COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio High School Athletic Association state football championship games are looking more favorable to remain in Canton for this upcoming season.
OHSAA Executive Director Dr. Dan Ross told the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association Tuesday afternoon the OHSAA is working to develop a contract with Stark County to keep the state football finals in Canton for a second straight year.
“We’re hoping that sometime relatively soon that contract will be put into place,” Ross said. “That’s the direction we are looking at for this upcoming school year.”
The OHSAA has not announced the dates for the 2018 state football finals, but the seven championship games will likely be played from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, WCPO has learned.
The season begins Aug. 20, and the postseason starts Nov. 2. The state semifinals are Nov. 23.
The OHSAA Board of Directors gave approval in January 2017 for the state finals to be played in Canton for 2017 and 2018. However, the OHSAA only signed a one-year contract for this past season.
After a 24-year stay in Stark County from 1990-2013, the football state championship games were held at Ohio Stadium in Columbus in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
No details for the football state championship games after 2018 have been finalized. Ross said Tuesday the finals won’t be in Canton in 2019 and 2020. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is working on the 100th anniversary celebration of the National Football League in 2019.
Ross said Columbus is a possibility for 2019 and 2020.
Winton Woods was the area representative at Canton in the 2017 Division II state final Nov. 30 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Akron Archbishop Hoban defeated Winton Woods 42-14.
Clinton-Massie was the Division IV state runner-up that weekend, too.
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