MaxPreps Ohio-Minute
60 seconds of high school sports highlights from around the Buckeye State.Division VI: Cuyahoga Heights (Cleveland) (14-0/No. 3 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 2 AP) vs. Marion Local (Maria Stein) (13-1/No. 1 MaxPreps JJHuddle/No. 1 AP)Fri., Dec. 2, 10:00 AM at Ohio Stadium
KEYS/NOTESMarion Local* Playing in sixth straight state final. Are 8-2 in previous 10 state finals appearances (all since 2000).
* Head coach Tim Goodwin surpassed 200 career wins in Week 4.
* Marion Local allowed 44 points in the regular season and has allowed 73 points in 14 games.
* Have 20 seniors on the team.
* Has outscored last nine opponents 318-29.
Cuyahoga Heights* Beat defending state champion Kirtland twice this season. Was first CVC team to beat Hornets in regular season since 2009 with a victory in Week 9. Also beat the Hornets 17-0 in the regional final.
* Only undefeated team left in the state in any division.
* Allowing 5.25 points per game in the playoffs.
Ohio High School Football Playoff Brackets: Printable One-PageTOP PLAYERSLucas D'orazio, Cuyahoga Heights, jr., DBFirst team AP All-Northeast Lakes district.
Brett Lowther, Cuyahoga Heights, sr., QBAP All-Northeast Lakes district offensive player of the year.
Nate Moeller, Marion Local, sr., RBFirst team All-MAC athlete ran for 215 yards last week in state semifinal win over Patrick Henry.
Jack Homan, Marion Local, sr., LBMAC defensive player of the year and first team AP All-Northwest district.
LIVE Division VI State Championship Game Scoreboard & AlertsTOP QUOTESCuyahoga Heights head coach Al MartinOn breaking through to the state final: “We’ve had some really good teams in the past. As you know it’s tough. We’ve played some really good football in some really good games and just couldn’t find a way to win. We’ve had trouble breaking through to this point, but it’s really hard to get here.”
On beating Kirtland: “Beating them gave our kids even more confidence. (Proved) they could get the job done in a big game.”
On facing Marion Local, but having already beat traditional powers Kirtland and Newark Catholic en route to final: “(Our kids know) it really will come down to which team comes out and plays better Friday morning rather than what’s been done in the past.”
On seniors: “I know these kids have always been a real confident class.”
On the Flyers: “We know what’s in front of us and how good they are.”
Marion Local head coach Tim Goodwin“This senior class has always liked the weight room. Pretty physical, strong as a class.”
“We’ve been led by our defense the whole year. They’ve kept us in games and got the offense good field position.”
On sustained success: “It’s not easy. Takes a tremendous amount of dedication and commitment by the players, coaches and parents. We’re fortunate we live in a stable area with good economics and two parent homes. The kids are disciplined.”
On Cuyahoga Heights: “We’ve played flexbone teams in the past. But we don’t recall ever seeing a base-option team that can do so many things and do them so well. They are very fundamental and their quarterback really makes it go. That quarterback is the key.”
Marion Local is attempting to win its fifth state title in six years.
Photo By David Pence
Fri., Dec. 2, 3:00 PM at Ohio Stadium
KEYS/NOTESRematch of last year's state final that Hartley won 31-28.
Hartley* Only losses were to D-III regional champions Columbus DeSales and Toledo Central Catholic by a combined 10 points.
* Has reached the state semifinals five years in a row. Looking to defend state title.
* Played seven away games during regular season. Had eight home games in 2015.
* Returned 10 starters on defense.
Steubenville* Making eighth appearance in state final and looking for fourth title.
* Seniors are playing in their 58th game (out of a possible 60) in four years.
Ohio High School Football Playoff Brackets: Printable One-PageTOP PLAYERSMarquette Dixon, Hartley, sr., RB/LBHas rushed for 2,484 yards and 36 touchdowns in his first-year as a starter on offense. Coming off career-high 238 yards in state semifinal win over Alter.
Javon Davis, Steubenville, jr., QBHas completed 50-of-73 passes for 837 yards, seven touchdowns and zero interceptions in the postseason.
Cody Kirkbride, Hartley, sr., LBAP All-Central district defensive player of the year. Ended Steubenville’s last possession of state final last year with interception in final minute.
Charles Reeves jr, Steubenville, sr., TEAP All-Eastern district offensive player of the year.
Shyoun Petteway, Steubenville, sr., DBAP All-Eastern district defensive player of the year.
LIVE Division IV State Championship Game Scoreboard & AlertsTOP QUOTESHartley head coach Brad BurchfieldOn losing to Toledo Central Catholic in Week 1: “We learned a lot about ourselves from that game. We certainly got better because of it.”
On facing Steubenville again: “Having familiarity and stopping them are two different things. For us this is a different team. I’ve tried that revenge part before and it didn’t work well for us. What works well for us is blocking and tackling.”
“We don’t have the balance that Steubenville has offensively.”
“We try to run our team like a MAC team. I don’t think you’re going to see Coach Goodwin or Coach Otten give a profanity-laced tirade to the kids. We think fundamentals are the way to go. Our kids love playing football and look forward to the opportunity.”
On Dixon waiting his turn to run the ball as a senior: “He could’ve complained but he never did. He said ‘When it’s my turn, this is what I plan on doing.’ No matter what happens Friday, his story is going to resonate with us for a long, long time.”
Steubenville head coach Reno SaccocciaOn lone loss to Akron SVSM: “After you have a loss like that you can go one of two ways. We learned a good lesson.”
On a senior class playing in 58 games: “These kids have really improved from a 4-4 freshman team. I know it takes a lot of good juniors and sophomores to help out, but our seniors are really good students in school and good football players to work with.”
On a plus-12 turnover ratio in the postseason: “That’s a credit to our focus. Defensively the more people you get swarming to the ball the better opportunity you have to get the ball when it’s on the ground.”
On Hartley’s offense: “The big difference in their offense this season is the style of tailback they have right now.”
St. Ignatius is attempting to win its 12th Ohio state title.
Photo by Jeff Harwell
Fri., Dec. 2, 8:00 PM at Ohio Stadium
KEYS/NOTESSt. Xavier* The Bombers hold a 12-11 lead in the overall series against St. Ignatius.
* Trying to become the first five-loss team in history to win a state football title. Was 5-5 after regular season.
* Riding a five-game win streak after losing to St. Ignatius 31-14 in Week 9.
* First state final appearance since 2007.
St. Ignatius* The Wildcats are 2-0 in previous state finals against St. Xavier.
* Head coach Chuck Kyle believes his offensive line is the biggest in program history. Average lineman stands 6-foot-3, 297 pounds.
* Looking to add to state record haul of 11 state titles.
* Record of 70-15 all-time in OHSAA playoffs.
Ohio High School Football Playoff Brackets: Printable One-PageTOP PLAYERSSean Clifford, St. Xavier, sr., QBPenn State recruit called a “really special talent” by head coach Steve Specht. Missed five games this season but still rushed for 12 touchdowns and threw for seven more.
John Spellacy, St. Ignatius, sr., CHeart of the program’s biggest line ever has committed to Eastern Carolina. First team AP All-Northeast Lakes district.
Carl Grimm, St. Xavier, sr., DBTeam’s leading tackler (98) was first team GCL South and AP Southwest District.
James Leyden, St. Ignatius, sr., TEFirst team AP All-Northeast Lakes district.
LIVE Division I State Championship Game Scoreboard & AlertsTOP QUOTESSt. Xavier head coach Steve Specht“It’s been the strangest season I’ve been through in my career.”
“Anytime you finish the regular season 5-5 people look at you sideways. But here we are today. It’s been a heck of a ride.”
“Our schedule was arguably the toughest schedule in the country.”
“We always talk about embracing the grind and the kids have done that. We’re here now because of that.”
Keys against St. Ignatius: “You’ve got to be able to neutralize the run game. They are so big and physical upfront. You also have to take away the play action deep ball. That’s where they put the dagger into teams.”
St. Ignatius head coach Chuck Kyle“During the preseason, I don’t think people knew what to make of us. I don’t think we were ranked that highly. It was like wait and see.”
“It’s a real challenge to play Xavier twice in a year.”
On beating St. Xavier in Week 9: “Since that game they are 5-0 and they are a hot team. We are playing an opponent that is certainly on a really nice progression. I don’t think either of us change everything because we’ve played once. There’s a certain core of your offense that you have to believe in. I mean come on – it’s carried you through 14 games.”
On facing Clifford: “The first time we played them, he didn’t play. That’s another factor we are concerned about. He’s done a great job in the playoffs. We’re going to have to be a complete defense.”
