football players celebrate
The Hillsdale Falcons celebrate a big play during Friday night's playoff win over Fairport Harbor Harding. Credit: Tom Thedore

COLUMBUS — And then there was one.

We’ve reached the Elite Eight round of the Ohio high school football playoffs. That means the best of the best are still in pads.

Only one high school football team remains in action from each of the three counties covered by Source Media Properties.

Danville is the sole survivor in Knox County. Hillsdale is the last team standing in Ashland County. Ontario is the lone wolf in Richland County. In addition, Northmor is still battling out of Morrow County.

In Division VII, Region 25, second-seeded Hillsdale (12-1) took a most improbable path to qualify for a regional championship game. The Falcons hit on two Hail Mary passes, one at the end of each half, to subdue third-seeded Malvern 50-48 last week in a regional semifinal game.

The reward for coach Trevor Cline’s club is a regional championship date Friday night against No. 8 seed Cuyahoga Heights (8-4) at Orrville High School.

Hillsdale’s 2 Hail Mary’s answered, 2nd as time expires, in thrilling win over Malvern

The top-seeded Blue Devils (11-2) have yet to be challenged in the postseason, handling No. 5 seed Miller 46-6 last week. The task figures to improve significantly this week when coach Matt Blum’s bunch faces undefeated Beaver Eastern (13-0), the No. 2 seed in the region, at Logan High School Chieftain Stadium.

If both win this week, Hillsdale and Danville could meet in a state semifinal game.

Top-seeded Danville roughs up Miller in Region 27 semifinal

In Division IV, Region 14, Ontario is coming off its biggest win in school history, subduing Shelby 49-48 to earn its first berth into the regional championship game.

Coach Aaron Eckert’s club will have to gear up again this week to meet the challenge of another elite foe.

The third-seeded Warriors (12-1) will face top-seeded Sandusky Perkins (12-1) at Tiffin Columbian’s Frost-Kalnow Stadium.

Ontario stuns Shelby with incredible rally to reach Elite 8 in Arlin Field classic

For Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference fans, Northmor’s dream season faces its strongest test to date in the regional finals.

The second-seeded Golden Knights (13-0) meet top-seeded Grandview Heights (12-0) at Westerville Central High School.

Below is a closer look at the entire statewide picture.

Regional final pairings

Pairings shown with regional seed. All games on Friday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m.

Higher seeded team is the designated home team and listed first.

Division I

REGION 1

1. Mentor (13-0) vs. 7. Lakewood St. Edward (8-5) at Bedford High School Bearcat Stadium.

REGION 2

2. Centerville (10-3) vs. 8. Huber Heights Wayne (8-5) at Dayton Welcome Stadium.

REGION 3

1. Powell Olentangy Liberty (11-2) vs. 7. Pickerington North (11-2) at Historic Crew Stadium.

REGION 4

1. Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (12-1) vs. 6. Cincinnati St. Xavier (10-3) at Mason High School Tri-Health/Beacon Stadium.

Division II

REGION 5

1. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (13-0) vs. 2. Akron Archbishop Hoban (11-2) at Twinsburg High School Tiger Stadium.

REGION 6

1. Avon (13-0) vs. 2. Medina Highland (13-0) at Elyria Charities Field at Ely Stadium.

REGION 7

1. Sunbury Big Walnut (12-1) vs. 3. Massillon Washington (10-2) at Mansfield Arlin Field.  

REGION 8

1. Cincinnati Anderson (13-0) vs. 2. Cincinnati La Salle (11-2) at Cincinnati Princeton High School Jake Sweeney Automotive Stadium.

Division III

REGION 9

1. Youngstown Ursuline (12-1) vs. 2. Gates Mills Gilmour Academy (12-1) at Ravenna High School Portage Community Bank Stadium Harry Gilchrist Field.

REGION 10

1. Toledo Central Catholic (12-1) vs. 7. Parma Padua Franciscan (8-5) at Sandusky High School Foundation Stadium.

REGION 11

1. Columbus Bishop Watterson (13-0) vs. 2. Steubenville (12-0) at New Philadelphia High School Quaker Stadium.

REGION 12

4. London (13-0) vs. 3. Bellbrook (12-1) at Springfield High School Wildcat Stadium.

Division IV

REGION 13

2. Perry (12-1) vs. 5. Cleveland Glenville (10-3) at Macedonia Nordonia High School Boliantz Stadium.

REGION 14

1. Sandusky Perkins (12-1) vs. 3. Ontario (12-1) at Tiffin Columbian Frost-Kalnow Stadium.

REGION 15

1. St. Clairsville (13-0) vs. 2. Gnadenhutten Indian Valley (13-0) at Zanesville High School Sulsberger Stadium.

REGION 16

5. Cincinnati Taft (11-2) vs. 10. Kettering Archbishop Alter (8-5) at Monroe High School Hornet Stadium.

Division V

REGION 17

1. Canfield South Range (13-0) vs. 3. Poland Seminary (11-2) at Boardman High School.

REGION 18

1. Milan Edison (13-0) vs. 2. Liberty Center (13-0) at Millbury Lake High School Community Stadium.

REGION 19

1. Ironton (12-1) vs. 14. Wheelersburg (9-4) at South Point High School Alumni Field. 

REGION 20

2. West Liberty-Salem (12-1) vs. 5. Lewistown Indian Lake (11-2) at Piqua High School Alexander Stadium.

Division VI

REGION 21

1. Kirtland (13-0) vs. 6. Dalton (10-3) at North Royalton High School Serpentini Stadium.

REGIOn 22

2. Bluffton (12-1) vs. 4. Hamler Patrick Henry (11-2) at Findlay Donnell Stadium.

REGION 23

1. Columbus Grandview Heights (12-0) vs. 2. Galion Northmor (13-0) at Westerville Central High School.

REGION 24

1. Coldwater (12-1) vs. 3. Anna (10-3) at Sidney Memorial Stadium.

Division VII

REGION 25

2. Jeromesville Hillsdale (12-1) vs. 9. Cuyahoga Heights (8-4) at Orrville Red Rider Stadium, Heartland Field.

REGION 26

1. Columbus Grove (13-0) vs. 15. Delphos St. John’s (6-7) at Lima Spartan Stadium.

REGION 27

1. Danville (11-2) vs. 2. Beaver Eastern (13-0) at Logan High School Chieftain Stadium.

REGION 28

1. Maria Stein Marion Local (13-0) vs. 2. Minster (11-2) at Wapakoneta High School Mercy Health Wapak VFW Field.

I've lived in Richland County since 1990, married here, our children were born here. This is home. I have two books published on a passion topic, Ohio high school football. Others: Buckeyes, Cavs, Bengals,...