LEXINGTON, Ohio — Before the high school football seasons kicks off, Richland County’s two most tradition-rich boys programs will take center stage.
Lexington, which advanced to the Division II regional tournament last fall, will host defending Division III state champion Mansfield Christian on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. as part of the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Friday Night Futbol initiative.
“This fall, with high school football not beginning until a week after the soccer season, we have created a statewide initiative, OHSAA’s Friday Night Futbol presented by the Columbus Crew SC,” OHSAA assistant commissioner and soccer administrator Jerry Snodgrass said in a release. “This opportunity will … provide an opportunity for high school soccer teams to get the publicity, recognition and attention that high school football teams normally receive on Friday nights.”
The Minutemen and Flames are deserving of such recognition. The two programs have long been the benchmark for Richland County boys soccer.
“We’re excited to take part in the event,” said Lex coach Peter Them, who led the Minutemen to a district title and a 16-4-1 record last fall. “What better way is there to start the season? We’re playing against the defending state champs under the lights.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the players and absolutely great for Richland County.”
Mansfield Christian was 19-2-2 last year and knocked off Grandview Heights 4-3 in overtime to win Richland County’s first ever boys soccer state championship. One of the Flames’ two losses came to the Minutemen in early September.
“We already had them on the schedule for early September, but this opportunity arose and we wanted to take advantage of it,” Them said. “Hopefully we’ll get a good crowd.”
Them said Lex is pulling out all the stops to make it a memorable night.
“We have the cheerleaders coming out and we have some other things in the works,” he said. “We want to give these athletes a chance to experience something they have never experienced before.”
“We want to give these athletes a chance to experience something they have never experienced before,” Peter Them said.
