Friday at the Ohio State Finals (PHOTO GALLERY)
Tagged under: Beyond The Keystone, Game Photos-Videos, Gameday Hub, News
Sykotyk | December 6, 2025
On Friday in Canton, Central Ohio shined brightly in the shadow of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Starting out the day, the Glenville Tarblooders added to their trophy case with another state title. Dominating the Shelby Whippets, 45-7, in the Division IV Championship.
After that game, two Columbus area teams stole the show. Bishop Watterson overcame four interceptions to win, via running clock shutout, 30-0, over the Toledo Central Catholic squad in a rematch of the 2024 title game. And in the nightcap, Olentangy Orange entered their first state championship game in football and walked off the field with their first hardware, 28-14 over St. Xavier from Cincinnati. Orange matched fellow Olentangy Local School District member Olentangy Liberty who won their first football state title last year in a surprise win over Archbishop Moeller, also from Cincinnati.
This seismic shift of Ohio high school football from Cleveland and Cincinnati domination at the hands of squads like St. Edward, Moeller, Elder, or St. Ignatius as two different suburban Columbus public schools have won back-to-back state titles in the state’s largest classification.
Below, photos and game recaps for the days contests.
Cleveland Glenville Tarblooders v. Shelby Whippets
Tarblooders Crush Shelby 45-7 to Claim 2025 OHSAA Division IV State Championship
CANTON, Ohio – In a performance that felt more coronation than contest, the Glenville Tarblooders (12-3) steamrolled the Shelby Whippets 45-7 on Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium to capture the 2025 OHSAA Division IV state title – the program’s third championship in four years.
From the opening snap, Glenville imposed its will on defense. The Tarblooders never looked back. By halftime they led 24-7, and the second half was pure celebration as Glenville’s suffocating defense and explosive offense turned the championship into a highlight reel.
Glenville struck lightning fast when Gibson fielded a punt at his own 8-yard line, split two defenders, and raced 92 yards untouched for the score. Shelby answered with a 58-yard scoring drive capped by Michael Shepherd’s 1-yard plunge to tie it 7-7 early in the second quarter – the only moment all night the Whippets were even on the scoreboard. That tie lasted exactly 97 seconds.
Glenville responded with a 34-yard field goal from Eniere Lemon, then Chris Newell Jr. ripped off touchdown runs of 14 and 6 yards in the final six minutes of the half. A two-point conversion pass to Joseph Saffold made it 24-7 at the break.
The third quarter offered no relief for Shelby. Arvell Nelson found Lemon – also the kicker – on a 5-yard touchdown pass, and early in the fourth Nelson hit Saffold for a 31-yard score. Senior running back Uriah Webber closed the scoring with a 14-yard burst with just over two minutes remaining.
Final: Glenville 45, Shelby 7.
Article courtesy of Yappi.com.
Toledo Central Catholic v. Columbus Bishop Watterson
CANTON, Ohio – In a display of relentless defense and opportunistic offense, Columbus Bishop Watterson capped a perfect season with a commanding 30-0 victory over Toledo Central Catholic in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) Division III Football State Championship on Saturday, December 5, 2025, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. The win marked the Eagles’ first state title in program history, extending their undefeated record to 14-0 and sending the 4,372 fans into a frenzy under crisp, sunny skies with temperatures hovering at a chilly 29°F.
Article courtesy of Yappi.com.
Cincinnati St. Xavier v. Olentangy Orange
CANTON, Ohio – In a frigid night under the lights at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, the Olentangy Orange Pioneers etched their name into Ohio high school football lore, dismantling the Cincinnati St. Xavier Bombers 28-14 to claim the 2025 OHSAA Division I state championship. With a perfect 15-0 record now in the books, Orange’s high-octane offense and swarming defense proved too much for a gritty but overmatched St. Xavier squad, finishing their season at 11-3.
The air temperature hovered at a bone-chilling 24°F with a light southwest breeze, but the Pioneers generated plenty of heat on the field. Attendance announced at 6,035, a fitting crowd for a clash that showcased the best of Buckeye State gridiron talent. Kickoff came at 7:39 p.m., and by the final whistle at 10:15 p.m., Olentangy Orange had controlled the clock (29:10 possession time) and the narrative, racking up 403 total yards to St. Xavier’s 192.
Article courtesy of Yappi.com
Full Photo Gallery of all Seven Games can be found HERE.
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