OHIO — For some schools, an Ohio High School Athletic Association state semifinal in football is just part of the process. Five defending state champions are still alive in 2024, including four (St. Edward-three, Toledo Central Catholic-two, Glenville-two and Marion Local-three) who are coming off consecutive titles.
For others, this is unchartered territory, as five of the remaining 28 programs are playing at this level for the first time in school history. Indian Valley, Cincinnati Taft, West Liberty-Salem, Northmor and Hillsdale had not experienced a regional championship previously.
Just one win separates 14 teams from advancing to next week’s state championship games in Canton, and Spectrum customers can watch any of those contests (links below) on Friday night.
Division I – Olentangy Liberty (12-2) vs. St. Edward (9-5) at Mansfield Arlin Field
The OHSAA Game of the Week for Northern and Central Ohio features St. Edward and Olentangy Liberty.
The Eagles have won three straight Division I state titles, but this has been St. Edward’s most challenging season in that run. The Eagles suffered five regular season losses and have dealt with some injuries at key positions.
Their opponent is back in the state semis for the first time since 2018, a season that ended in defeat to St. Edward. Olentangy Liberty has won seven straight games, and while this is the Patriots fourth regional title, they have yet to reach a state championship game.
St. Edward won the other only matchup, also a playoff contest in 2014.
Division I – Centerville (11-3) vs. Moeller (13-1) at Princeton
The other Division I semifinal is the OHSAA Game of the Week in Southwest Ohio. Moeller is coming off a fourth straight Region 4 crown but couldn’t past Springfield in each of the past three seasons.
Now it’s a different Greater Western Ohio Conference opponent (Centerville) standing in the way. The Elks haven’t won a regional title since 1991 but come into this contest winners of nine straight after beginning the season 2-3.
The Crusaders have nine state championships all-time, but are trying to win their first since 2013, the last time Moeller got past a state semifinal. Centerville is looking for its first-ever state football title.
All-time the Crusaders lead the series 5-2, but the Elks’ two wins were in the playoffs, including the most recent matchup in 2010 (27-17 in a regional quarterfinal). The last Moeller triumph over the Elks was in the 2009 regular season.
Division II – Anderson (14-0) vs. Big Walnut (13-1) at Dayton Welcome Stadium
In Division II, we’ll have bonus coverage of Anderson and Big Walnut on channel 314, the first ever meeting between those two schools.
They do have a common bond, however, as both were state champions back in 2007. The Raptors won Division II that year, while the Golden Eagles were victorious in Division III.
Anderson has only one game all year (last week’s 28-21 win over La Salle) that has been decided by less than two touchdowns.
Big Walnut got here by knocking off (technically not an upset as the Eagles were the top seed in Region 7) defending state champion Massillon in last week’s regional final.
Division II – Avon (14-0) vs. Hoban (12-2) at InfoCision Stadium
Meanwhile, for the sixth time in eight years, Avon and Hoban will play for a state championship game birth. It’s been the Knights winners of the previous five, although last year’s contest was decided by just three points, and it was only a seven-point difference in 2021.
Hoban has reached the state title game in eight of the last nine years, however, haven’t won it all since 2020, losing the Division II final in three straight seasons.
Avon has won a regional crown in seven of the past eight years but hasn’t reached the state championship final since 2011.
Division III – London (14-0) vs. Watterson (14-0) at Teays Valley
A battle of unbeatens will take place when London meets Watterson for the second time in three years. The Eagles were a 41-22 winner in a 2022 regional quarterfinal.
Watterson hasn’t lost since falling to Toledo Central Catholic in last year’s Division III championship and haven’t had a game closer than 30 points since September.
Similarly, London hasn’t been challenged much, either, with its closest margin of victory all year at 12 points. The Red Raiders won the school’s first regional title since 1994.
Division III – Toledo Central Catholic (13-1) vs. Ursuline (13-1) at Elyria
Speaking of Toledo Central Catholic, it’s a battle of the Fighting Irish, featuring the first-ever matchup with Youngstown Ursuline in school history.
Toledo Central Catholic has five state titles on its resume, including back-to-back (although 2022 was in Division II).
Ursuline has four, including three straight from 2008-10, and came up just short of that goal in 2021, reaching the Division IV title game, and falling by one point when Clinton-Massie scored the winning touchdown and two-point conversion with 45 seconds left.
Division IV – Indian Valley (14-0) vs. Cincinnati Taft (12-2) at Historic Crew Stadium
Plenty of firsts in the other Division IV state semifinal, as neither Indian Valley nor Cincinnati Taft had previously won a regional championship.
This is also the first meeting between the two schools.
For the Senators, they became the first Cincinnati Public School to reach this level since the Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education was crowned OHSAA champs in 1992.
The Braves are relentless on the ground, running for over 5,000 yards as a team this year.
Division IV – Glenville (11-3) vs. Perkins (13-1) at Clyde
Last year it was a regional final, in 2024 it’s a state semifinal in Division IV. Glenville—winners of the last two Division IV state championships—meets Perkins.
The Tarblooders were 36-26 winners in the matchup last postseason.
The Pirates have only one other regional title in school history, which led to a state championship back in 1999.
Division V – South Range (14-0) vs. Liberty Center (14-0) at Parma Byers Field
Two years ago, South Range won its first state title, beating Liberty Center 35-0 in a state semifinal along the way.
Now they meet again, with both teams undefeated just as they were in 2022.
The Tigers were also unblemished a year ago, until they ran into Perry in the Division V championship game, losing 21-14.
Division V – West Liberty-Salem (13-1) vs. Ironton (13-1) at Chillicothe
While Kevin Bacon can’t be found on any of these rosters, there’s six degrees of separation here, as Ironton lost that 2022 championship game to South Range. The Fighting Tigers have reached the state title game three of the past five season but haven’t won it all since 1989.
That’s getting ahead of things, though, as Ironton needs to beat West Liberty-Salem in the state semifinals to get back to Canton. It’s the first ever meeting between the programs.
The Tigers (of West Liberty-Salem) have never advanced this far before in the OHSAA playoffs.
Division VI – Bluffton (13-1) vs. Coldwater (13-1) at Wapakoneta
Moving to Division VI, where Bluffton was awarded a regional championship trophy for the first time since 1991. The Pirates only loss this season was to Columbus Grove, which is undefeated and in the Division VII semifinals.
Bluffton has never played Coldwater, and the Cavaliers only loss this year was to Marion Local, which plays Columbus Grove (see below).
Division VI – Northmor (14-0) vs. Kirtland (14-0) at Minerva
Lost in Marion Local’s current 62-game winning streak is a modest 27-gamer from Kirtland, which won it all in Division VI a year ago.
The Hornets are 12-0 all-time in state semifinals, all of which have come in the last 13 years (only missed in 2016).
Northmor has never advanced this far and qualified for the eighth time in school history for the postseason.
Division VII – Hillsdale (13-1) vs. Danville (12-2) at Shelby
In Division VII, Hillsdale looks to avenge a 42-41 heartbreaker to Danville in the 2022 regional quarterfinals, the only previous meeting in this matchup.
The Falcons have never flown this high, qualifying for the state tournament for the first time.
The Blue Devils have been her four times previously but are still in search of their first state championship game appearance.
Division VII – Columbus Grove (14-0) vs. Marion Local (14-0) at Lima Senior
The previously mentioned Columbus Grove vs. Marion Local contest rounds out the schedule.
Yes, the Flyers have won 62-straight, including a 27-0 win over the Bulldogs in a 2022 state semifinal. Marion Local has won all three meetings that have occurred in the state semis, but Columbus Grove bested the Flyers in a 2003 state championship game.
Stay with Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App next week for the state championships December 5-December 7 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton:
Thursday, December 5 (7pm) – Division II Championship
Friday, December 6 (10:30am) – Division VII Championship
Friday, December 6 (3pm) – Division III Championship
Friday, December 6 (7:30pm) – Division I Championship
Saturday, December 7 (10:30am) – Division VI Championship
Saturday, December 7 (3pm) – Division V Championship
Saturday, December 7 (7:30pm) – Division IV Championship
Coverage begins 15 minutes prior with OHSAA Championship Gameday, which returns following each game for interviews and analysis.
