OHSAA football state semifinal scores: Jayvarion Crable two TD passes, Lamar Sperling two TD runs for Hoban
And then there were two. One is a perennial behemoth, the other the ultimate Cinderella story.
Both have their eyes on the same prize, a berth in the Division II state championship football game.
One is seemingly there every season, the other came into the season still trying to establish itself in its own league, let alone on the biggest Ohio stage.
But here we are. Defending state champion Archbishop Hoban and Green.
The Knights have won five of the past six state championships and, riding the broad shoulders of running back Lamar Sperling, are playing like a team favored to win its sixth.
After playing a brutal regular season schedule, Hoban rolled through a loaded Region 5 with wins over Eastlake North, Austintown Fitch, Nordonia and Walsh Jesuit and will play Avon in a state semifinal for the fourth time in the past five seasons.
The Knights have won the previous three games and will be back at the site of last year's 28-14 victory at Byers Field in Parma looking for a fourth and another trip to the state finals.
Behind the dynamic duo of quarterback Trevor Van Horn and wide receiver Trey Martin, the Bulldogs got off to a great start before stumbling early in the Federal League season, losing to Jackson and Canton McKinley.
It seemed as though Green still had a long way to go to compete in the always rugged Federal League. The Bulldogs, who suffered a few key injuries to top players, including Martin, finished with a 3-3 league record and made the playoffs as the No. 7 seed in Region 7, which included Federal League champion North Canton Hoover and perennial powerhouse Massillon.
Undaunted and back to full strength, Green rolled over Marion Harding and avenged a regular-season loss to Hoover, which provided a boost of confidence and a jolt of momentum. A victory over Wooster followed, setting up a seemingly David vs. Goliath matchup against mighty Massillon, which has a history of meeting up with Hoban deep in the postseason, including last year's state championship game.
The underdog Bulldogs carried that momentum into the game against the Tigers but they seemed to be coming up just a bit short before a turnover at midfield gave them one last chance in the final minutes. Van Horn and Martin then delivered the play of the season, a 16-yard touchdown strike in the final minute, and the Bulldogs landed in the state semifinals for the first time since 2001.
Cinderella marches on: Improbable win over Massillon adds to Green Bulldogs' improbable state semifinal journey
They will need more magic against a very strong Cincinnati Winton Woods team but who is overlooking Green now?
Beacon Blitz High School Football Rankings: Hoban solidifies top spot in Akron-area High School Football Rankings
Friday's high school football state semifinal scores
Division I
Springfield 22, Cin. Moeller 21, FINAL
Upper Arlington 10, St. Edward 16, FINAL
Division II
Cin. Winton Woods 20, Green 7, FINAL
More Green Bulldogs Football: Painfully close: Green football comes up short in state semifinal loss to Winton Woods
Avon 24, Hoban 31, FINAL
More Hoban Knights Football: Jayvian Crable, Lamar Sperling help Hoban beat Avon, return to OHSAA football state championship
More Hoban Knights Football: Jayvian Crable comfortable in starting quarterback role for Hoban
Division III
Hamilton Badin 14, Granville 0, FINAL
Chardon 41, West Holmes 7, FINAL
Division IV
Bloom-Carroll 21, Clinton-Massie 24, FINAL
Ursuline 34, Port Clinton 17, FINAL
Saturday's OHSAA high school football state semifinal games
(All games 7 p.m.)
DIVISION V
Ottawa-Glandorf (11-3) vs. Kirtland (13-0), at Robert J. Bishop Jr. Stadium, Clyde
Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (10-2) vs. Versailles (13-1), at Bowlus Field, London
DIVISION VI
Carey (13-1) vs. New Middletown Springfield (13-1), at Euclid Community Stadium
Coldwater (12-2) vs. West Jefferson (13-1), at Alexander Stadium, Piqua
DIVISION VII
Newark Catholic (13-1) vs. Warren JFK (10-2), at Marlington Stadium, Alliance
Maria Stein Marion Local (14-0) vs. Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (13-1), at Lima Spartan Stadium
OHSAA Football State Championship Game Schedule
All games at at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
Thursday, December 2, 7 p.m. – Division II: Hoban vs. Winton Woods
Friday, December 3, 10:30 a.m. – Division IV: Ursuline vs. Clinton-Massie
Friday, December 3, 3 p.m. – Division III: Badin vs. Chardon
Friday, December 3, 7:30 p.m. – Division I: Springfield vs. St. Edward
Saturday, December 4, 10:30 a.m. – Division VII
Saturday, December 4, 3 p.m. – Division VI
Saturday, December 4, 7:30 p.m. – Division V
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Live updates: Ohio High School Football State Semifinals
