High school football playoff matchup not what one coach thinks it is

Since 2000 in Ohio’s region 4, there have been just three state semi-finalists: Elder, Colerain and St. Xavier. In the early part of the decade, Elder and Colerain took their turns knocking each other out of the playoffs, and winning state titles.

For years the Panthers of Elder and Cardinals of Colerain beat up on one another. It was the game that decided the region, and occasionally, the state title.

Don’t tell St. X coach Steve Specht, though. He feels that Colerain’s matchups with his St. Xavier teams have been the game of the past decade. “In the last 10 years it's been 'The Game',” he told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “It's a tremendous rivalry between two great programs. It's healthy, respectful. It's what high school football is all about.”

In 2000, 2002 and 2003, Elder met Colerain in the region 4 finals, with Colerain winning the first meeting and Elder winning in ’02 and ’03. In 2004, Elder lost to Colerain in the first round of the playoffs, a year that St. X didn’t even qualify for the playoffs.

In 2005 and 2007, St. X knocked Colerain out of the playoffs, and won their only state football titles. In 2006, Colerain beat St. X in the regional finals. In 2008, Elder beat Colerain in the regional finals, and last year Elder knocked St. X out in the regional semi-finals.

According to The Enquirer, “Colerain head coach Tom Bolden likened the rivalry to the infamous matchups between Miami of Florida and Notre Dame and the storied Moeller/Princeton prep rivalry in the 80's. In the past decade Colerain/St. Xavier has become a rite of passage for the high school football season.”

As ESPN’s Lee Corso would say, “Not so fast my friend.”

That’s right folks, I’m here to argue that St.X-Colerain isn’t “the game” that Specht thinks it is. No, if anything garners a title in the past ten years, “the game” belongs to the playoff matchups between Elder and Colerain.

According to statistics compiled by Elder assistant coach Craig James, since 2000 Elder is 4-2 against Colerain, and 1-2 against St. X in the playoffs. In the regional finals against Colerain, Elder holds a 3-1 advantage, and a 3-2 playoff record against Colerain.

Yet, Colerain’s current head coach, Tom Bolden, believes, “It wouldn't be the playoffs without St. X and Colerain.”

Something in my being says that’s just not correct. But who I am to argue? High school football is a passion in southwest Ohio, especially to GCL South schools like Elder and St. X, and to Colerain fans. Hopefully though, fans of both sides don’t take Specht’s words for granted, because they’re just not true.

If you’re looking for “the game” this weekend, you won’t find it on Saturday evening when St. X and Colerain square off. Nope, unfortunately, Elder and Colerain won’t meet in the playoffs this year.

Hey, there’s always next year.
------------------------------------------
Since 2000: Elder vs Colerain playoffs
2000-Colerain defeats Elder in the Region 4 finals
2002-Elder defeats Colerain in the Region 4 finals (Elder wins state title)
2003-Elder defeats Colerain in the Region 4 finals (Elder wins state title)
2004-Colerain defeats Elder in first-round playoff game (Colerain wins state title)
2008-Elder defeats Colerain in Region 4 finals (Elder, state runner-up)

Since 2005: St. X-Colerain playoff games
2005: St. X defeats Colerain in regional semi finals (St. X wins state title)
2006: Colerain defeats St. X in Region 4 finals
2007: St. X defeats Colerain in Region 4 finals (St. X wins state title)

Since 2000: Elder-St. X playoff games
2001: St. X defeats Elder in Region 4 finals (St. X, state runner-up)
2007: St. X defeats Elder in first-round playoff game (St. X wins state title)
2009: Elder defeats St. X in Region 4 semi final (Elder, State runner up)
-------------------------------------
Join me tomorrow for the Big East weekly preview with WPTS Sports Director Jake Meyer. Have a good Wednesday.