CHS to play at Lewis Center Olentangy Braves Stadium
COLUMBUS – Twenty-eight regional champions have now advanced to the state semifinals of the 2016 OHSAA football playoffs. Whether they are one of the four schools in the state semifinals for the first time, or the one school that is back for a state-record 25th time, they are all playing for a chance to compete for a state championship in Ohio Stadium next weekend.
Division I, II, IV and VI games are Friday at 7:30 p.m., and Division III, V and VII games are Saturday at 7 p.m. The OHSAA has selected neutral sites based on the best available sites after a number of factors have been evaluated (see later note).
Championships Schedule Announced this Week
Since 2013, the time slots for the state championship games are not announced until the week of the state semifinals. Some years, the championships schedule is announced mid-week, but the OHSAA can also wait until after the state semifinals are played. Of the divisions that play on Friday nights during the playoffs (I, II, IV and VI), one will be selected to play its state championship on Thursday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
2016 OHSAA Football Playoffs – State Semifinal Pairings
Home Team Listed First.
Pairings are shown with seeds and overall records.
Division I – Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25
Home Team Listed First
Region 1 vs. Region 2
4 Cleveland St. Ignatius (12-1) vs. 1 Powell Olentangy Liberty (13-0) at Mansfield Arlin Stadium
Region 3 vs. Region 4
3 Pickerington Central (12-1) vs. 5 Cincinnati St. Xavier (8-5) at Piqua Alexander Stadium, Purk Field
Division II – Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25
Home Team Listed First
Region 7 vs. Region 5
1 Massillon Perry (11-2) vs. 4 Hudson (11-2) at Uniontown Lake Alumni Field
Region 6 vs. Region 8
4 Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (10-3) vs. 3 Cincinnati La Salle (11-2) at Sidney Memorial Stadium
Division III – Games at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26
Home Team Listed First
Region 11 vs. Region 9
1 Columbus St. Francis DeSales (13-0) vs. 2 Akron Archbishop Hoban (12-1) vs. at Mansfield Arlin Stadium
Region 10 vs. Region 12
1 Toledo Central Catholic (13-0) vs. 7 Trotwood-Madison (11-2) at Lima Spartan Stadium
Division IV – Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25
Home Team Listed First
Region 15 vs. Region 13
2 Steubenville (12-1) vs. 1 Perry (13-0) at Youngstown Boardman New Spartan Stadium
Region 16 vs. Region 14
3 Kettering Archbishop Alter (13-0) vs. 5 Columbus Bishop Hartley (10-2) at London Bowlus Field
Division V – Games at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26
Home Team Listed First
Region 18 vs. Region 17
3 Milan Edison (12-1) vs. 3 Canton Central Catholic (9-3) at Strongsville Pat Catan Stadium
Region 20 vs. Region 19
2 Coldwater (12-1) vs. 3 Coshocton (12-1) vs. at Lewis Center Olentangy Braves Stadium
Division VI – Games at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25
Home Team Listed First
Region 21 vs. Region 23
1 Cuyahoga Heights (13-0) vs. 5 Newark Catholic (9-4) at Orrville Red Rider Stadium
Region 22 vs. Region 24
1 Hamler Patrick Henry (13-0) vs. 1 Maria Stein Marion Local (12-1) at Lima Spartan Stadium
Division VII – Games at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26
Home Team Listed First
Region 25 vs. Region 27
3 Warren John F. Kennedy (12-1) vs. 7 Canal Winchester Harvest Preparatory (10-3) at New Philadelphia Woody Hayes Quaker Stadium
Region 28 vs. Region 26
3 Minster (9-4) vs. 1 McComb (12-1) vs. at Wapakoneta Harmon Field
Final Four Newcomers
Four schools are making their first appearance in the Final Four. They include Powell Olentangy Liberty (Div. I), Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (Div. II), Perry (Lake County, Div. IV) and Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (Div. VII).
Final Four Experience
Newark Catholic is making its state-record 25th appearance in the state semifinals. Newark Catholic also owns state records for most years in the playoffs (35) and most playoff wins (72). The list of top Final Four qualifiers includes:
- Newark Catholic, 25
T-2. Mogadore, 17
T-2. Youngstown Cardinal Mooney, 17
T-4. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 16
T-4. Steubenville, 16
T-6. Cleveland St. Ignatius, 15
T-6. Maria Stein Marion Local, 15
- Coldwater, 14
- Delphos St. John’s, 13
- Versailles, 12
T-11. Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 11
T-11. Cleveland Benedictine, 11
T-11. Columbus St. Francis DeSales, 11
T-11. Ironton, 11
State Semifinalists By Seed and Record
Only nine of the 28 No. 1 seeds won their region this past weekend. Last week, 15 of the 28 No. 1 seeds advanced to the regional final. The state semifinalists by regional seed include nine No. 1 seeds, three No. 2 seeds, six No. 3 seeds, four No. 4 seeds, four No. 5 seeds, and two No. 7 seeds (Trotwood-Madison in Div. III and Canal Winchester Harvest Prep in Div. VII).
In addition, 31 undefeated teams entered the playoffs. Six now remain. The state semifinalists by record include:
13-0: 7 teams 12-1: 10 teams
11-2: 4 teams 10-3: 2 teams
10-2: 1 team 9-4: 2 teams
9-3: 1 team 8-5: 1 team
Defending State Champions
Four defending state champions have advanced to the state semifinals, after all seven of them advanced to the regional finals last weekend. The four to advance include Cincinnati La Salle (Div. II), Akron Archbishop Hoban (Div. III), Columbus Bishop Hartley (Div. IV) and Coldwater (Div. V). Three defending state champions fell in the regional finals, including Lakewood St. Edward (Div. I), Kirtland (Div. VI) and Fort Recovery (Div. VII).
Category: High School, Sports
