The stage for the regional semifinal round has been set.
On Nov. 4, the OHSAA announced neutral sites for the next round of the playoffs.
Olmsted Falls and Avon played at Pat Catan Stadium in Strongsville for in their last two playoff showdowns. For their Nov. 10 Division II, Region 6 semifinal matchup, the Bulldogs and Eagles will play at North Ridgeville’s Ranger Stadium.
“We are familiar with (Olmsted Falls). They run the triple option. Coach (Tom) DeLuca is a guy that I have tremendous respect for. I have respect for all of the teams in our league,” Avon Coach Mike Elder said.
Clearview will play Canfield South Range at Rudy Sharkey Stadium in Barberton for the Division V, Region 17 semifinal.
History tilts in the Eagles’ favor, as Olmsted Falls has never beaten them on the gridiron. That especially applies in the postseason, in which Avon won three times in 2022 (45-7), 2021 (49-21) and in 2017 (55-14). The game in 2017 was played at North Ridgeville.
Ohio high school football regional semifinal pairings for Nov. 10
"Avon has been, in my opinion, the top program in our area and maybe in Northeast Ohio for a long time," DeLuca said. "We know the kind of opponent that we have. We've probably played them more than any other team in the past (recent years). It feels like we always have to play them in the playoffs. We are looking forward to the challenge. It is going to be a great challenge."
In two playoff games, Avon's defense allowed seven total points in defeating Toledo St. John's Jesuit, 28-0 and Brecksville-Broadview Heights, 49-7.
Olmsted Falls' path includes a 40-12 win over Oregon Clay and a 35-28 win over Sylvania Southview.
Avon defeated Olmsted Falls, 52-10, at home on Sept. 22. Olmsted Falls played without quarterback Jimmy Rosol. Elder expects a different team that appeared in Week 6.
"(Olmsted Falls) played a sophomore against us (at quarterback) and we beat them, 52-10. It is going to be a different deal with their dudes back," he said. "We are excited about the opportunity. It is hard to beat a team twice. We've done it and we have failed at it before."
Clearview (10-2) will meet South Range (11-1), which is the defending Division V state champion on Nov. 10.
The Clippers defeated Berkshire, 33-12 in the first round. They trailed sixth seed Norwayne, 16-0, at halftime, but came back to win, 19-16.
After conceding 20 points to Fairless in the first round, the Raiders shut out seventh seed (7) West Lafayette Ridgewood, 35-0. Their one loss of the year was to Uniontown Green, 21-7, a Division II school.
