The Road to Canton produces 14 of Ohio's best aiming for state championships
By Keno Sultan
Stark County Prep Press writer
www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com
CANTON--336 teams from the state of Ohio fueled up for the Road to Canton.
It was a six-week journey that saw many 332 fall short on the path in what became a competitive race to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. In racing terminology, the checkered flag is out and 14 teams have made it to the final lap and will compete for a state title. However, only seven of the 14 will cross the finish line with that same checkered flag waving in the air that will complete their road to Canton as state champions.
This year, the Road to Canton will feature two rematches from last season. Seven teams who were state finalists are back again with two of them being defending state champions. In addition to that, four newcomers will make their first ever appearance in the state finals. And there is an AP #1 vs #2 in the finals also.
It will add up to a three-day, 28 quarter, 336 minute bonanza of high school football in the city where football was conceived. Here are the teams that will be competing for state championships and you can catch the coverage of those here on www.starkcountypreppress.blogspot.com.
Here are the matchups for all seven state title contests that will be played December 4-6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton:
Thursday, December 4, 2025: Division II state championship, 7 p.m.
Avon (13-1) vs. Cincinnati. Anderson (14-0): This will be a rematch of last season's state final captured by the Eagles by a 20-13 decision in which both teams were undefeated. Avon's only setback this year came to Spruce Creek (FL), 25-22 but other than that the reigning state champions seem to have no weaknesses and haven't lost a beat from last year as they will try to capture consecutive titles against a Raptors team that was largely untested this year with the exception of close wins over Cincinnati Winton Woods (37-30) and playoff wins over Cincinnati LaSalle (35-28) and last week's 29-22 state semifinal victory over Sunbury Big Walnut. Avon is coached by longtime general Mike Elder, a Warren native and graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and University of Mount Union and Anderson is piloted by Evan Dreyer, who is in his ninth season at Anderson.
Friday, December 5, 2025: Division IV state championship, 10:30 a.m.
Cleveland Glenville (11-3) vs. Shelby (14-0): The Tarblooders are looking to establish themselves as a dynasty with a third state championship in four years. They started off the season in Stark County with a 33-27 overtime victory against Massillon at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium and are looking to end their season in the same county with a crown. They needed to survive a very stern challenge from defending state king Indian Valley to capture a 26-21 victory that concluded the Braves' 28 game winning streak and catapulted the Tarblooders into Friday morning's affair against the undefeated Whippets, who are one of four AP #1 ranked teams playing for a state title. Shelby is only surrendering a staggering 21 points in four playoff games not to mention the lowest points they have scored all season is 37 points twice and the highest is 56. Glenville is head coached by 29th year commander Ted Ginn Sr. while Shelby is led by head coach Rob Mahaney, who is in his seventh year at the post. An interesting nugget: three-time state basketball champion Dave Hoover is a Shelby High School graduate. Hoover coached Westerville North to the 1994 Division I state title but is widely recognized for his 11 years atop the Canton McKinley helm that saw the Bulldogs win eight district titles, five regional titles and consecutive state titles in 2005 and 2006 before retiring.
Friday, December 5, 2025: Division III state championship, 3 p.m.
Toledo Central Catholic (11-4) vs. Columbus Bishop Watterson (13-0): This will be the third installment between the two high schools that has become a rivalry. Two years earlier, it was the Irish wearing down the Eagles on their way to a 27-7 conquest only to have the Eagles rebound with a late touchdown drive that cemented an undefeated season for the Eagles. Earlier this year, Central Catholic started out of the gate with an 0-3 record but have responded with an 11-1 record and it is a reason why they are a win away from regaining their title. They will have to traverse through a Watterson team that aside from a 14-13 win over Middletown (DE), no one has come remotely close to derailing the Eagles, who are only surrendering 6.3 points defensively. Greg Dempsey is in his 26th year at his alma mater (TCC) while Brian Kennedy is in his 9th season at his alma mater (Watterson). Bishop Watterson will look to add a second title to it's trophy showcase in less than a month, having won the Division III boys soccer state title with a 3-0 win over Aurora.
Friday, December 5, 2025: Division I state championship, 7:30 p.m.
Cincinnati St. Xavier (11-2) vs. Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (14-0): St. Xavier is back in the state title game for the first time in five years, when they downed Pickerington Central to seize their fourth title in their illustrious history. The Bombers are riding a seven-game winning streak into their final with the Olentangy Orange Pioneers, who are looking to become the second consecutive school in the Olentangy area to win a state title, joining last year's state champion Olentangy Liberty. The Pioneers reached their peak with a 28-0 state semifinal victory over Lakewood St. Edward, who had a run of three straight state championships from 2021-2023. St. Xavier is head coached by Steve Specht, who is in his 23rd year as the Bombers head coach and a graduate who played under legendary boss Steve Rasso. Olentangy Orange is paced by Wes Schroeder, who is in his second season as the Pioneers head coach. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the 2005 Bombers team that won the school's first state championship with a 15-0 record as they defeated Massillon 24-17 at then Fawcett Stadium after having come up short in three other bids for a title, losing to St. Ignatius (1992 and 2001) and Canton McKinley (1998). The Bombers finished the 2005 season ranked #1 in Ohio and ninth in the nation.
Saturday, December 6, 2025: Division V state championship, 7:30 p.m.
Wheelersburg (14-0) vs. Liberty Center (14-0): This is the only AP #1 vs #2 state championship game on the ledger. Liberty Center has come up short twice, losing in the state final two years in a row to Lake County Perry and last year against Ironton. The Tigers hope that the third time will be the charm but it will have to come against a Wheelersburg team that is looking for a state title themselves and fresh off a 24-10 state semifinal win over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney. Both the Pirates and Tigers boast stingy defenses and it will be a matter of whose defense will hold up when the game is on the line. Rob Woodward is in his 18th season at Wheelersburg while Casey Mohler is in his 9th season at Liberty Center.
Saturday, December 6, 2025: Division IV state championship, 3 p.m.
Kirtland (14-0) vs Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (13-1): Last season, Kirtland didn't get off like they wanted to and the end result was a sickening 31-7 loss to Coldwater in the state title game. The Hornets swore they would return and have done so in resounding fashion. They will oppose Bascom Hopewell-Loudon, a first-time participant in the state football championships. The Hornets will look to rely on their experience to capture another state championship under long tenured boss Tiger LaVerde. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon is led by head coach Brian Colatruglio, in his 9th season as Chieftains boss.
Saturday, December 6, 2025: Division VII state championship, 10:30 a.m.
St. Henry (13-1) vs. Jeromesville Hillsdale (13-1): For the first time in 76 games, there will not be an appearance made by Maria Stein Marion Local. You can thank St. Henry for the accomplishment in ending the Flyers long standing winning streak. Hillsdale last season was on the brutally wrong end of history as they fell behind 33-0 in the first quarter and never threatened at all in a 74-0 defeat. St. Henry is widely remembered for their stunning 61-58 triple overtime loss to Mogadore 29 years ago at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon, a game which the Redskins led 35-3 before their stunning and unlikely collapse. Only one of these two will earn the right to be a champion Saturday. The Redskins are paced by head coach Josh Werling while the Falcons are coached by Trevor Cline.
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