OHSAA Football Championships have plenty of Ohio State interest

The 2023 OHSAA Football Championships will kickoff on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio. The seven game showcase will run through Saturday night and feature several Ohio State commits and recruiting targets.

Division II Massillon Washington (15-0) vs. Akron Archbishop Hoban (13-1), Thursday, 7 p.m.

Massillon has a storied history but has never won a championship in the playoffs era and this year might be its best chance yet. This isn’t the most star-studded team that the Tigers have had in this recent great run under head coach Nate Moore, but it could very well be the best.

The Tigers have already defeated Division I favorite Lakewood St. Edward and have an explosive offense led by dual-threat quarterback DaOne Owens.

But Hoban has stood in the way of history a few times in the past and will try to do so again behind another loaded roster. The Buckeyes have already offered two sophomores at Hoban in super cornerback Elbert Hill and massive offensive tackle Sam Greer and they have a commitment from junior linebacker Eli Lee.

The key to this game could be Hoban playing keep away from Owens and limiting explosive plays. Hoban has a massive offensive line with multiple Division I prospects but has to work a bit harder for their points than Massillon.

Prediction: Hoban 24 Massillon 21

Division VI Kirtland (14-1) vs. Versailles (13-2), Friday, 10:30 a.m.

Two perennial powers here. Kirtland is playing in its seventh straight state championship game, and 13th overall, an incredible feat. On the other side, Versailles is looking for its eighth state championship. These two teams come into this game with a combined 13 state championships in football with Versailles defeating Kirtland back in the 2021 Division V game.

This will be a bit of a contrast in styles, Kirtland is going to keep it on the ground the vast majority of the time while Versailles is a little more balanced. Both teams are incredibly battle tested and used to the pressure this game provides. Hard to pick against the MAC though.

Prediction: Versailles 22 Kirtland 13

Division III Toledo Central Catholic (15-0) vs. Columbus Bishop Watterson (14-1), Friday, 3 p.m.

It’s a bit unusual to see a team in Division III that could have competed for a state championship in Division I, but TCC is that good. The Fighting Irish have athletes all over the field and a huge offensive line led by Kentucky pledge Marc Nave.

Bishop Watterson has always built its program on toughness and that is embodied by senior linebacker/safety Dom Purcell, a first-team all-state selection and Navy pledge.

This will be a contrast in styles. TCC wants to play fast, make explosive plays and get their athletes in space. Watterson would prefer to play this one in a phone booth and possess the ball and get TCC into a fist fight. TCC has been so dominant this year that while I expect Watterson to give them a hard fought game, it’s hard to pick against the Fighting Irish.

Prediction: Toledo Central Catholic 35 Bishop Watterson 20

Division I Springfield (10-5) vs. Lakewood St. Edward (13-1), Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Springfield vs. Ed’s Part III! For the third straight year, these two programs will decide the Division I championship. Springfield is here as an unlikely 12 seed who was left for dead in Mid-October, but the Wildcats got healthy and found their identity at the right time and put together a tremendous playoff run.

Ohio State cornerback commit Aaron Scott has had an incredible postseason on both sides of the ball and might be needed even more on offense in this one.

St. Ed’s boasts one of the best offensive lines in the nation with a pair of Ohio State commits in Devontae and Deontae Armstrong and Michigan pledge Ben Roebuck and will want to impose their will on an athletic but undersized Springfield front.

This game will also feature two excellent running backs in Springfield senior Jayvin Norman and St. Ed’s sophomore Brandon White. Ed’s has won the previous two meetings, will they make it a three-peat on Friday night?

Prediction: St. Ed’s 28 Springfield 17

Division VII Maria Stein Marion Local (15-0) vs. Dalton (13-1), Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

Awesome story here as Dalton makes its first state championship game appearance. The small town is roughly 30 minutes west of Canton and can now emerge from the shadow cast over it by the Massillon’s and McKinley’s of the world.

Brutally tough test, however, as Marion Local goes for its 14th state championship. The Flyers have been Ohio’s winningest program since Tim Goodwin took the reins more than two decades ago and this juggernaut has rarely been tested this season. The Flyers boast a shutdown defense but can also put up serious points with a pair of 60+ point victories already during the playoffs.

The closest game the Flyers have played in the postseason this year is a 28-7 contest and Dalton would be very good to duplicate that here.

Prediction: Marion Local 42 Dalton 7

Division V: Perry (15-0) vs. Liberty Center (15-0), Saturday, 3 p.m.

The only matchup of undefeated teams this weekend. Perry boasts one of the best players we’ll see all weekend in junior quarterback Walter Moses. Moses holds a couple of early scholarship offers and can make plays with both his arm and legs.

Liberty Center is going to want to grind this one out on the ground and play great defense while Perry is a little more versatile in how they can move the ball.

Prediction: Perry 28 Liberty Center 14

Division IV: Cleveland Glenville (12-2) vs. Kettering Archbishop Alter (12-3), Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

The last game of the weekend will have as much intrigue for Ohio State fans as any as Glenville goes for back-to-back titles against perennial power Archbishop Alter.

Glenville’s championship run last year was with a pretty junior-driven roster and that experience should serve the Tarblooders well on Saturday night. Ohio State cornerback commit Bryce West and tight end commit Damarion Witten drive the Glenville defense and offense respectively with Witten being one of the state’s most versatile weapons. Witten can play quarterback, receiver, tight end, and even running back if needed and Alter is going to have to stop his big play ability if the Knights want to pull off the upset here.

Alter’s best shot in this one is to control the clock and take care of the football. If the Knights can win the turnover battle and sustain a few drives, they’ll be able to put a scare into Glenville but the Tarblooders have too much talent here to not repeat and a few explosive plays should be the difference in this one.

Glenville 28 Alter 20