CLEVELAND — We're reaching the nitty gritty, folks.
The regional finals for the Ohio High School Athletic Association football playoffs are set for this Friday night, and 21 teams from WKYC's 17-county viewing area will be competing for trips to the state semifinals in all seven divisions. Among those still competing are unbeaten powerhouses like Mentor, Walsh Jesuit, Avon, and Kirtland, while Cinderella stories include No. 7 seed Padua Franciscan in Division III and 9-seed Cuyahoga Heights in D-VII.
Another "Cinderella," at least in theory? Three-time defending D-I champion St. Edward. The Eagles finished the regular season with a pedestrian 5-5 record (partly due to a brutal schedule), but as the seventh seed in Region 1, Tom Lombardo's squad has blown past Findlay, Toledo Whitmer, and Perrysburg to reach the regional finals. They'll face the Mentor Cardinals, a team they haven't lost to in five years.
Check below for a full list of regional semifinal games involving Northeast Ohio high schools as well as their locations, with all games being played at neutral sites. Area teams listed in bold, and all matchups will kick off Friday at 7 p.m.
Division I
Region 1
- (7) St. Edward (8-5) vs. (1) Mentor (13-0) — Bearcat Stadium, Bedford
Division II
Region 5
- (2) Archbishop Hoban (11-2) vs. (1) Walsh Jesuit (13-0) — Tiger Stadium, Twinsburg
Region 6
- (2) Granger Highland (13-0) vs. (1) Avon (13-0) — Ely Stadium, Elyria
Region 7
- (3) Massillon Washington (11-2) vs. (1) Big Walnut (12-1) — Arlin Field, Mansfield
Division III
Region 9
- (2) Gilmour Academy (12-1) vs. (1) Ursuline (12-1) — Portage Community Bank Stadium, Ravenna
Region 10
- (7) Padua Franciscan (8-5) vs. (1) Toledo Central Catholic (12-1) — Foundation Stadium, Sandusky
Division IV
Region 13
- (5) Cleveland Glenville (10-3) vs. (2) Perry (12-1) — William Boliantz Stadium, Macedonia
Region 14
- (3) Ontario (12-1) vs. (1) Perkins (12-1) — Frost-Kalnow Stadium, Tiffin
Region 15
- (2) Indian Valley (13-0) vs. (1) St. Clairsville (13-0) — John D. Sulsberger Stadium, Zanesville
Division V
Region 18
- (2) Liberty Center (13-0) vs. (1) Milan Edison (13-0) — Lake Community Stadium, Millbury
Division VI
Region 21
- (6) Dalton (10-3) vs. (1) Kirtland (13-0) — Serpentini Chevrolet Stadium, North Royalton
Region 23
- (2) Northmor (13-0) vs. (1) Grandview Heights (12-0) — Westerville Central Stadium
Division VII
Region 25
- (9) Cuyahoga Heights (8-4) vs. (3) Malvern (12-1) — Red Rider Stadium, Orrville
Region 27
- (2) Beaver Eastern (13-0) vs. (1) Danville (11-2) — Logan Chieftain Stadium
