Pickerington Central (Ohio) vs. St. Ignatius (Cleveland)For the first time since 1991, a pair of teams with two losses will battle for the
Ohio Division I championship on Saturday. Central (11-2) has recovered from an 0-2 start to reach a title game for the first since 2006, when it competed at the Division II level. The Tigers avenged a Week 2 loss when they defeated St. Xavier (Cincinnati) in last week's semifinals, 14-7. Central held the Bombers to just 168 total yards,
according to the Columbus Dispatch.
Meanwhile, St. Ignatius is in the championship game for the 11th time since 1988. The Wildcats brought home state titles in all 10 of their previous finals appearances. St. Ignatius capitalized on five turnovers – including four in the first half – to beat previously undefeated Whitmer (Toledo) last week, 17-6.
Mitch Stephens: St. Ignatius 28, Pickerington Central 20
Steve Montoya: St. Ignatius 24, Pickerington Central 20
Stephen Spiewak: St. Ignatius 17, Pickerington Central 10
Kevin Askeland: Pickerington Central 40, St. Ignatius 24
Jamie DeMoney: Pickerington Central 27, St. Ignatius 21
Pickerington Central will try to hand St. Ignatius its first title-game loss.
File photo by Todd Shurtleff
