COLUMBUS – No sooner did Orange dispose of one heavyweight Ohio high school football program than another one pops up in the state championship game.
The undefeated Pioneers (14-0) will make their first title game appearance on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Canton against perennial powerhouse Cincinnati St. Xavier (11-2).
This will be the eighth championship game date for the Bombers, who have won four state crowns. The most recent trophy was hoisted in 2020.
Meanwhile, Orange won the state basketball championship last March. The Pioneers can become just the sixth Ohio high school to win a football and basketball banner in the same calendar year — this one at the big school level.
Second-year coach Wes Schroeder’s squad hammered traditional title contender Lakewood St. Edward 28-0 in Friday’s state semifinal at Arlin Field in Mansfield.
The Pioneers controlled the contest throughout.
Orange led in first downs (13-10), rushing yards (178-128), passing yards (75-60) and total yards (253-188). A plus+4 in turnover ratio made it a blowout.
Senior quarterback Levi Davis, an Ohio University commit, who ran for 78 yards and threw for 75, compiled 153 yards of total offense and two touchdowns. It was just another night at the office for the Mr. Football finalist, who also played on the Pioneers state basketball championship team last season.
Senior running back Lucas Fickell led the ground attack with 106 yards on 28 carries.
St. Xavier beat Middletown 21-6 in their state semifinal. The Bombers two losses came to arch-rival Cincinnati Moeller, 30-13 on Sept. 19, and the very next week to Cincinnati Elder, 21-13.
However, St. Xavier avenged both defeats in the playoffs. Moeller felt the wrath in a 17-13 decision, while Elder went down following week, 42-34 in the regional finals.
Coach Steve Specht is in his 22nd year. He is the school’s all-time winningest coach and piloted his squads to all four state championships in school history.
If Orange wins a state title, it will become the first school to turn the double-state championship feat in the same calendar year since Trotwood in 2019, when it beat Mansfield Senior in overtime of the Division III finals in Canton.
Statewide glance
Following the state semifinals Friday night, 14 schools have earned a trip to Canton for the Ohio High School Athletic Association football state championships Dec. 4 to 6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Single game tickets will go on sale Monday at www.OHSAA.org/tickets. All-session tickets and special ticket packages are posted at: https://www.ohsaa.org/news-media/articles/ohsaa-announces-football-state-championships-schedule-and-tickets-11
All seven championship games will be televised by Spectrum News 1, with Spectrum’s coverage also streamed live at SpectrumNewsApp.com and OHSAA.tv. The OHSAA Radio Network will also broadcast all seven games.
2025 State Championship Coverage, Live Stats, Live Broadcasts and More:
Hall of Fame Village: https://www.hofvillage.com/
Pro Football Hall of Fame: https://www.profootballhof.com/
2025 OHSAA Football State Championships
Designated home team listed first.
All games at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton.
Division II
Avon (13-1) vs. Cincinnati Anderson (14-0), Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m.
Rematch of last year’s Division II championship game (Avon won 20-13)
Third championship game appearance for Avon (one state title in 2024)
Fourth championship game appearance for Anderson (one state title in 2007)
Division IV
Cleveland Glenville (11-3) vs. Shelby (14-0), Friday, Dec. 5 at 10:30 a.m.
Fifth championship game appearance for Glenville (two titles, 2022 and 2023)
First championship game appearance for Shelby
Division III
Toledo Central Catholic (11-4) vs. Columbus Bishop Watterson (13-0), Friday, Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.
Third-straight year these two teams have met in Division III state championship.
TCC won 27-7 in 2023 and Watterson won 19-14 in 2024.
Eighth championship game appearance for Toledo Central Catholic (five titles, most recent in 2023)
Eighth championship game appearance for Watterson (three titles, most recent in 2024)
Division I
Cincinnati St. Xavier (11-2) vs. Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (14-0), Friday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Eighth championship game appearance for St. Xavier (four titles, most recent in 2020)
First championship game appearance for Olentangy Orange
Division VII
St. Henry (13-1) vs. Jeromesville Hillsdale (13-1), Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10:30 a.m.
Ninth championship game appearance for St. Henry (six titles, most recent in 2006)
Second championship game appearance for Hillsdale (no state titles)
Division VI
Kirtland (14-0) vs. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (13-1), Saturday, Dec. 6 at 3 p.m.
14th championship game appearance for Kirtland (seven titles, most recent in 2023)
Third championship game appearance for Hopewell-Loudon (no titles)
Division V
Wheelersburg (14-0) vs. Liberty Center (14-0), Saturday, Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m.
Third championship game appearance for Wheelersburg (two titles, most recent in 2017)
Sixth championship game appearance for Liberty Center (one title in 1997)
All-Time Playoff History Database: https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/Football/history/FootballParticipants.pdf
OHSAA football home: https://ohsaa.org/sports/football