CINCINNATI — Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy football coach Jeremy Pflug choked up as he spoke to his team in the postgame huddle Saturday afternoon after a 44-8 win over North College Hill.
CCPA (8-2) not only clinched its first-ever playoff berth in program history this weekend, but will also host a first round game Nov. 9 against Lima Perry (7-3) at Summit Country Day (7 p.m. kickoff).
This week will mark the first playoff appearance for a Division VII, Region 28 program that has been in existence for at least 15 years, according to Pflug.
“Where we come from and where we’re at, our kids are just so resilient,” Pflug said. “(Saturday morning) they found out that another one of their close friends from the neighborhood was shot and killed. I mean it’s the second time that it’s happened to us this year. Our kids are resilient; they push through stuff and push through adversity.”
CCPA, the No. 4 seed in Division VII, Region 28, is one of 26 area qualifiers entering Week 11. The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced the playoff brackets Sunday morning with the official media release expected later Sunday afternoon.
“We’ve grinded all year and to be able to host a playoff game is unbelievable,” Pflug said.
CCPA is one of two area qualifiers in Division VII with New Miami (9-0) receiving the top seed. The Vikings are 9-0 for the first time in program history and will host No. 8 New Bremen (7-3) Saturday night.
New Miami will make its third playoff appearance in program history (2018, 2008).
"The kids are excited," New Miami coach Jessie Hubbard said Saturday. "I gave them the day off. They have been messaging me all day wanting to watch film of New Bremen."
During the playoffs, Divisions I, II, III and VI will play on at 7 p.m. Friday, while Divisions IV, V and VII will play on 7 p.m. Saturday.
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The state football finals schedule will be announced after the state semifinals. The state finals are Dec. 5-7 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
In Division I, Region 4, St. Xavier (8-2) will play host to Mason (5-5) at Ballaban Field. The Bombers are making their 11th consecutive playoff appearance – the longest active streak among Division I area programs.
Fairfield (9-1), the No. 2 seed, plays host to No. 7 Hamilton (5-5) in a renewal of that Greater Miami Conference rivalry.
Fairfield defeated Hamilton 34-27 Sept. 20 at Fairfield Alumni Stadium. Fairfield senior running back JuTahn McClain (Kentucky commit) had 222 yards rushing and three touchdowns in that game.
Hamilton is making its first playoff appearance since 2010. The Big Blue is led by Nate Mahon, a 2003 Hamilton graduate who is in his first season as the Hamilton head coach.
“I am super excited for the city of Hamilton,” Mahon said. “All I wanted was to make football relevant again for Hamilton and to do that is pretty special for me. Our coaches have worked really hard to get our players to buy in and they have responded all year.”
Colerain (9-1), the No. 3 seed, plays host to No. 6 Princeton (6-4). Princeton is making its first postseason appearance since 2007.
The Cardinals defeated the host Vikings 23-14 Sept. 20. Colerain won its conference-record 20th consecutive GMC title Friday night at Fairfield.
“It’s a great feeling,” Colerain senior center Ace Ehrenschwender said. “The biggest thing for me was that during this whole week it really wasn’t about us. It was about the 20 years of Colerain football played before us.”
The Cardinals are making their 22nd postseason appearance.
“We’ve truly become a family and we play for one another now more than we play for ourselves,” Colerain coach Shawn Cutright said. “When you start playing for somebody else it just makes it that more special.”
Colerain is 20-0 in first round games (not including the 1995 forfeit), according to athletic director Craig Ulland.
Elder (8-2), the No. 4 seed, plays host to No. 5 Lakota West (7-3). Elder is making its 21st postseason appearance. The Firebirds, led by former longtime Colerain coach Tom Bolden, are making their first playoff appearance since 2014.
In Division II, Region 8, No. 1 La Salle (8-2) plays host to No. 8 Little Miami (8-2). The Lancers won their second outright GCL South title Friday night in a 27-25 win over visiting Elder.
Little Miami defeated visiting Simon Kenton 48-35 Nov. 1. Little Miami senior quarterback Brody Reder threw for 466 yards and six touchdowns for the Panthers. He also rushed for 105 yards.
Turpin (10-0) is one of three undefeated area teams left this season. The Spartans host Columbus St. Francis DeSales (8-2) Friday night.
Turpin completed its fifth 10-0 regular season, according to athletic director Tony Hemmelgarn.
“I am so proud of this team and the coaches,” Turpin coach Kent McCullough said. “The adversity that this group has handled and persevered through was daunting, but they did because of the brotherhood. That is what makes this season so special.”
Harrison (9-1) plays host to Canal Winchester (9-1). Harrison is making its fourth consecutive postseason appearance; the Wildcats are hosting a first-round game for the second time in program history and the first since in 2006, according to athletic director Mark Meibers.
In Division III, Region 12, the Ross (8-2) and Badin (7-3) game is rematch of the season opener in which Ross won 20-19 in overtime.The playoff game will be played at Hamilton High School.
In Division IV, Region 16, defending state champion Wyoming (10-0) is the No. 1 seed and plays host to Milton-Union (8-2) Saturday night.
Wyoming is led by senior quarterback Evan Prater (UC commit) who had 37 carries for 303 rushing yards Nov. 1 in a 21-18 win over Indian Hill Friday. Prater is 37-1 as a starting quarterback.
“Our kids just continue to grit it out,” Wyoming coach Aaron Hancock. “Evan plays to another level in big games.”
Clinton-Massie (9-1), which has an area-best 18 consecutive playoff appearances, plays host to Germantown Valley View (8-2).
Roger Bacon (9-1), which plays at Waynesville (9-1), is making its first postseason appearance since 2010.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Roger Bacon coach Mike Blaut said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
Roger Bacon junior running back Corey Kiner is two rushing touchdowns away from appearing on the Ohio High School Athletic Association list for most rushing touchdowns in a season.
Kiner had 15 carries for 312 yards and five touchdowns Nov. 1 in a 49-20 win over visiting Summit Country Day. He has 33 rushing touchdowns.
“I can’t imagine that there is another kid in the state that is better than him,” Roger Bacon coach Mike Blaut said. “I really can’t. He’s incredible.”
In Division V, Region 20, top-seeded Taft (9-1) plays host to Blanchester (6-4) Saturday night at Stargel Stadium. Taft is making its fifth consecutive postseason appearance.
“We have a lot of new faces on this team but they’ve been around and have seen the success we’ve had,” Taft coach Jeff Cargile said. “I would consistently tell them that they didn’t want to be the team that lost a league game and they responded with the best season in school history.”
Taft has won 28 consecutive Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference games. Cargile said the Senators want to finally win a playoff game.
“This is for us as well as all of Cincinnati Public Schools,” Cargile said. “It’s been I believe 30 years since a CPS school has won a playoff game. We’ll be prepared and play hard. It’s going to be a great night.”
Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (8-2), which plays at Springfield Shawnee (8-2) Saturday night, is making its 10th consecutive postseason appearance.
Schedule
Division I, Region 4
(All games 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8)
No. 8 Mason (5-5) at No. 1 St. Xavier (8-2)
No. 5 Lakota West (7-3) at No. 4. Elder (8-2)
No. 7 Hamilton (5-5) at No. 2 Fairfield (9-1)
No. 6 Princeton (6-4) at No. 3 Colerain (9-1)
Division II, Region 8
(All games 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8)
No. 8 Little Miami (8-2) at No. 1 La Salle (8-2)
No. 5 Walnut Ridge (10-0) at No. 4 Xenia (9-1)
No. 7 St. Francis DeSales (8-2) at No. 2 Turpin (10-0)
No. 6 Canal Winchester (9-1) at No. 3 Harrison (9-1)
Division III, Region 12
(All games 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8)
No. 8 Alter (6-4) at No. 1 Chaminade Julienne (8-2)
No. 5 Ross (8-2) at No. 4 Badin (7-3), at Hamilton High School
No. 7 Trotwood-Madison (7-3) at No. 2 Wapakoenta (9-1)
No. 6 St. Marys Memorial (8-2) at No. 3 Franklin (9-1)
Division IV, Region 16
(All games 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9)
No. 8 Milton-Union (8-2) at No. 1 Wyoming (10-0)
No. 5 Indian Hill (8-2) at No. 4 Kenton (8-2)
No. 7 Germantown Valley View (8-2) at No. 2 Clinton-Massie (9-1)
No. 6 Roger Bacon (9-1) at No. 3 Waynesville (9-1)
Division V, Region 20
(All games 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9)
No. 8 Blanchester (6-4) at No. 1 Taft (9-1)
No. 5 Madeira (8-2) at No. 4 West Liberty-Salem (9-1)
No. 7 Summit Country Day (7-2) at No. 2 West Jefferson (9-1)
No. 6 CHCA (8-2) at No. 3 Springfield Shawnee (8-2)
Division VI, Region 24 (No area qualifiers. Games Friday night)
Division VII, Region 28
(All games 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9)
No. 8 New Bremen (7-3) at No. 1 New Miami (9-0)
No. 5 Lima Perry (7-3) at No. 4 Cincinnati College Prep (8-2), at Summit Country Day
No. 7 Mississinawa Valley (7-3) at No. 2 Marion Local (8-2)
No. 6 Dola Hardin Northern (8-2) at No. 3 Fort Loramie (9-1)
