Powerful Ironton (in black) is seeking its first title since 1989, having won just twice in 11 Finals appearances. They’ve lost twice to Kirtland, and to South Range, in the past four years. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Covington, OH – Sunday was catch-up day – calls, texts, emails – and nearly 50 responses received from regular readers, centered on two things.
One, the mess that was the Ohio State-Michigan game on Saturday.
The prevailing sentiment? Disappointment, not only with the outcome, but the public drunkeness, disorder, and unsporting behavior unbecoming to an anticipated rivalry. One actually wrote, “It’s something I never want to see again.”
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Two, interest in our coverage of this weekend’s OHSAA state football finals. We don’t publish predictions once the tournament reaches the state rounds, semi-finals and finals. Still, people were interested in new teams, old teams, nd wonder, again, whether the MAC, and Marion Local, can extend its title dominance in small-school football?
To those I know well enough to answer their question with one of my own, I asked this question: “Are you planning on going? And why, or why not?”
Surprising, more than half of those I asked responded in the negative – that they didn’t plan to attend the tournament in person.
Reasons? Distance, cost, and the convenience of just sitting at home and watching it on TV.
Doug, from Scioto County, emailed, “It’s too long a drive to Canton, even if you have a team in the tournament. The OHSAA. should care more about convenience to the communities. It’s just too far.”
From Madison County, someone wrote: “Thanks for covering London, but we have four kids, and how do you leave anyone at home? It’s expensive and I don’t understand why this can’t be done in Columbus.”
From Theresa in Ironton: “Ironton people will go, but they (OHSAA) could have made it [the tournament] closer. It’s time to think about the fans.”
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It’s not to be unexpected. Since the tournament left Columbus back in 2016 many long-time attendees have objected, to the point of staying home. Ticket prices have climbed, yes, but purists also point to the fact of television, and what that convenience has meant to the loss in appetite for actually attending the state football finals.
And for the sake of venue, very few recent OHSAA final games have drawn more than five or six thousand – the Division I final game being the exception because those schools come from larger urban areas. So you can make the point that a smaller, more convenient location in central Ohio would serve fans from the other six divisions better than a four hour drive from Ironton.
But there’s a counterpoint, too. And on this occasion I tend to side with the OHSAA.
I was there in 2014, ’15, and ’16 and saw what five thousand people looked like in Ohio Stadium – a miserable atmosphere for a state championship contest.
I observed the usher staff, the concessions, and how little interest they had in being there.
14-1 Coldwater is seeking its first state title since 2021. Extra points if you can name this former Cavalier.
Media attention was unfortunate, and unless a central Ohio team was playing the title games got little priority compared to coverage of the Buckeyes and the Blue Jackets.
Local merchants didn’t care. There were no welcome signs, or incentive to do business.
Foremost, however…Ohio State University simply did not want the event, and priced it accordingly.
In Stark County the football finals are part of their culture, along with the NFL Hall of Fame and a legacy of high school football that includes Canton McKinley and Massillon high schools.
Media-wise, it gets front page billing every day.
Merchants are very welcoming.
Hotels are properly staffed, and reasonably priced.
There is no question that Tom Benson Stadium is a better fit, and a new three-year renewal (through 2026) was signed last year. Like it or not, the state tournament is staying in Canton, where the people who live there welcome it as local opportunity.
But still, average attendance is not expected to be above five thousand, despite new and first-time participants.
In Division I it remains to be seen how many souls Olentangy Liberty can attract, making their first appearance in the Finals, and against Moeller.
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In Division II we’ll see how many Cincinnatians care enough to drive four hours for Anderson vs. Avon.
In Division III, Toledo Central Catholic and Watterson represent the only rematch of teams from the 2023 Finals.
In Division IV Sandusky Perkins seeks its second-ever football title, and the first in a quarter century, when it takes on first-time participant, Indian Valley, from down in Tuscarawas County.
Division V is highlighted by Ironton, seeking it first title since 1989. The Tigers are two for nine in eleven previous trips to the Finals, and have lost three of the last four, in 2019, ’20, and ’22. To get it done, they have to face Liberty Center, who lost in last year’s title game, 21-14.
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In Division VI, you can expect an enthusiastic crowd from Coldwater, as the seven-time champion Cavaliers face seven-time title winner Kirtland, who likewise, usually brings the entire community.
Finally, in Division VII the intrigue should be high to see 14-time champion and record-setting Marion Local seek its fourth title in a row and their 64th consecutive win – four undefeated seasons of 16-0 – spanning back to 2021. The opponent is Jeromesville-Hillsdale, making its first title appearance coming off a 14-1 season in the Wayne County Athletic Conference.
So there’s something for almost everyone. And Dominic, from Lake County, where undefeated Kirtland is the local favorite, writes: “Win or lose, Kirtland shows up.”
Will you?
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