Here is a look at what to expect from the 37th Annual OHSAA Football Tournament.
Friday: 11 a.m. @ Massillon Paul Brown Stadium – Division VI
As always the historic Paul Brown Stadium starts off the action with the Division VI game as Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (14-0) battles Delphos St. John’s (12-2).
While this game may lack star power, it’s sure to have great football action as it does every season. Hopewell-Loudon is making a return trip to the championship game after coming up short last season 28-14 to Newark Catholic.
Delphos St. John’s is no stranger to championship football having won their last title in 2005. The program also won three consecutive titles from 1997-99 and many expects them to be ready to win another one.
Friday 3:00 p.m. @ Canton Fawcett Stadium – Division IV
This should be a great game as two Ohio powerhouse teams battle for the Division IV title. Kettering Alter (12-2) and Steubenville (14-0) are no strangers to being on the big stage or facing off against each other with a title on the line.
The two teams last matched-up in 2006 in a battle for the Division III title. Steubenville won that battle 34-33 and this one is sure to be another classic battle between the two programs.
Alter would have also entered this match-up with a perfect record but had to forfeit two games early in the season.
Alter will have the star power over Steubenville with linebacker Chris Borland (Wisconsin Verbal) and quarterback Austin Boucher (Toledo Verbal) but this game is not about stars as much as it’s about playing hard nosed football.
This could be the game of the day when all is said and done.
7:00 p.m. @ Massillon Paul Brown Stadium – Division II
Defending champion Anderson is making a return trip after battling to a 12-2 record on the year. Much like Alter in Division IV, Anderson has the star power on the field with several prospects to keep an eye on.
One of the more exciting players to watch is junior running back Kyle Slater who transferred to Anderson from Glenn Este this season. Slater has great speed and has rushed for over 2,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Slater runs behind a great offensive line headlined by junior Andrew Norwell. At 6-foot-7, 275-pounds, Norwell has picked up several early offers and several sources have said they feel a verbal commitment to Ohio State is coming soon after the season is over.
Sylvania Southview enters the contest with a 14-0 mark and a high scoring offense headed by quarterback Alex Pidcock who is a double dagger passing and running the football. On the season Pidcock accounted for over 3700 yards and 44 touchdowns.
As you can see there is some great action in store for Friday. We’ll take a look at the teams that will take the field Saturday later on Friday.