What better encompasses high school football in Ohio then one of Friday night’s OHSAA Games of the Week.
The Ironton Fighting Tigers host the Moeller Crusaders at Tanks Memorial Stadium.
Close your eyes and you can hear the pads popping. Open them back up and you can see the chips and paint scrapes on the helmets. Inhale and breathe in the history of a stadium hosting football for the 96th year.
These two schools can be found all over the OHSAA state playoff record books, dating back to the first year the current tournament format was played in 1972.
Moeller Ironton
36 Playoff Appearances 36
9 State Championships 2
4 State Runner-Ups 8
16 State Semifinals 13
Only Newark Catholic (37) has more playoff appearances, while Moeller’s nine titles are third most in state history.
It’s not often you see a Division I team play an opponent in Division V, especially on the road, but that only adds to the intrigue of this game.
The Crusaders have scored at least 39 points in all three of their games, in wins over Lakota East, Chaminade Julienne and Louisville Trinity from Kentucky. While all the early focus this season in Region 4 has been on St. Xavier and Lakota West, it’s Moeller currently on top in computer points.
Meanwhile, Ironton is trying to reach the state championship game for the third straight season. The Fighting Tigers are also 3-0, with an impressive 40-6 opening win over Wheelersburg, followed by tight triumphs over Jackson (13-10) and Fairland (13-10 in overtime).
That game will be shown to viewers in southwest and central Ohio, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m..
In northeast Ohio, one of the state’s burgeoning rivalries will be on display. The Avon Lake Shoremen makes the short trip south to take on the Avon Eagles for the 16th time since 2007. The Eagles have won 11 of the 15 previous meetings.
What makes this series one to watch, are the multiple match-ups. Over the past five seasons, Avon and Avon Lake have met in the Region 6 playoffs three times, including the 2019 and 2020 regional final (both won by the Eagles). In that same span, five of those eight games have been decided by three points or less.
Avon has had the upper hand, sweeping the games the last two years, and winning the Region 6 title four years running.
It’s the Shoremen, though, that come into the 2021 contest with a 3-0 mark, defeating Strongsville, Brecksville-Broadview Heights and Tiffin Columbian. The Eagles are 2-1, bookending wins over Brunswick and Glenville, with a loss to Medina.
Both games are also available on the Spectrum News App.
