WESTERN OHIO — They say Ohio State vs. Michigan is a football tradition like no other.
In Ohio high school football, this tradition is based on 10 teams Midwest Athletic Conferencea smaller school league just north of the Miami Valley that continues to dominate its peers.
During a raucous Thanksgiving weekend in Ohio that's usually dominated by holiday shopping — and football — it's worth checking out the MAC.
Richland County was justifiably proud to have two football teams – Mansfield Senior and Lucas – playing in state championship games in 2019.
We love high school football in north central Ohio. But the most recent Ohio football title from our area came from Galion in 1985 — 36 years ago.
The OHSAA football playoff run is tough, a title that will require six playoff wins this year. One of those games comes Friday night at Mansfield's Arlin Field when Division I hosts Upper Arlington (14-0) and Lakewood St. Edward (12-1).
But when it comes to small schools, the path to Ohio high school football glory continues to run through western Ohio and the Midwest Athletic Conference.
Founded in 1973, the MAC has produced 37 state championship football teams and 143 overall state title winners across all sports.
It has a chance to add even more state football titles this season with three MAC teams playing in the state semifinals Saturday night in three different divisions.
In Class V, Versailles (13-1) plays Canal Winchester Harvest Prep (10-2) Saturday night in London at Bowlus Field.
In category VI, Cold water (12-2) faces West Jefferson (13-1) at Piqua Alexander Stadium.
In Section VII, Maria Stein Marion Local (14-0) meets Bascom Hopewell-Loudon (13-1) at Lima Spartan Stadium. It was the Flyers who defeated Lucas in the state title game two years ago.
There are those who will tell you that winning a MAC football title is harder than winning a state title
As evidence, what do Versailles and Coldwater have in common?
As members of the MAC, both lost to Marion Local. The Flyers beat the Tigers, 19-17, in week three and the Cavaliers, 24-21, in week eight, finishing the regular season undefeated and claiming an outright MAC title.
In the postseason, Marion Local outscored its four opponents by a combined score of 144-14, posting wins of 41-0, 42-6, 34-0 and 27-8. The final win, in the regional title game, was against MAC rival St. Henry, a team the Flyers defeated, 20-7, during the regular season.
In its playoff lifetime, Marion Local has an 88-12 postseason record.
Since entering this year's postseason leaving the tough world of the MAC behind, Versailles and Coldwater have been untouchable, winning eight games by a combined 314-77.
Even smaller MAC teams are imposing their will on the playoffs. Anna, which was 6th in the MAC this season with a 4-6 regular season record, won two playoff games before losing in the regional semifinals. Fort Recovery, eighth in the MAC with a 3-7 record, also won a playoff game.
Wealth has spread to MAC over the years. With the exception of Parkway High School, every school currently in the league has won a state football title.
The list includes Marion Local (11 state championships, tied with Cleveland St. Ignatius for the most in Ohio history), Coldwater (seven), St. Henry (six), Delphos St. John's (six), Minster (three), Fort Recovery (one), New Bremen (one) and Anna (one).
In 2014, MAC teams won three of seven OHSAA titles – Marion Local, Coldwater and Minster. Six times since 2012, MAC teams have won at least two OHSAA state titles.
It's not like these MAC teams are monolithic, unstoppable borgs. Conference teams had different coaches, different players. The common denominator is the fundamentals of football, winning, proud communities — and continuing the tradition of the championship.
“Every year is different, every team is different. They have their own strengths and weaknesses, identities and personalities,” Marion Local coach Tim Goodwin said. he told the Findlay Courier this week.
“This is the 2021 team, this is not any of those previous teams. We've had a really great year so far. “We were very tough, I would say, and we just found some ways to hang in there and win some very close games against very good teams.”
The MAC's reputation also precedes its playoff appearances. Just ask Allen East coach Joel Billings, whose team beat Anna last weekend but now faces Coldwater.
“Coldwater is really talented especially in these niche areas. They have some guys with great size and speed and overall they are a MAC school. They fly towards the ball. They block until the whistle.” Billings told the Lima News.
Preble Shawnee was coming off its best season in school history, posting a 13-0 record, until Versailles beat the Arrows, 28-0, last weekend.
“We couldn't match them physically” Preble Shawnee coach Dave Maddox told the Dayton Daily News. “They're big and strong and they won up front, and that's basically where the game was won.”
