The slate of high school playoff games this weekend is set. Division II, III, and V teams play Friday night at 7:30, and Division I, IV, and VI teams play Saturday night at 7.
Athens, the second seed in Division III, Region 12, plays seventh-seeded Jackson at home Friday. It is the second appearance in the OHSAA state tournament for the Bulldogs. They are seeking their first tournament victory.
Nelsonville-York, seeded fourth in Division V, Region 19, is making its 14th playoff appearance at home Friday against Portsmouth West, a team making its first appearance. The Buckeyes are looking to improve upon their 7-12 all-time playoff record.
Trimble secured the eight seed out of Division VI, Region 23. The Tomcats look to improve upon their 2-7 playoff record on the road against first-seeded Willow Wood Saturday night.
In my area of the state, Cincinnati, the Division I playoffs bring some intriguing matchups.
Perennial powerhouse Archbishop Moeller (seeded fourth), with seven state titles, is making its 30th playoff appearance against the fifth-seeded Sycamore Aviators. It is a rematch of their playoff game in 2007, and Sycamore's first playoff appearance since then. The Aviators blew a 21-point lead in that game and will be looking for revenge. Moeller won the game 35-28 after scoring a touchdown with 17 seconds left.
The game is also the perfect example of the heated rivalry found between public and private schools. Some public school kids in the area end up going to private school powerhouses like Moeller and St. Xavier, and public schools often accuse them of recruiting and get frustrated when they lose their players.
It doesn't help that Sycamore is right down the street from Moeller.
St. Xavier plays Mason in another interesting private-public school matchup. St. X has won two state championships in recent years, the latest coming in 2007.
Seventh-seeded Walnut Hills is making its first playoff appearance.
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