OHIO — The first weekend of the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs went as expected.
Only two teams out of 84 seeded third or higher lost (number two Xenia in Division II and number three, Bishop Fenwick in Division IV). In fact, higher seeds (eight and above) won at a near-80% (178-46) clip.
Things figure to be a lot more competitive on Friday, when the post-season moves to the regional quarterfinal level. The OHSAA Game of the Week on Spectrum News 1 and the http://spectrumnewsapp.com/ features familiar playoff (and regular season) match-ups:
Division I, Region 1 – 6. Canton McKinley (6-5) vs. 3. Mentor (7-3)
Division I, Region 3 – 5. Pickerington North (7-4) vs. 4. Pickerington Central (8-3)
Division I, Region 4 – 9. St. Xavier (5-6) vs. 1. Moeller (10-1) at Norwood
In southwest Ohio, it’s Greater Catholic League South rivals meeting for the seventh time in the playoffs since 1999. St. Xavier was a 45-14 winner in the most recent postseason affair against Moeller on the way to a state title in 2020.
Earlier in the regular season, it was the Crusaders with a 20-17 comeback win over the Bombers, in front of a star-studded crowd that included Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bearcats head coach Luke Fickell, the Reds’ Joey Votto and Tyler Stephenson, the Bengals’ Joe Mixon, and former Moeller basketball greats Miles McBride and Jeremiah Davenport.
Over the past 24 seasons, St. Xavier holds a 17-11 advantage, including four of the past five, and seven of the last nine. In those previous six playoff match-up since 1999, the teams have won three each.
Both the Bombers and Crusaders have full OHSAA football trophy cases. Not only do they represent the two most recent Region 4 champions (Moeller in 2021, St. Xavier in 2020), but they have combined for 13 state titles. The Bombers were the Division I champ in 2020, while the Crusaders were the last ones standing in that division in 2013.
St. X topped Pickerington Central in that 2020 title game, and it’s the Tigers taking part in the OHSAA Game of the Week in central Ohio, hosting crosstown rival Pickerington North.
Pick Central has had the better of its northern neighbors, leading the all-time series 16-4. That includes 11 of the last 12, with the only Panthers win in overtime in the 2021 regular season (13-10). The Tigers won 14-7, back on September 9th.
In playoff meetings, The Tigers have won four of those five, with the outlier a 24-0 Pick North shutout in 2012. This marks the fourth time in seven years they’ve squared off in the postseason.
Pickerington Central’s status as state power is cemented. The Tigers have reached the state title game three of the last five years (2017, 2019-20), winning twice (2017, 2019). This season marks 17th straight in the postseason, all under head coach Jay Sharrett.
The Panthers, though, are searching for their first regional title since 2012. Pickerington North comes into the contest on a high, following a thrilling, 24-21 win in the first round over Groveport, winning on the game’s final play.
Shifting to northeast Ohio, where the Region 1 contest between Canton McKinley and Mentor is the final OHSAA Game of the Week.
Keeping with this week’s theme, 2022 is the third time in five years that the Bulldogs and Cardinals are squaring off in the playoffs, with Mentor victorious in 2018 and 2019.
These two actually opened the season the last two years with the Cardinals claiming both wins, including a 34-21 decision back on August 19th, also played at Jerome T. Osbourne Senior Stadium.
Going back to 1993, Mentor has won five of nine meetings, with the last McKinley triumph in 1997.
It’s the Cardinals chasing that elusive state title, with four appearances in the title game (most recent in 2017) without a win. The Bulldogs have three, which includes back-to-back wins in 1997 and 1998, but is seeking their first regional title since 2006.
Following the games, stick with Spectrum News 1 for High School Blitz. Neil Sika, Brett Hiltbrand and Matt D’Orazio will wrap up the entire night in Ohio high school football.
Other games on Friday, available only at http://ohsaa.tv/
Division I, Region 1 – 5. St. Ignatius vs. 4. Cleveland Heights
Division I, Region 1 – 7. Wadsworth vs. 2. Medina
Division I, Region 2 – 8. Olentangy Liberty vs. 1. Dublin Jerome
Division I, Region 2 – 11. Marysville vs. 3. Centerville
Division I, Region 3 – 11. Hilliard Davidson vs. 3. New Albany
Division I, Region 3 – 10. Westerville Central vs. 2. Upper Arlington
Division I, Region 4 – 6. Princeton vs. 3. Lakota West
Division II, Region 7 – 9. Canal Winchester vs. 1. Massillon
Division II, Region 7 – 7. DeSales vs. 2. Lake
Division II, Region 8 – 5. Withrow vs. 4. Kings
Division III, Region 11 – 7. Granville vs. 2. Jackson
Division III, Region 12 – 5. Bellbrook vs. 4. Wapakoneta
