MANSFIELD — One is making the first regional final appearance in program history. The other is in the regional championship game for the third time in the past five years.
Both are seeking a first Final Four berth and neither is ready for its season to end.
Mansfield Senior and Lucas both reached high school football’s version of the Elite Eight over the weekend. The Tygers advanced with an impressive 45-30 win over Parma Heights Holy Name in the Division III, Region 10 semifinals at Wooster’s Follis Field, while Lucas moved on with an equally impressive 35-21 win over Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas in the Division VII, Region 25 semifinals at Canal Fulton Northwest High School.
The second-seeded Tygers (11-1) will take on No. 5 Sandusky (9-3) at 7 p.m. Friday at Clyde High School. The teams met in Week 5 of the regular season at Arlin Field with Senior High holding on for a 21-14 win.
Mansfield Senior is in the regional championship game for the first time in school history. The Tygers reached the second round of the playoffs in 2000 and 2013, but lost in the regional semifinals both years.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet. I’m only used to playing 10 games, so reaching the regional finals is crazy,” said Mansfield Senior quarterback Cam Todd, who threw for 141 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 101 yards and a score against Holy Name. “We’ve never done this before. I can tell my kids about this, we’re the first Tyger football team to play in Week 13.”
The second-seeded Cubs (10-2) will take on No. 1 Cuyahoga Heights (10-1) at 7 p.m. Saturday back at Canal Fulton Northwest High School, site of Lucas’ win over St. Thomas Aquinas in the regional semifinals.
The Cubs reached the regional championship game in 2015 and again last year. Lucas dropped a 21-14 heart-breaker to Glouster Trimble last November. The Tomcats scored the game-winning touchdown in the final minute on its way to a state runner-up finish.
“Last year we lost in the Elite Eight,” said senior running back Tommy Zirzow, who rushed for a career-high 257 yards and five touchdowns in the win over St. Thomas Aquinas. “We’ve got to finish it this time.”
