3 things we learned in football state semifinals
The Central District will have at least one team competing in a state championship game for the eighth consecutive season.
There won't be a central Ohio team in the Division I state final for the second year in a row, and an area team hasn't made the Division II state championship game since 2006.
Bloom-carroll is the area's last hope after cruising past Tipp City Tippecanoe 35-12 in a Division III state semifinal.
If last year's finals, which featured six matchups decided by 12 points or fewer, are an accurate indicator, there should be plenty of exciting football to watch in Canton this week, even if central Ohio will mostly miss out on the action.
Here are three things we learned in the state semifinals:
Gahanna should benefit for years from its long playoff run
During a Division I state semifinal Friday, Gahanna committed two firsthalf turnovers and found itself in an early hole in a 31-7 loss to defending state champion Lakewood St. Edward.
One thing to remember, though, is that just getting to this game often sets up programs for big things to come in the years that follow.
Gahanna loses two defensive standouts in Jaden Yates and Kamari Burns from a strong senior class, but going 13-2 means it experienced five weeks of games and numerous extra practices beyond the regular season.
Pickerington Central won state championships in 2017 and 2019, but it first had to grow from a 29-27 loss to Cincinnati St. Xavier in a 2016 state semifinal. The pain from that loss helped set up a five-year run in which Central won regional titles every season.
Gahanna should return a cast led by junior running back Diore Hubbard, sophomore quarterback Brennen Ward and junior defensive lineman Elijah King.
Bloom-carroll put together a complete game
After needing to rally to beat Watterson 33-28 for the Region 11 title, Bloomcarroll was impressive against Tippecanoe.
Bloom-carroll gained all 432 of its yards on the ground, attempting just one pass, as junior running back Dylan Armentrout rushed for 250 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries and added a fumble recovery and an interception.
Senior Andrew Marshall, a Kent State recruit who was the district's Defensive Player of the Year, added 129 yards rushing on 19 carries.
The Bulldogs are 14-1 and get a shot at their first title when they play at 3 p.m. Friday against Canfield.
Newark Catholic ran out of answers
After edging Warren John F. Kennedy in a state semifinal before falling in the Division VII title game last year, Newark Catholic wound up matched up against the same opponent in a state semifinal on Friday.
This time, Newark Catholic committed a two late turnovers and lost 21-7 to JFK to finish 11-2.
The Green Wave had two games canceled during the regular season but still managed to earn the No. 1 seed in Region 27.