As much as we've ever been able to say, this week's football finals promises compelling matchups that might be as good, as memorable, as any from the past.  Springfield's Shawn Thigpen (above) hopes to reverse the outcome of last year's Division I loss to Lakewood St. Edward. Read more in the latest inside feature.

In the past two decades I’ve seen some things change with the state tournament, mostly relative to the people you see, as well as those you don’t see anymore. And whoever believed that one day it would be so easy not to go at all?