5 things we learned from the state football semifinals
Central Ohio had six teams in the state football semifinals, with Newark Catholic the only one to survive and advance.
Here are five things we learned from the semifinals:
Pickerington Central isn’t the only Division I power in central Ohio
After Pickerington Central won state titles in 2017 and ’19 and were the state runners-up in 2020, Upper Arlington, New Albany and Marysville joined Central as the area’s top big-school teams.
There’s no reason to think that the Tigers won’t remain among the area’s best for years to come. But the fact that UA was 3-5 last year, New Albany was 5-4 in 2020 and Marysville failed to win more than six games in any season from 201420 is a reminder that new teams can emerge quickly.
It should provide hope for programs such as Pickerington North, Gahanna and Dublin Jerome, which had strong junior classes, or teams that took strides forward this fall like Hilliard Davidson that perhaps next year will be their year.
Upper Arlington possessed a championship defense
St. Edward entered its state semifinal against UA averaging 40.8 points and had been held under 28 points only twice all season.
UA’S defense kept it in the game as both teams punted seven times and St. Edward completed only three passes.
It was a memorable game for coach Justin Buttermore’s son, senior Doak Buttermore, who finished with 15 tackles and two tackles for loss.
Newark Catholic seized control early and didn’t let go
Newark Catholic has won eight state championships, but its last one came in 2007. It will appear in its first state final since 2012 when it plays Maria Stein Marion Local at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Division VII title game.
To get there, the Green Wave braved snowy conditions Saturday and avenged last year’s 20-13 loss to Warren John F. Kennedy in a state semifinal, beating the Eagles 14-7.
Grant Moore had two interceptions to help set the tone in the rematch, and quarterback Cole Canter extended his
single-season program record for touchdown passes to 32.
Rough sequence in second half doomed Harvest Prep
After rallying from a 10-point halftime deficit to advance to their third state semifinal, Harvest Prep was tied at 14 with Versailles at halftime Saturday in a Division V semifinal.
The Tigers scored a pair of thirdquarter touchdowns, including one set up by an interception, and held on for a 28-22 victory as the Warriors finished 10-3.
It marked the third state semifinal finish in eight seasons under coach Milan Smith.
Bloom-carroll, Granville, West Jefferson took steps forward
Bloom-carroll, which had never been to a state semifinal until 2020, showed it’s more than ready to stay at that level despite coming up short in a 24-21 loss to Clarksville on Saturday in a Division IV state semifinal.
Granville had a breakthrough season, making it to a state semifinal for the first time. The Blue Aces lost to Hamilton Badin 14-0 in Division III.
West Jefferson was back in a state semifinal for the second time in three seasons and has now won six regional championships. The Roughriders were within two scores at halftime before falling to defending Division VI statechampion Coldwater.