Ultimate Guide to the OHSAA football state finals: A look at the teams coming to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

The 50th Ohio High School Athletic Association football state finals begin Thursday night in Canton. Seven state champions will be crowned over the three days — up from only three state champs in 1972.

None of the six programs who played for state titles in '72 are in the 2021 finals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

But most of the 14 teams coming to Stark County are quite familiar with playing for, and winning, state championships. Of the 18 Ohio high school football teams with four or more state titles, eight will be playing this weekend — Maria Stein Marion Local, Newark Catholic, Coldwater, Versailles, Kirtland, Hoban, St. Edward and Youngstown Ursuline.

Marion Local is seeking a state-record 12th title (which will break its tie with St. Ignatius at 11). For more on this year's Flyers, and the other teams in the finals, read on for a breakdown on each team.

More OHSAA Football Championships: Ultimate Guide to the OHSAA football state finals: Top players coming to Canton's Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

Thursday’s game

Division II, 7 p.m.

A look at the Archbishop Hoban Knights

Head coach: Tim Tyrrell (102-17 in his ninth season)

Record: 12-3

How they got here: Defeated Eastlake North 49-0, Austintown Fitch 48-28, Nordonia 35-7, Walsh Jesuit 49-30 and Avon 31-24

Offensive player to watch: Junior running back Lamar Sperling’s five-game playoff production – 1,282 yards and 20 TDs – would be a really good regular season for a lot of backs. That’s pushed his season total to 2,810 yards and 41 TDs. Needless to say, Sperling is the player the spotlight will shine on the most when the Knights have the football.

Defensive player to watch: Junior Jason Martin III is just the latest in a long line of talented defensive linemen the Knights have had over their seven-year run of dominance. Martin, who came onto the scene a year ago, has emerged this year as a creator of havoc up front with more than 20 tackles for loss, double-digit sacks and three forced fumbles.

Specialist to watch: Kicker Charlie Durkin is that reliable leg a championship contender loves to lean on. Durkin has knocked through all 60 of his point-after kicks. He’s also hit 11-of-14 field goals, including a long of 49 yards. On kickoffs, he’s putting roughly 90% into the end zone for touchbacks.

Keep an eye out for ... junior quarterback Jayvian Crable, a Massillon transfer, who has shown himself to be more than capable of making opposing defenses pay if they’re too overaggressive against the run. Take the state-semifinal win over Avon, where he was 4-of-6 for 70 yards, but with two touchdowns. On the season, he’s 78-of-167 passing for 1,266 yards and 12 TDs. Crable also is a dangerous second option running the ball, such as the 103 yards he gained on seven carries last week.

Quick hits: Hoban is 91-8 over the last seven seasons, as it seeks a sixth state title in that stretch. That includes a 33-1 record in the playoffs in that span, with the only loss a 17-14 regional-final setback to Massillon in 2019. … This is Hoban’s 17th all-time playoff appearance. The Knights were 14-10 in the previous 10 trips, with state semifinal appearances in 2002 and 2008. … Hoban’s first two state titles, in 2015 and 2016, were in Division III. Those title games were played in Ohio Stadium. The last three, all in Division II, have been won in Stark County: 2017 and 2018 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, while 2020’s title was won at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. … The Knights’ 2017 title was won at the expense of Winton Woods, this year’s finals opponent. Hoban won 42-14. … Hoban’s average margin of victory in its five previous title-game wins has been 20.8 points. Only one, a 33-30 win over Toledo Central Catholic in 2015, has been by fewer than 14 points. … Hoban is 47-11 all-time in the playoffs. … The Knights lost their only game this season against another team playing this weekend. St. Edward, which will play for the Division I state title Friday night, beat Hoban 28-17 in Week 10.

A look at the Winton Woods Warriors

Head coach: Chad Murphy (12-3 in his first season)

Record: 12-3

How they got here: Defeated Turpin 46-29, Kings 31-21, La Salle 42-25, Piqua 38-17 and Green 20-7

Offensive player to watch: Senior running back Ty’Rek Spikes has put together a strong playoff run, one that can almost rival that of his Hoban counterpart Lamar Sperling. Spikes has run for 1,020 yards and 10 TDs in the playoffs, lifting his season totals to 1,703 yards and 18 TDs on 255 carries.

Defensive player to watch: Senior defensive lineman Jay’Ron Gibson may not be Winton Woods’ leading tackler, but he may be the most disruptive player on the defense. Gibson, the Southwest District Division II Defensive Player of the Year, has 14 sacks a 38 solo tackles, as well as a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

Specialist to watch: Spikes is the obvious answer here because of his ability to turn any kickoff or punt he gets his hands on into a touchdown, as Green found out last week. However, kicker Dan Umba Domobele has also been effective this year, making 6 of 9 field goals as well as 40 of 47 point-after kicks.

Keep an eye out for ... the Warriors’ defense as it tries to slow down Hoban’s running game. Throughout the season, they’ve been absolutely stifling against opposing rushing games. Teams have averaged just 2.7 yards per carry and 75.9 yards per game on the ground against Winton Woods. That starts with its defensive line, led by the aforementioned Gibson, and extends through the entire front seven, including talented linebackers such as Qierstin Williams, and on to the secondary led by Lorenzo Hudson and Seven Blue.

Quick hits: Winton Woods is no stranger to Hoban, having lost to the Knights 42-14 in the 2017 Division II state finals. That was the first state title game to be played in the new Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. … The Warriors are making their third title game appearance. They won the 2009 Division II state title with a 42-12 win over Maple Heights at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. … Chad Murphy was elevated from his role as Winton Woods’ quarterbacks coach in 2020 to head coach this past spring to replace Andre Parker, who stepped down after an 11-year run. Murphy previously was head coach at Cincinnati Northwest (2010-12) and Hamilton (2013-18). … This is the Warriors’ 12th playoff appearance overall, and the fourth time it has advanced out of the regional tournament. They beat Massillon in the 2017 state semifinals, then lost to the Tigers in the same round in 2018. … Winton Woods is 22-10 all-time in the playoffs.

Friday’s games

Division IV, 10:30 a.m.

A look at the Clinton-Massie Falcons

Head coach: Dan McSurley (249-63 in his 26th season)

Record: 13-1

How they got here: Defeated Northridge 55-13, Waverly 49-28, Wyoming 42-14, Archbishop McNicholas 28-27 and Bloom-Carroll 24-21

Offensive player to watch: Senior Carson Vanhoose is the anchor to the Falcons’ rushing attack. Vanhoose has run for 1,856 yards and 27 TDs to lead Clinton-Massie. He can be both a punishing runner, as well as one who can break loose for a big gain.

Defensive player to watch: Senior linebacker Colton Trampler anchors the Falcons’ defense. On the season, he’s registered 71.5 tackles and 5.5 sacks. He’s also picked off two passes.

Specialist to watch: There’s not going to be too many better names to grace the field this week than Falcons kicker Ean McGuinness. However, McGuinness is more than just a cool name. He’s been consistent in his kicking, too, going 71-of-77 on PATs, and 2-of-4 on field goals. That includes the field goal that proved to be the difference in last week’s win over Bloom-Carroll.

Keep an eye out for ... the other half of Clinton-Massie's one-two rushing attack, Carter Frank. He’s rushed for 929 yards on 133 carries. However, it’s been during the playoffs where Frank’s been most effective. Over the last two weeks, he’s carried the ball a season-best 15 times each game for a combined 246 yards in those games.

Quick hits: This marks Clinton-Massie's return to the state championship game stage after a four-year absence. The Falcons last appeared in the title game in 2017, when it lost 24-21 to Steubenville. … Clinton-Massie has won a pair of Division IV championships: 2012 over St. Clairsville at Canton’s Fawcett Stadium and 2013 over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in a snowstorm at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium. … Clinton-Massie hasn’t produced a losing season since 2001, when it went 2-8 in McSurley’s sixth season. … This is the 21st all-time playoff appearance for Clinton-Massie, all of which have come since 1998. The Falcons are 39-18 all-time in the playoffs.

A look at the Youngstown Ursuline Fighting Irish

Head coach: Dan Reardon (20-14 in his third season)

Record: 11-3

How they got here: Defeated Canton South 48-20, Salem 54-35, Glenville 42-38, West Branch 64-35 and Port Clinton 34-17

Offensive player to watch: Senior running back DeMarcus McElroy has saved his best football for his final season with the Irish. Over the last two playoff games, he’s rushed for 567 yards and nine TDs to help Ursuline reach the title game for the first time in 11 years. On the season, McElroy has rushed for 2,191 yards and 41 TDs on 315 carries

Defensive player to watch: Ty’Req Donlow may only be a sophomore, but he’s already played a big role for the Ursuline defense. The Northeast Inland first-team all-district selection has 74 tackles on the season. He’s also managed to get to the quarterback for 9.5 sacks.

Specialist to watch: A good return man can be a valuable weapon, and that’s exactly what Jakylan Irving and Will Burney have been for the Irish. Irving has averaged 20.5 yards on 28 kickoff returns, including a touchdown. Burney, meanwhile, has averaged 21.6 yards on 12 punt returns.

Keep an eye out for ... the arm of Ursuline quarterback Brady Shannon. Yes, the Irish want to run the football, especially with McElroy. However, Shannon’s no slouch, either. On the season, he’s thrown for 2,647 yards with 27 TDs and 12 picks, completing 62% of his 287 passes. With targets such as Dean Boyd (52 catches, 916 yards, nine TDs), Marc Manning (40 catches, 572 yards, eight TDs), Irving (28 catches, 439 yards, three TDs) and Burney (33 catches, 397 yards, four TDs), Shannon has a lot of weapons. Throw in his 804 rushing yards, and Shannon becomes a very important person to keep an eye out for on Friday.

Quick hits: Dan Reardon, in his second stint as Ursuline’s coach, will get another homecoming of sorts in this game. Reardon spent three seasons as Canton McKinley’s head coach from 2015-18, going 30-15 with four playoff appearances and a pair of Federal League titles. Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium was opened in 2017, his third season at McKinley. … Reardon’s first stint at Ursuline, from 2004-11, included five playoff appearances, four trips to the state finals and three state titles. The Irish were second in Division V in 2007 to Marion Local before ripping off three consecutive titles, beating Liberty-Benton in 2008 and Coldwater in 2009 and 2010. … Ursuline also won a state championship in 2000 under head coach Jim Vivo. … The Irish are in their 22nd playoff appearance. They’ve posted a 48-17 all-time postseason record. … Ursuline’s first loss of the season came to another state finalist, a Week 3 loss to Chardon, which will look to defend its Division III state title on Friday. … Brady Shannon is a baseball commit to Central Florida.

Division III, 3 p.m.

A look at the Chardon Hilltoppers

Head coach: Mitch Hewitt (108-30 in his 11th season)

Record: 15-0

How they got here: Defeated Akron East 38-7, Streetsboro 63-7, Canfield 27-14, Dover 31-3 and West Holmes 41-7

Offensive player to watch: Junior Alex Henry has stepped in as the Hilltoppers’ quarterback and excelled. Of course, in Chardon’s offense, it’s not all about the throwing ability, although he does have 779 passing yards this season. Instead, it’s about Henry’s team-leading 1,258 rushing yards and 20 TDs on 208 carries.

Defensive player to watch: When a defense is allowing just over seven points a game over the course of 15 contests, there’s a lot of choices here. Let’s go with junior defensive lineman Alex Kisley. Kisley has 58 total tackles this season, including 39 solo stops. Where his numbers jump off the page is what he’s doing in the opposing backfields, where he has a team-high 12 sacks and 30 tackles for loss.

Specialist to watch: Nathan Tager kicked what proved to be the state championship-winning 33-yard field goal in double overtime last year against Columbus St. Francis DeSales. He’s back for his senior season, where he’s made seven field goals, 71 PATs, put 44 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks and averaged 33.2 yards on nine punts.

Keep an eye out for ... the Hilltopper defense creating turnovers. This season, Chardon has intercepted 20 passes — seven by Leo Colombi — and recovered nine fumbles. However, it’s not just the takeaways the Hilltoppers have gotten. It’s what they’ve done with them as well. Chardon has seven defensive scores this season, including two each by Colombi and Trey Liebhardt. Want to know how you make it even tougher on yourself trying to take down a defending champion? Try turning the ball over to them and watching them directly score off of said turnover.

Quick hits: Chardon is looking for its third state championship, and second in a row. The Hilltoppers’ other title, before last season, came in 1994. … The 1994 Chardon state championship may have capped one of the most impressive turnarounds in Ohio high school football history. The seniors on the 14-0 1994 title team had posted an 0-10 record as sophomores in 1992. … The only other state finals appearance for Chardon came in 1998, when it lost the Division II title to Lebanon on a last-minute hook-and-lateral play. The Hilltoppers’ head coach Mitch Hewitt, who went on to play for Urban Meyer at Bowling Green, was a senior on that team. … The Hilltoppers own a win over one of the other state finalists, having beat Division IV participant Ursuline 36-27 in Week 3. …. Chardon is making its 19th playoff appearance. The Hilltoppers are 38-16 all-time in the postseason. … TE/DE Alex McDonald and WR/S Nathanael Sulka are both football commits for Youngstown State. LB Christian Hall, meanwhile, is a baseball commit to Alcorn State.

A look at the Hamilton Badin Rams

Head coach: Nick Yordy (42-14 in his fifth season)

Record: 14-0

How they got here: Defeated Vandalia Butler 37-0, Lima Shawnee 17-0, St. Mary's Memorial 45-10, Bellbrook 21-9 and Granville 14-0

Offensive player to watch: Senior Jack Walsh is the centerpiece of the offense for the Rams. The running back has rushed for 1,815 yards and 18 TDs on 272 carries. Walsh has gained 535 rushing yards and four TDs over the last three playoff games, including a 226-yard performance in the win over Granville.

Defensive player to watch: Senior Eli Emmons is the top tackler on the Rams defense. The linebacker has recorded a team-high 155 total tackles, including 81 solo stops. Over the last four playoff games, Emmons has picked up 58 total tackles, including 29 solo stops.

Specialist to watch: Senior Jackson Niesen has converted 7 of 11 field goals this season for the Rams, including 3-of-5 in the playoffs. Niesen has also made 52-of-54 PATs — 17-for-17 in the playoffs.

Keep an eye out for ... sophomore quarterback Alex Ritzie. Before the regional final against Bellbrook, Ritzie had not attempted a pass and only had two carries for 29 net yards. However, a season-ending injury to starter Landyn Vidourek in that game forced the sophomore off the bench and into the spotlight. Ritzie completed 5 of 6 passes for 70 yards and a score in relief to help the Rams win the regional title. He started the state semifinal, going 7-of-13 for 64 yards passing in the win over Granville.

Quick hits: Badin is in its first state championship game since a 16-6 win over Revere for the 1990 Division III title. The Rams also lost to Brookfield in the 1978 Class AA title game and to Benedictine in the 1980 Division III title game. … Badin was formed in 1966 in a merger of the all-boys Hamilton Catholic and all-girls Notre Dame. In the school’s history, it’s making its 26th playoff appearance. The Rams are 31-24 all-time in the playoffs. … Coach Nick Yordy and running back Jack Walsh share the single-game school TD record with four others. Both have a five-score game, interestingly enough, each against Cincinnati McNicholas. Yordy did it in 1996; Walsh did it this season. … The team’s original starter, Landyn Vidourek, is a Cincinnati baseball commit.

Division I, 7:30 p.m.

A look at the St. Edward Eagles

Head coach: Tom Lombardo (75-14 in his seventh season)

Record: 14-1

How they got here: Defeated Lorain 49-0, Berea-Midpark 56-14, Canton McKinley 42-0, Medina 41-6 and Upper Arlington 16-10

Offensive player to watch: Senior QB Christian Ramos has grown over his nearly two full years as the Eagles’ starter. Ramos is a big, strong player at 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, but isn’t just a pocket passer despite his nearly 2,000 passing yards. He also can keep a hold of the ball and run, which he’s done to the tune of nearly 700 yards.

Defensive player to watch: The Eagles’ defense is stacked with talent, led by senior linebacker Zyion Freer-Brown. Freer-Brown is the team’s top tackler with nearly 130 total stops. He also can play in coverage, as evidenced by his two interceptions, both of which he’s returned for touchdowns.

Specialist to watch: Junior Ben Lavelle can flip the field position for St. Edward with his leg. He’s regularly put kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. Meanwhile, in the playoffs, he’s averaging 37.8 yards a punt, a slight increase from what he was doing during the regular season.

Keep an eye out for ... who is going to make big plays for St. Edward’s stout defense. The Eagles have hung their hats this season on a defense that has been virtually impossible to score a lot of points against. Only four teams — Rock Creek Christian, Maryland (18 points), Massillon (18), Moeller (28 in overtime) and Hoban (17) — have scored more than 14 points against St. Edward this season. In the playoffs, the Eagles have allowed just 30 points total. The secret to their success on defense is talent at all three levels, all of whom have had their hand at some point in big plays. That means the play that could ultimately help St. Edward claim the state title could come from almost anywhere.

Quick hits: St. Edward is aiming for its fifth state championship. The previous four all have come since 2010. The first two, in 2010 and 2014, came under head coach Rick Finotti, who’s now the head coach at John Carroll University. The last two, in 2015 and 2018, have come under Tom Lombardo. … Lombardo also won the Division III state title in 2001 at Mentor Lake Catholic. … Two of St. Edward’s title were won in Canton — 2010 at Fawcett Stadium and 2018 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium — and the other two were won at Ohio Stadium in Columbus. … This is the Eagles’ 27th all-time playoff appearance. They are 52-22 in the postseason. … St. Edward didn’t trail in a game until the overtime session against Moeller in Week 9, its lone loss of the season. It also was behind briefly in a Week 10 win over Division II state finalist Hoban, in a regional-final win over Medina and last week’s state semifinal against Upper Arlington. … Christian Ramos is a baseball commit for Bowling Green.

A look at the Springfield Wildcats

Head coach: Maurice Douglas (59-31 in his eighth season)

Record: 13-1

How they got here: Defeated Northmont 42-7, Dublin Jerome 34-0, Findlay 13-0, Marysville 27-0 and Moeller 22-21

Offensive player to watch: Senior Te’Sean Smoot is one of the state’s most dynamic players. The quarterback has completed 189 of 282 passes for 2,657 yards with 20 TDs and nine interceptions. He’s also run for 960 yards and 22 TDs.

Defensive player to watch: Linebacker Jaivian Norman has been all around the football for the Wildcats. He’s recorded 86 total tackles, along with 10 sacks. He’s also forced two fumbles, recovered one fumble and made one interception.

Specialist to watch: Springfield has multiple players who can potentially break a big return on a kickoff or punt. However, the Wildcats also have a punter in Cole Yost who can do his part to keep the opposition from changing the field position. Yost has averaged 34 yards on 34 punts, including putting eight inside the opposition’s 20.

Keep an eye out for ... Smoot’s ability to put pressure on St. Edward’s defense with his dual-threat talent. Over the last two games, the quarterback has thrown for 648 yards and three TDs while running for 158 yards and three scores. Smoot has to be able to do both effectively against the Eagles’ elite defense for the Wildcats to have a chance.

Quick hits: Springfield is the only team in the state finals to have never played for a state title previously in its history. To be fair, the school has only existed since 2008, when Springfield North and Springfield South merged, although neither of those schools ever played for a title either. … The Wildcats are in their seventh playoff appearance, with their first coming in 2009. They’re 13-6 all-time in the postseason, with three consecutive regional championships. … Head coach Maurice Douglas, who played in the NFL for the Chicago Bears, previously was the head coach at Trotwood-Madison. Douglas won the 2011 Division II state championship and coached in three other title games as part of eight playoff appearances there. … Springfield’s win over Moeller in the state semifinals snapped a two-game losing streak to Cincinnati Catholic powers in the state semifinals. The Wildcats lost to Elder in 2019 and St. Xavier in 2020.

Saturday’s games

Division VII, 10:30 a.m.

A look at the Marion Local Flyers

Head coach: Tim Goodwin (276-48 in his 23rd season)

Record: 15-0

How they got here: Defeated Twin Valley South 41-0, Fort Loramie 42-6, Riverside 34-0, St. Henry 27-8 and Hopewell-Loudon 34-7

Offensive player to watch: Senior quarterback Peyton Otte has taken well to the position change this season. The former All-Ohio receiver leads the Flyers with 1,380 rushing yards and 20 TDs, while also passing for 1,247 yards and nine scores.

Defensive player to watch: Senior linebacker Darren Meier’s play this season earned him defensive player of the year in both the Midwest Athletic Conference and Northwest District. Meier has more than 100 total tackles, and double-digit tackles for loss as well. He’s also created turnovers, with a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Specialist to watch: How about a pair of them to watch? Specifically, a pair of Ottes, as in Peyton and his Kyle. The duo led the MAC during the regular season in punt return yards, with Kyle averaging 24 yards on five returns with a score and Peyton averaging 21.75 yards on four returns.

Keep an eye out for ... if Marion Local’s defense can be scored upon. To say the Flyers have been stingy with the points this season would be much more generous than they have been with allowing opponents to score. Only four teams scored double digits against Marion Local this year, and two of them — Versailles (17 points) and Coldwater (21) — will be playing for state titles after it gets done Saturday. In the playoffs, no team has been able to score more than eight against the Flyers, who have allowed just 21 total points in those five games. Six times Marion Local has shut out an opponent, three of those in the playoffs.

Quick hits: Marion Local makes Ohio high school football history with a win Saturday. The Flyers come into the game tied with St. Ignatius for the most state playoff championships with 11. … Tim Goodwin’s 23-year career at Marion Local has included 22 playoff appearances. The only season the Flyers didn’t make it under his tenure was in 2004. He’s led them to 18 regional titles, 15 state finals and the aforementioned 11 state championships. … As a program, Marion Local has 24 playoff appearances, the others coming in 1981 (won a regional title) and 1993. The Flyers are 89-12 all-time in the playoffs. … Marion Local went 2-0 against fellow MAC teams playing for state titles this weekend. The Flyers beat Versailles 19-17 in Week 3 and Coldwater 24-21 in Week 9, the two closest games they’ve played the season. The only other game decided by single digits was a 41-33 Week 8 win over New Bremen, last year’s Division VII state champion.

A look at the Newark Catholic Green Wave

Head coach: Ryan Aiello (33-16 in his fourth season)

Record: 14-1

How they got here: Defeated Danville 34-16, Caldwell 42-7, East Knox 35-7, Shadyside 35-20 and Warren JFK 14-7

Offensive player to watch: Senior quarterback Cole Canter has thrown a school-record 31 TD passes this season, breaking the old mark of 24 which had stood since 1968. He’s thrown for 2,195 yards on the season.

Defensive player to watch: Senior linebacker Elijah Wallace had more than 80 total tackles and 11 tackles for loss during the regular season, earning him Central District Division VII Defensive Player of the Year. Wallace had two big takeaways in the state semifinal win over Warren JFK.

Specialist to watch: Senior Warren Knowlton will obviously be under the microscope as the Green Wave’s placekicker. He’s been steady on point-after kicks, a not unimportant part of the game. However, keep an eye out for Knowlton as well on the Newark Catholic defensive line, too.

Keep an eye out for ... the Newark Catholic running game, and if it can get going against Marion Local. Canter gets headlines for breaking a 53-year school passing record. However, Mason Hackett has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards this season, showing that the Green Wave are far from a one-dimensional. That’s going to be important against the Flyers’ dominant and stingy defense. Newark Catholic proved it could win a low-scoring game against a high-quality opponent last week. That may be the pathway to winning.

Quick hits: Marion Local may be one of the dynastic small-school football powers of the last 20 years, but Newark Catholic was the O.G. in that category. Between 1973 and 1993, the Green Wave won seven state championships, played in five other state finals and won 18 regional titles. … As a program, Newark Catholic has won eight state championships and is playing in its 15th state title game. It’s tied with its opponent, Marion Local, for most championship game appearances. … The Green Wave is in its 38th playoff appearance, which is the most of any program in Ohio history. Moeller and Ironton are tied for second with 37 appearances. … Newark Catholic has lost both meetings previously against Marion Local. The last was a 28-21 loss in the 2012 Division VI title game. … The 14 points last week was a season low for Newark Catholic, and one of only two times it didn’t score at least 34 points. … The title game is going to be a homecoming of sorts for Newark Catholic offensive coordinator Brian Cross. Cross was the head coach at Canton McKinley from 2003-07, guiding the Bulldogs to two regional titles and the 2004 Division I state title game.

Division VI, 3 p.m.

A look at the Carey Blue Devils

Head coach: Jonathon Mershman (44-17 in his fifth season)

Record: 14-1

How they got here: Defeated Van Buren 33-0, Tinora 20-0, Crestview 42-14, Liberty Center 31-7 and New Middletown Springfield 26-13

Offensive player to watch: Senior running back Jordan Vallejo is a big, bruising runner who has been a key piece of all of the Blue Devils’ success. In the state semifinals, he ran for 153 yards and three TDs. Vallejo has rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 34 TDs on the season.

Defensive player to watch: Junior linebacker Landen Kemerley has been the team’s leading tackler for the last two seasons. This season, he’s recorded 153 total tackles, including 36 tackles for loss.

Specialist to watch: Senior Anthony Bell is a reliable leg for Carey in his career. He’s knocked through 62 of his 67 point-after kicks. He’s also made five field goals in his career, including a long of 45 yards.

Keep an eye out for ... quarterback Derek Lonsway, who is the counterpunch to the physical Vallejo. Lonsway is the first player in school history to both run and throw for 1,000 yards in a season. He’s rushed for 1,278 yards, while throwing for another 1,158. While the Blue Devils aren’t exactly a toss-it-around-the-yard kind of offense, Lonsway is capable of making the throw when he has to make one.

Quick hits: This is Carey’s first trip to the state championship game since winning the 1975 Class A state championship. That Blue Devil team was coached by Tom Geschwind, who played his high school football at Massillon and was both a head coach and later an assistant at Jackson. … This is Carey’s 15th playoff appearance, and fifth in a row. The Blue Devils are 17-13 all-time in the postseason. … Carey has won 14 in a row since losing to Hopewell-Loudon, a Division VII state semifinalist, in the season opener. … Carey averages 39.5 points a game. That is complimented by a defense allows just 9.1 points a game, with six shutouts. … Senior cornerback Bryce Conti has eight interceptions this season. His 20 career picks are a school record.

A look at the Coldwater Cavaliers

Head coach: Chip Otten (144-25 in his 12th season)

Record: 13-2

How they got here: Defeated Jefferson 49-35, Deer Park 49-7, Mechanicsburg 42-6, Allen East 49-7 and West Jefferson 35-13

Offensive player to watch: Senior quarterback Reece Dellington has thrown for 2,938 yards this season. He’s 62 yards from being the fifth Cavalier QB to throw for 3,000 yards. He’s one TD pass to become the seventh in school history to throw 30 touchdowns.

Defensive player to watch: Senior linebacker Isaac Fullenkamp has recorded more than 120 tackles. He’s notched at least 15 tackles for loss.

Specialist to watch: Senior punter Jesse Meyer has quite a leg. Through the regular season, Meyer led the Midwest Athletic Conference by averaging 40.6 yards per punt. Now, granted, Coldwater only punted nine times in the regular season. Still, it’s nice to know, when it has to, it has someone who can flip the field.

Keep an eye out for ... Tyler Schwieterman, the player who caught the game-tying TD with less than two minutes remaining in last year’s Division VI state championship game. Schwieterman is the definition of a big-play receiver. His just the sixth receiver in Coldwater history to have more than 1,000 receiving yards. He’s caught 50 passes for 1,068 yards and nine TDs. Oh, and Schwieterman’s a pretty good safety as well, with more than 60 tackles and multiple takeaways.

Quick hits: Coldwater has made a state-record 25 consecutive playoff appearances. The Cavaliers have made 27 appearances overall. They’re 84-19 all-time in the postseason. … Coldwater is looking for its eighth state championship in school history. The Cavaliers won last year’s Division VI state title on a last-second Brady Klingshirn 26-yard field goal. They also won four in a row from 2012-15, along with titles in 2005 and 2007. … Coldwater is in its 14th state championship game. It made eight consecutive title games from 2009-16. … Chip Otten is a Coldwater graduate who took over for the late John Reed and maintained the high level of success established by Reed. Otten has won five state titles in his head coaching career. ... The only other state finalist that Coldwater has played this season is Marion Local. The Cavaliers suffered a 24-21 Week 9 loss to the Flyers.

Division V, 7:30 p.m.

A look at the Kirtland Hornets

Head coach: Tiger Laverde (198-17 in his 16 season)

Record: 14-0

How they got here: Defeated Harrison Central 56-0, Manchester 37-0, Garrettsville Garfield 25-7, South Range 38-15 and Ottawa-Glandorf 28-6

Offensive player to watch: Senior running back Mason Rus is the man to watch when the Hornets have the football. Rus has rushed for a school-record 1,959 yards, rushing for more than 100 yards in all but one game this season. Rus has scored 25 TDs.

Defensive player to watch: Kirtland’s defense has been nasty all season, with a lot of quality players. Rus, though, is also the standout on that side of the ball. The Northeast Lakes District Division V Defensive Player of the Year made 18 tackles for loss and 78 total tackles in nine regular-season games.

Specialist to watch: When you score as many touchdowns as Kirtland does, it’s good to have someone who can make sure you can get the full seven points. Johnny Raguz is 58-of-64 on PATs this season. Raguz also has made all four of his field goal tries.

Keep an eye out for ... what quarterback Ramon Lescano can do to be the counter to Rus. The first-year starter isn’t asked to throw the football a lot, having completed 55-of-98 passes for 1,175 yards. However, he’s effective when he does throw it, with 20 TD passes and just three interceptions. Lescano can also tuck the ball and run it, with 456 yards and seven TDs on 94 carries.

Quick hits: Kirtland has won 55 games in a row, the longest active win streak in the nation. The last time the Hornets lost came in the 2017 Division VI title game to Marion Local. The 55-game win streak is the second longest in Ohio history behind the 57-game streak by Delphos St. John’s from 1996-2001. … The last deficit Kirtland faced was in the third quarter of a 2019 first-round playoff game against Sandy Valley. Since rallying for a 38-24 win in that game, the Hornets have not trailed for the next 1,408 minutes and one second. … Kirtland is looking for its seventh state championship, and fourth in a row. The Hornets are in their 10th state final. … Only three offensive and three defensive starters returned from last year’s title team. … Kirtland is in its 17th playoff appearance. The Hornets have posted a 54-10 all-time playoff record. … Ashtabula Lakeside scored 28 points in a 35-point Week 8 loss to Kirtland. That’s one of only two teams to score double figures against Kirtland. The other was South Range in the regional final.

A look at the Versailles Tigers

Head coach: Ryan Jones (22-11 in his third season)

Record: 14-1

How they got here: Defeated Summit Country Day 49-14, Carlisle 34-8, Taft 14-0, Preble Shawnee 28-0 and Harvest Prep 28-22

Offensive player to watch: Senior Carsen Bey is the definition of dual-threat quarterback. Bey doesn’t necessarily throw it a lot per game, averaging around 13 pass attempts per game, but is very effective when he does pass. However, it’s his ability to take off and run that makes him truly dangerous.

Defensive player to watch: Senior linebacker Landon Henry is just one cog in what has been an all-for-one defensive effort from the Tigers this season. That said, Henry has stood out with his ability to get his hands on the football. The last two weeks, in both the regional final and state semifinals, Henry came up with key interceptions to either preserve a shutout or flip momentum.

Specialist to watch: Senior Chase McEldowney has been steady with his leg this season, going 55-of-59 on PATs.

Keep an eye out for ... the different backs who will have to make plays to help out Bey. Henry, Jack Osborne and Gabe Thompson have all carried the ball quite a bit for Versailles. They’ve been the ones who have complimented their talented quarterback, preventing opposing defenses from just keying on him. Against a defense such as Kirtland’s, that’s going to be extra important.

Quick hits: Versailles is in its first state championship game since losing to Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in the 2004 Division IV title game. The Tigers are in their 10th state championship game all-time. … Versailles is looking for its seventh state championship, and first since 2003. The Tigers won five in the 1990s — 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. That’s the second-most state titles for a school in that decade, behind the sixth titles St. Ignatius won. … Versailles is in its 20th playoff appearance. The Tigers are 52-13 all-time in the postseason. … The lone blemish on Versailles’ record is a Week 3 loss to fellow state finalist Marion Local. … Versailles had a 54-game win streak from 1993-1996, one which was ended by Marion Pleasant in the state championship game in 1996. The Tigers are trying to end Kirtland’s 55-game win streak. … The 22 points Versailles gave up in the state semifinal against Harvest Prep are a season high. The previous high was the 19 allowed in the loss to Marion Local, as well as a 24-19 win over New Bremen.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school football state finals team-by-team preview