Historically renowned St. Edward, Hoban battle for national relevancy

OHIO — Now that Amazon Web Services are back up and running, there won’t be a more taxed server in the state of Ohio Friday night than the one that hosts Joe Eitel’s web site.

That’s because as the regular season wraps up, players, coaches and fans will hit the refresh button to see where the computer points are projected, and who will get into the Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs.

With the change this season to 12 teams per region (down from 16 in 2021-24), there are 112 fewer spots available statewide. 

Heading into the final weekend, 213 schools know their seasons will continue. That includes Olentangy Orange (Division I, Region 3), Elder (Division I, Region 4), Hoban (Division II, Region 5), Anderson (Division II, Region 8), Watterson (Division III, Region 11), Shelby (Division IV, Region 14), Kirtland (Division VI, Region 21), Hillsdale (Division VII, Region 27) and Marion Local (Division VII, Region 28) which have all clinched number one seeds.

The leaves 123 spots open, with 257 teams still alive to try to earn a post-season berth, according to the calculations on Eitel’s website. 

All six teams involved in the OHSAA Game of the Week on Spectrum News 1 have their tickets punched.

Viewers in northern Ohio will see a matchup of two teams that expect to play for a state championship the first weekend in December. 

St. Edward (8-1) and Hoban (7-1) have combined for 12 state titles, 18 championship game appearances and 25 regional crowns, which includes four (St. Edward) and five (Hoban) straight.

All-time, the Eagles hold a 4-2 advantage, as the teams are meeting for the sixth straight season. The Knights were 24-21 winners a year ago.

Both teams are trying to get back on top, as St. Edward lost to eventual state champion Olentangy Liberty in the state semifinals a year ago, while Hoban is in search of its first state title since 2020, after falling three years in a row (2021-23) in the finals. 

Everything done by these programs is to try to win a state championship, including playing a challenging schedule. They each faced off with power programs from outside the state, as well as here in Ohio. 

The Eagles are ranked third in the Ohio Associated Press high school football Division I poll and currently sit on top of Region 1. 

The Knights are fourth in the Division II AP Poll and have already locked up the top seed in a competitive Region 5, which features Lake, Austintown-Fitch, Hudson and Walsh Jesuit. 

Friday’s games can be seen statewide on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App:

• Oct. 24: St. Edward at Hoban (northern Ohio)

• Oct. 24: Pickerington North at Gahanna (central Ohio)

• Oct. 24: Lakota West at Lakota East (southwest Ohio)

The playoffs begin on Friday, Oct. 31, with live games in the Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Dayton zones, and 18 games available through the Spectrum News 1 website. 

The excitement runs all the way through Dec. 4-6 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, site of the OHSAA football championships, live on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App.