CINCINNATI -- The La Salle football team will play at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary on Friday, Oct. 13 after the schools signed a contract Thursday, according to La Salle Athletic Director Keith Pantling.
Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary will be La Salle’s Week 8 opponent, replacing Ryle on the schedule. The kickoff Oct. 13 is scheduled for 7 p.m., on John Cistone Field at Green Street Stadium near Downtown Akron.
WCPO.com reported in August 2016 that La Salle and Ryle agreed on a home-and-home football series for Week 6 of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. But that series has been canceled.
St. Vincent-St. Mary, a Northeast Ohio athletics power, is of course the high school LeBron James starred at in basketball and football before he graduated in 2003. The football team has eight consecutive playoff appearances and most recently won Division III state titles in 2013 and 2012.
St. Vincent-St. Mary won theDivision II state boys' basketball titlelast weekend in Columbus.
St. Vincent-St. Mary has been a Division III program the past two years. La Salle has won three consecutive Division II state titles.
The OHSAA may announce the 2017 divisional breakdowns for fall sports April 6. This fall will be the first sports season that includes competitive balance adjusted enrollment figures.
This fall will be the first season for Pat McLaughlin as La Salle coach.
The Lancers return senior-to-be quarterback Griffin Merritt, senior-to-be defensive lineman Zach Rumpke, junior-to-be linebacker Brody Ingle and senior-to-be tight end Josh Whyle, a 6-foot-7 standout who has several scholarship offers. Merrit, Rumpke, Ingle and Whyle were first-team all-GCL South selections in 2016.
2017 La Salle football schedule
Friday, Aug. 25 – Vs. Colerain at 20th annual Skyline Chili Crosstown Showdown at Nippert Stadium, time TBA
Friday, Sept. 1 – vs. East Central, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 8 – vs. West Clermont, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 15 – vs. Scott County (Ky.), 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 22 – vs. Winton Woods, 7 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 29 – vs. Moeller, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 6 – at St. Xavier, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 13 – at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 20 – vs. Columbus St. Charles, 7 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 – vs. Elder, 7 p.m.
