SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield community met at the high school Thursday to send the football team off to the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division I state football championship game in Canton.
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The Wildcats will play St. Edward Friday night in a rematch of last year’s state title game where the Eagles won, 23-13.
St. Edward has won five football championships, three under head coach Tom Lombardo.
“We’re up against a perennial power,” said Mo Douglas, Springfield High head football coach. “They are the No. 20 team in the nation.”
Douglas told News Center 7′s Haley Kosik the team is excited about the opportunity and blessed to be in this position.
He said they plan to, “make history tomorrow (Friday).”
“We are bringing it home tomorrow (Friday) night,” he said.
Douglas was the head coach at his alma mater, Trotwood Madison High School, in 2011 when they won the Division II championship.
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The Wildcats have made it to the state finals the last two years, including the state semifinals four straight years. This would be their first Division I state championship.
“It would be big,” said Jaivian Norman, senior team captain. “This is something I’ve been working on since I was a freshman. To finally be the class to do it, would be great.”
Kickoff between Springfield and St. Edward is at 7:30 p.m. Friday night from Tom Benson Hall of Stadium in Canton.
Two other local high schools will also play for the state championship on Saturday.
Marion Local will play Kirtland in the Division VI state championship game Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m.
New Bremen battles John F. Kennedy in the Division VII state title game Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.
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