last four straight games. 

Coldwater has been red hot, too, with only one game (a 24-21 win over Minster) decided by single digits. Among the Cavaliers, impressive victories were triumphs over Division IV opponents Valley View and Clinton-Massie in the opening weeks of the seasons. Those programs are currently third and second, respectively, in Region 16. 

All-time, Coldwater has a slim 35-32-4 lead over Marion Local, but the Flyers have won the last five straight, including a 35-0 shutout a year ago. The Cavaliers’ last win in the series came in 2018. 

This contest is one of four around the state featuring a battle of unbeaten teams, which also includes Tippecanoe vs. Xenia, Medina Highland vs. Aurora and Columbus Grove vs. Bluffton.

Moving to Central Ohio, and the top two teams square off in Region 3, with the winner claiming the number one seed. That spot is currently held by Olentangy Liberty (7-2), with Olentangy Orange (8-1) right on its heels. 

The Patriots are one spot ahead thanks to wins over Olentangy (the Braves’ only loss) and two-time defending Division IV state champion Glenville. Liberty’s two losses were by a combined four points, falling to Olentangy Berlin 22-21, and Upper Arlington 31-28. 

The Pioneers lone defeat was to Gahanna and are ranked fourth in the AP Division I poll this week, two spots ahead of the Patriots. 

Liberty leads the overall series 11-4, including a 21-7 victory last year. Orange was a 23-7 winner in 2022. 

The Patriots will make an 11th-straight playoff appearance, while the Pioneers will be in the postseason for a third consecutive season, and tenth overall. 

Another team with recent state championship pedigree is on the docket in Northeast Ohio. Chardon won it all in back-to-back years (2020-21). The Hilltoppers close regular season action at Riverside.

Chardon (6-2) is currently fourth in the ultra-competitive Region (Division III) and already boasts four wins over Division II opponents.

That’s where the Beavers (4-5) can be found (Region 5), who have already wrapped up a playoff spot, sitting 11th in the computer points currently. A win could bring a home game next week in the first round. 

Since 1972, Chardon leads the series 33-21, including a 24-16 win last year. Riverside claimed a 21-7 triumph two seasons ago. 

The games begin at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App. 

Stay with Spectrum News 1 all season for the OHSAA Game of the Week, including live playoff action beginning Nov. 1, and the state championship games in Canton Dec. 5-7.

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