Ohio High School Athletic Association Commissioner Daniel B. Ross, Ph.D. Football Weekly Release October 28, 2013 4080 Roselea Place • Columbus, Ohio 43214 • 614-267-2502• Fax: 614-267-1677 • www.ohsaa.org Contact: Tim Stried, Director of Information Services, [email protected] Week 10 of the Regular-Season Playoff Format and Schedule As the regular-season enters Week 10, fans are reminded to check Unless otherwise noted, Divisions II, III, IV and VI will play at 7:30 out the OHSAA’s official statewide scoreboard at p.m. on Fridays during the playoffs, while Divisions I, V and VII will www.hsgamecenter.com/ohsaa. The complete schedule is posted play at 7 p.m. on Saturdays. Typically, any deviation to that sched- in PDF format on the OHSAA’s football page. On Monday nights, ule during the first round is due to the host site having to share the the OHSAA posts a link to the weekly Associated Press state poll. stadium with another school (high school or college) or the site not The OHSAA’s weekly football computer ratings are released every having lights. In rounds two through four, any changes are typically Tuesday around 2:30 p.m. due to a site hosting a playoff double-header. Playoff Qualifiers Announced Sunday, Nov. 3 Of the four divisions that play on their playoff games on Friday The 2013 OHSAA football regular season ends this Saturday, Nov. nights, one will be selected to play its state championship game on 2. That evening, all schools must ensure that their Week 10 result Thursday, Dec. 5, at Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadium (see later is entered correctly into myOHSAA. Late Saturday night (into early note). Sunday morning), OHSAA staff will confirm that all results are entered into the system and generate the final computer ratings, The regional playoffs will follow bracket format, which includes four which will be posted on the football page at www.OHSAA.org. rounds in Division I and three rounds in Divisions II through VII. The Schools have until noon Sunday, Nov. 3, to report any possible OHSAA office will then determine the pairings for the state semifi- mistakes in the ratings. Unless there is a discrepancy, the ratings nals in Divisions II through VII. become official at noon on Nov. 3 and the regional playoff brackets will be posted online at that time. In Division I, the regional finals also serve as the state semifinals. The winner of Region 1 (northern half of the state) will face the In the Beginning… to Seven Divisions winner of Region 2 (southern half of the state) in the Division I state When the OHSAA created the football playoffs in 1972, there were championship game Dec. 7 (time TBA). three divisions (called Class A, AA and AAA) and only one playoff qualifier per region (12 total playoff qualifiers). Now in its 42nd First Round/Regional Quarterfinals (Nov. 7-8): During the first round, year, the postseason has expanded to seven divisions and 224 total the higher seed will host the playoff game at its home stadium or playoff qualifiers. Expansion occurred in 1980 to five divisions and the stadium of its choosing. In Division I, the No. 16 seed will play at two qualifiers per region, and then again in 1985 to four qualifiers the No. 1 seed, the No. 15 at No. 2, etc. In Divisions II through VII, per region. In 1994, a sixth division was added, while in 1999, the the No. 8 seed will play at the No. 1 seed, the No. 7 seed at No. 2, number of qualifiers per region increased to eight. etc. OHSAA Football by the Numbers Regional Semifinals (Nov. 14-15), Regional Finals (Nov. 21-22) and 714 – High schools in Ohio that play football State Semifinals (Nov. 28-29): Neutral sites will be selected by the 7 – Divisions for the playoffs OHSAA. There are many factors that go into determining playoff 72 – Schools in Division I sites, such as quality of field surface, seating capacity, quality of 108 – Schools in Division II through VII stadium lighting, size of locker rooms, press box size, parking spaces 32 – Playoff qualifiers per division available, and a separate locker room for officials. After all those -fac 2 – Regions in Division I (16 playoff qualifiers per region) tors are taken into consideration, it must be confirmed that the site 4 – Regions in Divisions II through VII (8 qualifiers per region) is available and willing to host a playoff game on the date needed. 224 – Total playoff qualifiers 31.4 – Percentage of football playing schools that will now qualify On the Verge of History for the playoffs Entering the 2013 season, 90 OHSAA member schools have never made the football playoffs. The OHSAA football weekly release Statwide Football Broadcasts List Posted on Nov. 3 will include the list of schools making their first playoff A list of football broadcasts around Ohio is posted on the football appearance, if any. The number of first-time playoff participants page at www.OHSAA.org. The list is sorted by city and includes since 2000 includes seven in 2012, eight in 2011, six in 2010, 14 in information about how stations can opt out of playoff broadcast 2009, 12 in 2008, 14 in 2007, 10 in 2006, 12 in 2005, 16 in 2004, 12 rights fees. in 2003, 21 in 2002, 17 in 2001 and 26 in 2000. OHSAA Weekly Football Release - October 28, 2013 Building on History Welcome Back During the playoffs, the OHSAA football weekly releases will include The OHSAA football weekly release on Nov. 3 will include the list of the playoff histories of all teams remaining in the playoffs. schools that is making a return to the playoffs after a long absence. Last year, six schools returned to the playoffs after a hiatus of 10 or Week 10 Movers more years, led by Bradford, which qualified for the first time since The OHSAA football weekly release on Nov. 3 will include the list of 1982. schools that moved up into the playoffs due to victories in Week 10 of the regular season. Last year, 13 schools moved from outside the Playoff Games on TV playoff field into the playoff field with wins in their last game. The Fox/SportsTime Ohio (STO) and Time Warner Cable (TWC) are the biggest jump was made by Mayfield in Division I, which went from official television partners of the OHSAA and will televise several No. 14 to No. 8. playoff games every weekend. STO and TWC will announce their playoff selections by around noon on Mondays during the playoffs. Setting Up the State Championships Their coverage of those games is exclusive and some games will be For the first time in the 42 years of the OHSAA football playoffs, the shown live. STO will televise the state championship games live. time slots for the state championship games will not be announced until after the state semifinals. This is due to the expansion to seven Championships on the OHSAA Radio Network divisions and one state championship game being played on Thurs- Now in its fourth year, the OHSAA Radio Network will broadcast the day night, Dec. 5. Of the divisions that play on Friday nights during football state championship games. Stations are welcome to carry the playoffs (II, III, IV and VI), one will be selected to play its state any broadcast and can have their own broadcast rights fees during championship Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in Massillon Paul Brown Tiger Stadi- the playoffs reduced or eliminated by opting into an affiliate plan to um. The schedule for the state championship games is as follows: carry some of the championship games. Please contact Tim Stried at the OHSAA for more information. Thursday, Dec. 5 7 p.m. at Massillon – Either Div. II, III, IV or VI Playoff Upsets? Last year, 25 of the 96 first-round playoff games could be deemed Friday, Dec. 6 an upset, as the lower seed beat the higher seed. Two No. 8 seeds 11 a.m. at Canton – Either Div. II, III, IV or VI upended a No. 1 seed, eight No. 7 seeds defeated a No. 2 seed and 3 p.m. at Massillon – Either Div. II, III, IV or VI 10 No. 6 seeds were victorious over a No. 3 seed. Only five No. 5 7 p.m. at Canton – Either Div. II, III, IV or VI seeds defeated a No. 4 seed in round one. Saturday, Dec. 7 Before the Playoffs… 11 a.m. at Massillon – Either Div. I, V or VII Historians have found that most years since 1895, the media or 3 p.m. at Canton – Either Div. I, V or VII a specific organization named an Ohio high school football state 7 p.m. at Massillon – Either Div. I, V or VII champion. The Associated Press began its polls in 1947 and the OHSAA created the playoffs in 1972. The research of mythical 24th Consecutive Year in Stark County state champions dating back to 1895 has been compiled at: http:// In the spring of 1990, natural grass was installed in Ohio Stadium www.ohsaa.org/sports/ft/boys/OhioHighSchool-StateChampi- in Columbus and the OHSAA was asked to move its football state ons1895-1946.pdf championship games to another location after having been at the historic “Horseshoe” since 1982.The OHSAA found a home in Stark Playoff Streaks County, with Canton Fawcett Stadium and Massillon Paul Brown Ti- Coldwater owns the longest active streak of qualifying for the ger Stadium sharing the state championship games every year since.