We are down to the final four teams left standing in each division across the Buckeye State, including five teams remaining from Southwest Ohio. Here’s a look at how they fared on Friday night and who among is moving on to next week for a chance to earn a state title.
DIVISION I
XAVIER 21, MIDDLETOWN 6
Senior Jake Britt found the end zone twice and a smothering St. Xavier defense propelled the Bombers past Middletown (11-3) and into the state championship game for the first time since 2020. St. Xavier held the Middies to just 153 yards of total offense including 35 yards rushing on 29 carries.
This will be St. Xavier’s eighth trip to the state championship game. The Bombers have won the title four times, all under Steve Specht who is in his 22nd year as the Bombers head coach.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW: Steve Specht, St. Xavier
Middletown ends its historic season with the school’s first ever regional championship trophy and appearance in the state finals.
St. Xavier (11-2) will face Olentangy Orange (14-0) next week for the Division I championship.
FULL RECAP: St. Xavier wards off Middletown, back in finale
DIVISION II
ANDERSON 29, BIG WALNUT 22
In a rematch of last season’s Division II state semifinal, Anderson squeaked past Big Walnut (12-2) once again. The Raptors are back in the state finals for a second straight year and fourth time in school history.
Anderson built a 23-8 halftime advantage. The Eagles eked back in and made this a contest pulling the game to within one at, 23-22 with 8;40 left in regulation. Raptors quarterback Owen Scalf, Jordan Davis and Cooper Kathman led a fourth quarter drive to give Anderson a bit of breathing room at, 29-22 after Davis’ second rushing touchdown. The defense did their job after that, stomping out Big Walnut’s hopes of moving on.
Scalf finished the evening with296 yards and a pair of touchdowns tosses. Kathman had 11 receptions for 118 yards and a score. Davis upped his touchdown total to 25 for the season.
POSTGAME INTERVIEW: Evan Dreyer, Anderson
Anderson now gets the chance to avenge last year’s defeat to Avon (13-1) that was played in a windy, driving snow. It is the Raptors only loss in their last 30 contests. Avon is in the state title game for a third straight season.
DIVISION III
BISHOP WATTERSON 41, TIPPECANOE 9
Miami (OH) commit Drew Belisari threw three touchdown passes and the Bishop Watterson special teams blocked and returned two punts for touchdowns to move past Tippecanoe and into the state title game for a third straight year.
Tippecanoe came into the contest having given up just 85 points (6.4/PPG) on the season and no more than 16 in a game. They only trailed 14-7 in this affair.
Bishop Watterson played like the reigning Division III state champions that they are and ran its current winning streak 30 games after handing the Red Devils (13-1) their first loss of the season. The Eagles seniors are now 45-2 in their careers.
DIVISION IV
SHELBY 42, INDIAN HILL 7
In a game between two unbeaten schools who had never made it to the state championship game, it was all Shelby in this one. The Whippets built a 28-7 halftime lead and cruised past Indian Hill (13-1).
POSTGAME RECAP: Tim Swafford
Indian Hill came into the contest having given up just 88 points (6.7/PPG) on the season and no more than 18 in a game. The potent Shelby offense topped the 40-point mark for the 11th time in their last 12 games. In that same span, the Whippets defense has been equally impressive allowing just 4.25 points with no one scoring more than last five weeks.
Shelby (13-0) faces Glenville (11-3) in the Division IV State Championship game next Friday, December 5, 10:30 a.m.
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Get the complete scores from all of tonight’s action on the Underground Sports Shop Scoreboard at TriStateFootball.com/scores.
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