Elder hits 25 yard FG to win 32-30

Will play X in regional final

That's gutsy

[St. Edward v. Mentor]

Regional final week and a lot of good games on the horizon.

D1R1:
St. Edward v. Mentor - These two teams were heavy favorites to meet in the final in a historically weak R1 field, and it has played out that way. The hype to this game has been dampened by a season ending knee injury to Mentor's star running back Jackson Farley, district co-offensive player of the year along with St. Edward's Zach Hackleman. Hackleman is also dealing with an injury suffered in the first half of the Hoban game in week 10, but suited up last weekend against Whitmer. With rain in the forecast and chilly temps this time of year, a superior running game should rule the day. Ed's certainly has that with Brandon White, but Mentor will be relying on backups.

D1R2:
Middletown v. Huber Heights Wayne - Not much belief that the R2 winner will be a serious threat to win it all, but this could be an interesting game. Middletown quietly put together a solid 8-2 season backed by a very solid defense. They are coming off a shutout over Springfield, a team that many were picking to win this region after getting healthy and picking up steam over the last few weeks of the season. Wayne was my pre-season favorite to win R2, but have been up and down all year. They can score points in bunches, but also give them up.

D1R3:
Olentangy Orange v. Pickerington Central - Really good matchup in R3. Orange was quite dominant in the early going this year, but have had some closer games in the later part against UA and Liberty. Nonetheless they still have an unblemished record and will be the odds favorite in this game. PC's only loss was to Pick North, but has otherwise been just as dominant as Orange. They did go the wire with UA last week in a low-scoring affair and will be facing by far their biggest challenge of the year with Orange.

D1R4:
Elder v. St. Xavier - Huge game pitting two GCL-S rivals that has already sold out the current venue. There might be push to move this to a larger capacity stadium to meet the ticket demand. Elder is here after an improbable comeback against Princeton which involved erasing a 30-point deficit and recovering two onside kicks in the closing 90 seconds. X looks to be playing their best ball all season and avenged a regular season loss to Moeller. Elder won the regular season game 23-13.

D2R5:
Hoban v. Walsh Jesuit - This is right up there with Elder/X for game of the week. Two rivals meeting in a regional final for a berth to final 4. Hoban won the regular season slug fest 19-14. Both teams have injuries to their starting signal-callers and I don't know if either is suiting up. Regardless, this game will be about who can establish the run game. Hoban has a trio of talented runners that they hit you with all game. Walsh will rely on their main guy Marty Tobin who has gone for almost 500 yards the past two playoff games.

D2R6:
Avon v. Highland - Another highly anticipated game to see if undefeated Highland is ready to make a statement and knock Avon off the R6 throne. They met in the regional final last year as well and gave Avon all they could handle. Avon's only setback this year was on the early season road trip in Florida, but have otherwise been dominant, including a convincing win over undefeated Wadsworth last week. Highland hasn't given up more than 10 points all year to any opponent and their smallest margin of victory has been 27 points, but that kind of speaks to a really weak schedule.

D2R7:
Massillon v. Big Walnut - Massillon will be looking for revenge against a Big Walnut team that pulled a massive upset against them last year in the regional final. Massillon committed an absurd amount of penalties in that game and still only lost 14-7. If Massillon plays up to their ability (which has been an issue in their losses this year), they should claim victory.

D2R8:
Anderson v. Trotwood-Madison - This game could be better than most think. T-M has played a really tough schedule this year resulting in three losses to Walsh, Center Grove (IN) and Cathedral (IN).  They are battle tested. Anderson has looked very dominant most of the year but the regular season schedule was not that difficult outside of one or two games. They were challenged last week by an average La Salle team that also came into the game more battle tested. I expect Anderson to win but would not be surprised at all if T-M can keep this close and steal it late.

[Elder v. St. Xavier]

D1R4:
Elder v. St. Xavier - Huge game pitting two GCL-S rivals that has already sold out the current venue. There might be push to move this to a larger capacity stadium to meet the ticket demand. Elder is here after an improbable comeback against Princeton which involved erasing a 30-point deficit and recovering two onside kicks in the closing 90 seconds. X looks to be playing their best ball all season and avenged a regular season loss to Moeller. Elder won the regular season game 23-13.

https://www.fox19.com/2025/11/18/elder-vs-st-x-regional-championship-game-moved-paycor-stadium-sources/

https://www.fox19.com/2025/11/18/elder-vs-st-x-regional-championship-game-moved-paycor-stadium-sources/

Quite the jump from a 7,000 capacity stadium to 65,000. I'll be interested to see how many attend. 20 years ago a game like this could have reasonably drawn 20-30K fans. Overall interest/attendance at high school games in Ohio is far less these days and, with streaming options available, even the diehards often opt for the comfort of their couch. If this game gets 15K I'd be impressed.

Early scores:

St. Edward 7, Mentor 0
Hoban 7, Walsh 7
X 7, Elder 6
Anderson 7, Trotwood 7
Massillon 7, Big Walnut 7

Halftime scores:

St. Edward 14, Mentor 0
Walsh 14, Hoban 7
Middletown 0, Wayne 0
Avon 21, Highland 12
Glenville 28, Perry 7
Orange 14, Pick Central 7
Elder 27, X 21
Anderson 17, Trotwood 7

Hearing attendance at X-Elder is 20K or so. Lower bowl almost full. Elder led 27-7 before X scored off a pick and then had a blocked punt for TD.

https://x.com/stoolpresidente/status/1992029627007524967?s=48

Portnoy in the house for X-Elder.

3rd qtr scores (rain pouring across Ohio):

Walsh 28, Hoban 7
Elder 34, X 21
Avon 29, Highland 19
Middletown 7, Wayne 7
Orange 33, Pick Central 7
Anderson 28, Trotwood 7
St. Edward 14, Mentor 7

Walsh 35, Hoban 7 4th
Elder 34, X 28 4th
St. Edward 20, Mentor 7 4th

St. Edward 27, Mentor 7 Final
Walsh 35, Hoban 7 Final (Huge statement made for Walsh)
Avon 36, Highland 19 Final
Glenville 35, Perry 7 Final
Bishop Watterson 43, Steubenville 0 Final (BW looking real good)
Big Walnut 27, Massillon 21 Final (Ouch, two years in a row)

X leads Elder 42, 34 in the 4th. Big comeback.

Orange 39, Pick Central 7 Final
Anderson 38, Trotwood 7 Final
TCC 57, Rocky River 28 Final

X 42, Elder 34 Final

Marion Local lost to St Henry's 24-7 in D7 breaking ML 76 consecutive win streak the longest in the US and 7th longest ever. WOW