By Scott Hansen
MaxPreps.com
The stage is set for the 2007 Burger King Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge. Canton and Cincinnati will host 11 games to take place over two days as part of the festivities.
At Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Glenville will defend the Buckeye State's honor against California perennial power Long Beach Poly. The Jackrabbits have produced more NFL players than any other high school in America and are always contenders in the state's highly-competitive Southern Section.
Cardinal Mooney of Youngstown is loaded and will attempt to hold off a serious challenge by Western Pennsylvania power, Gateway.
The battle between Cincinnati Colerain and Hoover (Ala.) was slated to take place on Sunday, Sept. 2 on the ESPN network. However, the Alabama High School Activities Association voted on two occasions not to allow Hoover to play on Sunday. The game will take place Saturday at 2:15 pm at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.
Charlotte Independence will put its 108-game winning streak on the line against Cincinnati Elder to round out day one in Cincinnati.
The St. Xavier-DeMatha (Md.) pairing highlights the Sunday slate.
Tickets will be available on the Ohio vs. USA Challenge website at www.ohiovsusa.com in the coming weeks.
2007 Burger King Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge
At Fawcett Stadium - Pro Football Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, Ohio)
Sept. 1
Grove City vs. Buford, Ga. (11:30 a.m.)
Cleveland Glenville vs. Long Beach Poly, Calif. (2:15 p.m.)
Youngstown Cardinal Mooney vs. Gateway, Pa. (5 p.m.)
Canton McKinley vs. Tulsa Union, Okla. (7:45 p.m.)
At Nippert Stadium - University of Cincinnati (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Sept. 1
Cincinnati La Salle vs. Indianapolis Cathedral, Ind. (11:30 a.m.)
Cincinnati Colerain vs. Hoover, Ala. (2:15 p.m.)
Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller vs. Mission Viejo, Calif. (5 p.m.)
Cincinnati Elder vs. Charlotte Independence, N.C. (7:45 p.m.)
Sept. 2
Cincinnati St. Xavier vs. DeMatha Catholic, Md. (Noon)
Clayton-Northmont vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Pa. (3 p.m.)
Trotwood-Madison vs. Highlands, Ky. (6 p.m.)
Ohio Participants
Grove City: Finished 2006 season with a 4-6 record, but continues to rise into Division I respectability. Don't expect the Greyhounds to have the same misfortune this season.
Glenville: Under the tutelage of Ted Ginn, Sr., the Tarblooders have enjoyed success over the last 10-plus years. A pair of losses last season to Mentor will leave a bad taste in their mouths. Glenville has the weapons to maintain its winning ways in 2007.
Cardinal Mooney: The Cardinals rolled to their third-straight Division IV state title with a 14-0 record. Now, national prominence looms for Cardinal Mooney. The Cardinals have four major Division I prospects returning this season.
Canton McKinley: McKinley fans are hungry to add to a trophy case featuring 10 state championships in football. The Bulldogs have not won a state title since 1998. For one of the top programs in the state of Ohio, it has been too long.
Cincinnati La Salle: The Lancers were 5-5 a year ago, but those losses came to Northmont, Elder, Moeller, St. Xavier, and Indiana's East Central. La Salle has the talent to improve and their record this season.
Cincinnati Colerain: Last season, Colerain started the season with a 13-0 record before dreams of a state title were dashed in the playoffs. The defense posted six shutouts last season for the hungry Cardinals.
Cincinnati Moeller: The Fighting Crusaders finished 5-5 last season. Included in the losses were a one-point loss to Byrnes (S.C.), and three-straight heartbreakers to St. Edward, St. Xavier, and Colerain to finish the season.
Cincinnati Elder: Last season, Elder gave Concord De La Salle all they could handle at the Challenge before falling 56-38 in a shootout. A 6-4 record from last season should be improved on in 2007.
Cincinnati St. Xavier: St. Xavier finished 10-2 a year ago, including a three-point losses to Lakeland, Fla., and Colerain in the playoffs. The Bombers are expected to contend for another serious playoff run again this season.
Clayton-Northmont: The Thunderbolts are coming off an impressive 8-3 campaign, ending in a playoff loss to Glen Este.
Trotwood-Madison: Last season, the Rams finished the season with a 7-4 record. Trotwood-Madison is stocked with expected to be a force in Ohio football this season.
USA Participants
Buford (Ga.): The Wolves began 2006 with 12-straight victories before falling to Charlton County, 26-7, in the third round of the state playoffs.
Long Beach Poly (Calif.): Year in and year out, Poly has one of the top programs in the nation. 2007 is no exception. Last season, Poly finished with an 11-2 record. The Jackrabbits should receive plenty of consideration for a preseason national ranking heading into the fall.
Gateway (Pa.): Gateway comes to Canton from Monroeville. Last season facing one of the toughest schedules in Western Pennsylvania, Gateway finished with a 6-5 record. With plenty of experience returning, Gateway is a dangerous foe.
Tulsa Union (Okla.): Fresh off the Kevin Wright debacle, Kirk Fridrich inherits a Union program coming off an uncharacteristic 7-4 finish and a first-round playoff exit. The pieces are in place for the rebuilding effort to be a quick one for the Redskins.
Indianapolis Cathedral (Ind.): Cathedral took home the Class 4A state championship with a 38-14 victory over Concord at the RCA Dome. Once again, the Fighting Irish will be one of the favorites in the Hoosier State.
Hoover (Ala.): There might not be a more recognizable face in high school football at the moment. Hoover was denied on two occasions by the AHSAA to allow their contest to be played on Sunday in front of a national television audience by ESPN. You can bet the Buccaneers are hungry after coming short in their bid for a fifth-straight 6A title was derailed.
Mission Viejo (Calif.): The Diablos finished 9-3 last season, suffering losses to the likes of Concord De La Salle and Santa Ana Mater Dei. Another three-loss campaign would be a surprise for head coach Bob Johnson's juggernaut.
Charlotte Independence (N.C.): Another season, another Class 4AA. For the seventh-straight time, Independence took home the title. The Patriots are riding a 108-game winning streak into the Ohio vs. USA Challenge.
DeMatha (Md.): DeMatha finished last season with a perfect 12-0 record. The Stags are loaded for another run at an unbeaten season.
Pittsburgh Central Catholic (Pa.): A run at the AAAA Western Pennsylvania title was dashed a year ago with a loss to Penn Hills in the playoffs. The Vikings will be looking to get back on the winning track with an impressive performance in Cincinnati.
Highlands (Ky.): Last season, Highlands proved it could compete with the Ohio elite in a 21-18 regular season loss to Elder. The Fort Thomas school would love to take advantage of another shot at another stellar neighbor to the North.