Saturday, December 5

 Division I - 7:00 p.m. - Canton

(13-1) Cleveland Glenville Academic Campus vs. (12-1) Hilliard Davidson

Cleveland Glenville Academic

Head Coach: Theodore Ginn Sr.

Nickname: Tarblooders

2009 Record: 13-1

2009 Seed: 5

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 3 Massillon Washington (31-17)

Regional: 2 Solon (28-27), 1 Cleveland St. Ignatius (30-13), 5 North Royalton (41-16)

State Championships: None

State Final Appearance: 1st

All Time Tournament Record: 14-9

Hilliard Davidson

Head Coach: Brian White

Nickname: Wildcats

2009 Record: 12-1

2009 Seed: 2

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 4 Cincinnati Elder (24-20)

Regional: 1 Dublin Coffman (22-7), 4 Westerville South (21-19),  7 Lancaster (28-7)

State Championships: 2006

State Final Appearance: 2nd

All Time Tournament Record: 21-8

Hilliard Davidson will try to pick up its second state championship this decade, while Cleveland Glenville aims to pick up its first title in Canton Saturday night.

Glenville’s only loss of the season came in its first game against St. Ignatius by one point (13-14). Since then Glenville has rattled off 13 straight wins including a rematch with No. 1 seed St. Ignatius in the state semifinal game.

Much like Glenville, Davidson avenged their only regular season loss by defeating No. 1 seed Dublin Coffman in the regional finals 22-7.

The match-up pits Davidson’s stingy defense against Glenville’s explosive offense. Glenville is averaging 39.1 points per game, while Davidson’s defense allows just 9.2 points per game.

Davidson pulled out the last minute victory in a state semifinal win over Cincinnati Elder after an 80-yard drive was capped by a go-ahead touchdown by Spencer Delande with 33 seconds left in the game. An interception on Elder’s final drive sealed the victory and a spot in the championship game for the Wildcats.

Glenville, which is ranked 16th in the country in the USA Today’s National Poll, outscored Massillon Washington 14-0 in the fourth quarter to break a 17-17 tie. Junior Cardale Jones passed for 199 yards, rushed for 150 and accounted for three touchdowns for the Tarblooders.

Friday, December 4

 Division II - 7:00 p.m. - Massillon
     (12-2) Maple Heights vs. (12-2) Cincinnati Winton Woods

Cincinnati Winton Woods

Head Coach: Troy Everhart

Nickname: Warriors

2009 Record: 12-2

2009 Seed: 2

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 8 Columbus Marion-Franklin (69-35)

Regional: 4 Trotwood Madison (28-7), 3 New Carlisle Tecumseh (40-7), 7 Hamilton Ross (59-7)

State Championships: None

State Final Appearance: 1st

All Time Tournament Record: 6-5

Maple Heights

Head Coach: Todd Filtz

Nickname: Mustangs

2009 Record: 12-2

2009 Seed: 6

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 1 Mentor Lake Catholic (21-17)

Regional: 1 Toledo St. Francis deSales (34-21), 2 Toledo Central Catholic (27-13), 3 Toledo Rogers (36-26)

State Championships: None

State Final Appearance: 1st

All Time Tournament Record: 6-6

One team will walk away with its first state title in school history as Cincinnati Winton Woods and Maple Heights face off. Both teams surpassed previous bests by making first time appearances in not only the state semifinals, but the finals as well.

Although Maple Heights was not ranked in the final AP Poll, the Mustangs took on the task of upsetting two teams ranked in the top five (No. 4 Mentor Lake Catholic and No. 5 Toledo St. Francis deSales) and two teams that received votes in the poll (Toledo Central Catholic and Toledo Rogers).

The Mustangs, who missed the playoffs last season with a 6-4 record, are the second six seed in as many years to make it to a championship game (Kettering Archbishop Alter).

Cincinnati Winton Woods has left no doubt in their playoff games, winning by an average of 35 points and outscoring opponents 196-56 during their four games. The 69 points scored against Columbus Marion-Franklin are the most in a Division II state semifinal game since 1998 and tied for fifth most in playoff history. Senior QB Dominique Brown accounted for seven touchdowns in the game.

After a mid-season loss to Cincinnati Anderson when the Warriors allowed 52 points, the defense has tightened as teams are averaging less than 14 points per game over the last eight games.

Both schools are relatively new to the playoffs with only 13 combined playoff appearances between the two with 11 of those coming during this decade.

Friday, December 4

Division III - 11:00 a.m. - Massillon
(14-0) Youngstown Cardinal Mooney vs. (11-3) Columbus St. Francis DeSales

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney

Head Coach: P.J. Fecko

Nickname: Cardinals

2009 Record: 14-0

2009 Seed: 1

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 1 Steubenville (45-7)

Regional: 2 Poland Seminary (24-7), 4 Hubbard (55-0), 8 Mogadore Field (42-14)

State Championships: 1973, 1980, 1982, 1987, 2004, 2006

State Final Appearance: 10th

All Time Tournament Record: 48-16

Columbus St. Francis DeSales

Head Coach: Ryan Wiggins

Nickname: Stallions

2009 Record: 11-3

2009 Seed: 1

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 2 Cincinnati Wyoming (24-7)

Regional: 2 Columbus Bishop Watterson (24-10), 5 Tipp City Tippecanoe (54-14), 8 Bryan (45-21)

State Championships: 1985, 1997, 1998

State Final Appearance: 8th

All Time Tournament Record: 47-16

Two schools that are no strangers to the state finals, Youngstown Cardinal Mooney and Columbus St. Francis DeSales will play for the Division III championship. Mooney enters the game with a 6-3 record in state championship games, playing in five of the last six. DeSales is 3-4 in title games and will try to become state champions for the first time since 1998.

The Stallions will look to avenge the loss Mooney handed to them during the regular season on September 4. The Stallions lost two more games during the regular season, but both came at the hands of eventual Division I playoff teams, Cincinnati Anderson and Cincinnati Elder.

The Cardinals have won several games this season by a decisive margin, with only three of their 14 victories coming by a margin of less than 10 points, one being the victory over DeSales. The Cardinal defense has held opponents to under 10 points a total of seven times this season, while being held to no fewer than 21 points in any game.

The game will be played largely on the ground as both teams combined have completed only 60 passes on the season. Running back Braylon Heard led the way in the Cardinals’ semifinal victory over Steubenville after rushing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. For DeSales Adam Griffin, son of two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, will see several carries and will also return kicks for the Stallions. Griffin returned a kick for a touchdown in their first round win over Bishop Watterson.

Saturday, December 5

Division IV - 11:00 a.m. - Canton
(14-0) Chagrin Falls vs. (14-0) Kettering Archbishop Alter  
 

Chagrin Falls

Head Coach: Mark Iammarino

Nickname: Tigers

2009 Record: 14-0

2009 Seed: 1

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 5 Ottawa-Glandorf (20-14)

Regional: 6 Peninsula Woodridge (58-25), 5 Cortland Lakeview (36-14), 8 Campbell Memorial (41-13)

State Championships: None

State Final Appearance: 1st

All Time Tournament Record: 8-6

Kettering Archbishop Alter

Head Coach: Ed Domsitz

Nickname: Knights

2009 Record: 14-0

2009 Seed: 2

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 5 Coshocton (31-6)

Regional: 1 Clarksville Clinton-Massie (32-7), 6 Carlisle (41-0), 7 Plain City Jonathan Alder (42-0)

State Championships: 2008

State Final Appearance: 3rd

All Time Tournament Record: 26-13

Kettering Archbishop Alter will try to defend its state championship and complete an undefeated season in the Div. IV title game against another 14-0 team in Chagrin Falls. Archbishop Alter bested Steubenville 21-6 last year for its first state championship and has cruised to the state final game in 2009, winning its 14 games by an average of 28 points.

Making its first state title game appearance, Chagrin Falls enters the game after a thrilling 20-14 victory over Ottawa-Glandorf in the state semifinals. After scoring the go-ahead touchdown with under four minutes remaining, the Tigers’ defense held Ottawa-Glandorf out of the endzone after the Titans drove to the Chagrin Falls 19-yard line.

Chagrin Falls brings an experienced team to Canton with 18 of its 22 starters being seniors. The Tigers rely on a balanced offensive attack led by senior quarterback Chris Trinetti, senior running back Chris Gorman and junior receiver Marc Geraci. The southpaw Trinetti has thrown for 22 touchdowns, 11 of them to Geraci, and ran for another 13, while Gorman has gained over 1,700 yards on the ground.

Archbishop Alter uses its big offensive line to primarily move the ball on the ground with junior quarterback Zane Pitzer, and running backs Cody Taulbee, Justin Winters and Nolan Wilson. The Knights make it tough on opposing offenses as well as they only allow 6.7 points a game and have recorded five shutouts during the season.

Friday, December 4

 Division V - 3:00 p.m. - Canton
(10-3) Youngstown Ursuline vs (13-1) Coldwater
 

Youngstown Ursuline

Head Coach: Dan Reardon

Nickname: Fighting Irish

2009 Record: 10-3

2009 Seed: 3

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 6 West Lafayette Ridgewood (48-6)

Regional: 1 Cuyahoga Heights (47-28), 2 Columbiana Crestview (48-14), 6 Garfield Heights Trinity (28-0)

State Championships: 2000, 2008

State Final Appearance: 4th

All Time Tournament Record: 37-12

Coldwater

Head Coach: John Reed

Nickname: Cavaliers

2009 Record: 13-1

2009 Seed: 2

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 1 Hamler Patrick Henry (35-24)

Regional: 8 St. Henry (47-41, 4OT), 6 Anna (28-21, OT), 7 Hamilton Badin (41-0)

State Championships: 2005, 2007

State Final Appearance: 5th

All-Time Tournament Record: 37-12

The 2009 State Final game between Youngstown Ursuline and Coldwater will not be the first time these teams face off for the state title. The two played for the 2000 Division IV state title with Ursuline coming out on top 49-37. That game featured a total of 11 OHSAA State Championship records as the Usuline rushing offense and the Coldwater passing offense were on display. Ursuline picked up 502 yards on the ground while Coldwater’s offense found success through the air with 439 yards passing. The combined total of 1,045 yards is the most ever in a Division IV State Championship game and second most among all divisions.

Both teams knocked off an undefeated No. 1 seed en route to their championship berth with Ursuline defeating Cuyahoga Heights in the regional final while Coldwater beat Hamler Patrick Henry last weekend.

Coldwater’s road to the finals was longer than most as they played a total of five overtime periods during the tournament, including four to beat St. Henry in the regional finals. Coldwater is no stranger to overtime in the playoffs after playing three overtimes to beat Kettering Archbishop Alter in a 2007 regional semifinal game.

Youngstown Ursuline is making its third straight appereance in the state finals after starting the season 1-2. Coldwater returns to the state championship game after losing in the regional finals in 2008.

Both teams have faced state finalists from other divisions during conference play and came out on the losing end. Coldwater suffered its only loss of the season against Division V state finalist Delphos St. John’s, while Divsion III state finalist Youngstown Cardinal Mooney defeated Ursuline 27-22.

Saturday, December 5

  Division VI - 3:00 p.m. - Massillon
     (14-0) Norwalk St. Paul vs. (14-0) Delphos St. John's   
 

Norwalk St. Paul

Head Coach: John Livengood

Nickname: Flyers

2009 Record: 14-0

2009 Seed: 2

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 6 Grove City Christian (52-7)

Regional: 4 Bucyrus Wynford (28-21), 3 Mogadore (48-7), 7 Berlin Center Western Reserve (45-0)

State Championships: None

State Final Appearance: 4th

All Time Tournament Record: 27-12

Delphos St. John’s

Head Coach: Todd Schulte

Nickname: Blue Jays

2009 Record: 14-0

2009 Seed: 1

Wins in 2009 Tournament:

Semifinal: 5 Maria Stein Marion Local (13-7,OT)

Regional: 2 Ada (34-31, OT), 4 Leipsic (34-7), 8 Arlington (56-0)

State Championships: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2008

State Final Appearance: 6th

All Time Tournament Record: 39-6

Two undefeated teams will square off in the Division VI final between Norwalk St. Paul and defending champion Delphos St. John’s. The teams are no stranger to each other in state titles games as they played for the 1997 and 1999 state championships, with Delphos St. John’s coming out on top in both contests.

Champions of the powerful Midwest Athletic Conference and winners of 20 games in a row, St. John’s has had a tough road to the state final game having won overtime games in the regional finals against Ada and again in the state semifinals against Maria Stein Marion Local. The Blue Jays’ triple-option attack is led by senior quarterback Wes Ulm and junior running back Jordan Leininger who have both rushed for over 1,000 yards. Leininger has scored 30 touchdowns on the ground while Ulm has rushed for 13 and thrown for another 13 touchdowns.

Norwalk St. Paul has reached the state finals with relative ease having won its previous four tournament games by a combined 138 points. The Flyers are led on the ground by senior back Brian Griffin, who has over 1,400 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns. Senior quarterback Eric Schwieterman has returned from an early season injury to throw for 18 touchdowns to only four interceptions.

Both teams bring a stout defense into the game. St. Paul allows only 6.1 points a game while St. John’s is nearly as stingy, giving up only 9.4 a game. St. John’s will play for its sixth state title in as many tries, while St. Paul is looking to avoid its fourth runner-up finish to gain the school’s first state football championship.

### OHSAA ###