AKRON, Ohio — Fortress Obetz just outside of Columbus will host the state championship games this upcoming weekend and the venue may not host a better showdown than the Division II championship matchup between Archbishop Hoban and Massillon.
Hoban, who comes into the game undefeated at 10-0, is the No. 1 ranked team in the state in Division II and fresh off a 28-14 state semifinal victory over Avon.
"When we set ourselves up at the beginning of the year, we always want to have this goal," said Archbishop Hoban head football coach Tim Tyrell about a state title run. "The program is at that point, really over the last six years, that the goal every year going in is to be playing in this game."
Friday's game with Massillon will be a rematch of a 2018 playoff game between the two schools. Hoban won that game 42-28.
Editors note: the below video originally aired on Nov. 29, 2018.
"It's familiar," Tryell said, of the matchup with the Tigers. "It's turning into a good little rivalry. There's a lot of respect between both staffs and both teams. We're familiar with a lot of their players." Tyrell added some of his players even workout with Massillon players during the offseason.
Massillon comes into the Division II state title game with a record of 10-1 on the season and fresh off a 14-10 victory over Cincinnati LaSalle in the state semifinals.
WATCH: 3News' Nick Camino sits down with Archbishop Hoban head football coach Tim Tyrrell.