LAST UPDATED ON 2020-11-18 13:36:11

OHSAA adjusts state football final times, per statewide curfew

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Following Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's 10 p.m. statewide curefew order (which will be in effect starting Thursday, Nov. 19), the Ohio High School Athletic Association has adjusted game times for the football state championship finals this weekend at Fortress Obetz in Columbus.

The games on Friday (Divisions VII and II) and Saturday (Divs. V and III) will now be played at 1:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., respectively, instead of the previously scheduled times of 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Sunday's Div. IV and VI finals will be played at 12:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. to make all six games have a consistent pregame timing format (rather than the previous noon and 5:00 p.m. times for Sunday).

While teams and fans can still travel home after 10:00 p.m., the OHSAA’s goal is that the stadium is closed by 10:00 p.m.

“We want to support the Governor’s curfew order,” said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute. “Kicking off earlier will help ensure that everyone has left the stadium by 10:00 Friday and Saturday night. We’ll need a sense of urgency to leave the facility after those games, but we don’t want to take away from the postgame experience. We are so excited to host the football state championship games this weekend and complete the fall season, so we want to help with the curfew order to leave the stadium by 10:00.”

The team matchups for this weekend's state tournament finals are as followed:

Division VII - Friday, Nov. 20, 1:15 p.m.

New Bremen (9-2) vs. Warren John F. Kennedy (9-2)

Division II - Friday, Nov. 20, 6:15 p.m.

Massillon Washington (10-1) vs. Akron Archbishop Hoban (10-0)

Division V - Saturday, Nov. 21, 1:15 p.m.

Kirtland (10-0) vs. Ironton (11-0)

Division III - Saturday, Nov. 21, 6:15 p.m.

Columbus St. Francis DeSales (9-1) vs. Chardon (11-0)

Division IV - Sunday, Nov. 22, 12:15 p.m.

Van Wert (10-1) vs. Mentor Lake Catholic (8-2)

Division VI - Sunday, Nov. 22, 5:15 p.m.