OHIO — All six teams involved in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Game of the Week on Spectrum News 1 are almost certainly headed to the playoffs. They have a 37-11 combined record, promising to provide some entertaining action on Friday night.
In Northeast Ohio, Olmsted Falls (6-2) heads to Avon Lake (7-1), with both teams trying to secure home field advantage for the first round in Region 6 (Division II). The Bulldogs are currently ninth, while the Shoremen reside sixth.
In the Southwestern Conference standings, both sit behind Avon, which is 5-0 in league play. That’s Avon Lake’s lone loss, while Olmsted Falls was also defeated by defending Division III state champion Chardon in the season opener.
The Bulldogs have won six of the previous regular season meetings, while the Shoremen claim a 44-28 playoff victory in 2018. All-time, Avon Lake has a 15-10 advantage since 1999.
Each school claims a Division II state title this century, with Olmsted Falls winning it all in 2000 (ironically, their only loss was the Avon Lake), and the Shoremen were the 2003 champs.
In Central Ohio, it’s the Ohio Capital Conference’s Central Division on display. Dublin Coffman takes on Upper Arlington, with both schools sporting identical 6-2 records.
The Shamrocks are sixth in Region 2 (Division I), while the Golden Bears are seventh in Region 3 (also Division I). Upper Arlington is coming off a thrilling, 14-1 season, with the only loss at the hands of eventual champion St. Edward in the state semifinals.
That season also saw the Golden Bears end an eight-year losing streak against Coffman, with a 42-13 win. The teams have met each year since 2006, with the Rocks holding a 11-5 advantage. All-time, it’s Upper Arlington with the 13-12 series edge.
It’s been since 2008 that Dublin Coffman missed the playoffs, a streak that will extend to 14 straight this season. One Shamrocks player to watch is defensive lineman Will Smith, Jr., who is committed to play at Ohio State, where his late father was an All-American in 2003.
In the Dayton area, Centerville and Fairmont high schools are less than six miles apart. However—until recently—the football programs have been anything but close on the gridiron.
The last three meetings have been decided by a total of 16 points, with the Elks winning in 2021 and 2020, including an overtime decision a year ago. The 2019 Firebirds victory, though, snapped a 21-game skid in the series, going back to 1998.
Since Fairmont East & West high schools merged to become Fairmont in 1983, Centerville has dominated the series 34-5, including wins in all the first nine meetings.
The Elks are currently fourth in Region 2, one spot ahead of the Firebirds. Fairmont is headed toward its sixth playoff appearance (four of which have come since 2017), but will seek its first-ever post-season victory.
Centerville has two players committed to play in college next season, running back Emable Wakilongo (Bowling Green) and linebacker Joseph Jean-Louis (Western Michigan).
All three games Friday begin at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1, and the Spectrum News App.
Other big contests on the statewide schedule includes: Fairfield (6-2) vs. Mason (6-2), Coldwater (8-0) vs. Versailles (6-2), Tiffin Columbian (7-1) vs. Perkins (7-1), Pickerington North (6-2) vs. New Albany (6-2), Columbus Beechcroft (5-2) vs. Columbus East (7-0), and on Saturday, St. Edward (7-1) heads to Moeller (8-0) and St. Ignatius (4-3) visits St. Xavier (3-5).
