By Dean Eversole
MaxPreps.com
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Championship Weekend is set with a number of the usual suspects mixed in with some surprises.
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Of those surprises, none is bigger than Division I Hilliard Davidson. The Wildcats knocked off the favorite and MaxPreps' No. 1 Colerain, 10-6, in a defensive struggle that took place in a sold out Dayton Welcome Stadium.
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"All week long, all I heard was how bad Colerain was going to beat us," Davidson senior linebacker Brad McKinley told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "But those people don't know how much heart and pride we have."
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Heart and pride fueled the Wildcats in this matchup against a Colerain team who most felt would cruise to another state title after downing Cincinnati St. Xavier. This marks the first time in five years that a team from Region 4 (Cincinnati-Dayton area) will not be in the championship game.
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Davidson's opponent is another surprise team, the Mentor Cardinals. On the opposite end of the state, the Cardinals pulled off their version of an upset by upending Canton McKinley, another perennial state power, 18-13.
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It was the Cardinals first appearance in the state final four and now the run of firsts continues with a trip to the state championship game. The two teams will meet Saturday night in Canton.
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Division II has been a giant question mark since the first round when the Piqua Indians knocked off defending champion Toledo Central Catholic.
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Now Piqua is one half of the championship game along with Pickerington Central. The Indians completed their run to the championship game with a 22-9 thumping of Cincinnati Turpin, while Central crept past Macedonia Nordonia, 7-3.
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Division III might have been the most predictable, and in the end it will be the expected Steubenville-Kettering Alter showdown taking place.
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The Big Red of Steubenville rolled over Aurora, 48-13, for their 29th-consecutive victory, a streak that began after the 2004 season.
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Alter downed New Albany, 31-7. The big news in that score is the Albany 7. It was the first points surrendered by the Knights in the 2006 playoffs. Overall, Alter has outscored its opponents 141-7. To say they have been dominating is an understatement. Look for this game to be the most anticipated and likely the most competitive of the six games this weekend.
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The question has really never been if, but simply how easy would Youngstown Mooney would make it look in winning Division IV. The Cardinals have yet to be challenged as their latest victim was Bellaire, 49-7. The win puts Mooney back in the title game for the third-straight season. They are 1-1 in their previous two and will be looking for a sixth state title.
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Jonathan Alder will provide the final hurdle for Mooney. The Pioneers' passing game overcame the rushing attack of Oak Harbor, 24-7. It is the Pioneers' first trip to the state final, but it will take a Herculean effort to stop the Mooney machine and earn the schools' first football title.ÿ
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After slicing up D-V, the St. Henry Redskins got themselves stuck smack dab in a contest Saturday afternoon. Facing upstart Liberty Benton, the Redskins needed some trickery to break loose a 7-7 game as they hung on for a 28-21 victory.
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The Skins will get Warren John F. Kennedy, who downed Amanda Clearcreek 34-6. The two teams will face off Saturday in Canton.
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The Marion Local Flyers won the battle Friday night, but they might have lost the war. Despite rolling over Norwalk St. Paul 47-6, the Flyers will likely be without Marc Otte and his 30 rushing touchdowns. The senior back left the game with a knee injury and his status for the game is unknown. Marion Local has scored 40 or more points in three of its four playoff games. Their opponent Friday is Shadyside, who dominated Mogadore, 45-7.
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It will be the inaugural trip for Shadyside, while the Flyers are making their fourth championship appearance under coach Tim Goodwin since taking over at Marion in 1999.