OHSAA moving state football finals to Massillon

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Due to a stay-at-home order within Ohio's Franklin County, the Ohio High School Athletic Association is relocating this weekend's slate of state football championship games to Paul Brown Stadium in Massillon, Ohio.

The OHSAA made the announcement early Thursday afternoon that the games would be relocated from their initial site of the Fortress Obetz sports complex in southeast Columbus. The decision came Thursday morning after discussions with officials at Obetz and Franklin County. The OHSAA met virtually with the 12 finalist schools at 11:30 a.m. to inform them and answer questions.

“Completing this weekend’s state championship games is very important to the schools, student-athletes and communities, so we felt strongly about finding a place to play,” said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute. “These 12 schools just want to play and we thank them for accepting this change. We would also like to especially thank Massillon Washington High School for stepping up to host, and also Hoban for agreeing to play there.”

Even with the new game site, the scheduled times will remain the same as the games are relocated to the home of the Massillon Tigers, who are one of the two Division II state finalists. They will take on Hoban this Friday at 6:15 p.m, with Hoban being deemed the "home" team for the contest.

Paul Brown Tiger Stadium served as a host of the football state championships from 1990 through 2013.

As stated previously, the game times and matchups (as listed below) currently remain unchanged:

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.

New Middletown Springfield (11-0) vs. Coldwater (11-0)