Toledo Central Catholic vs. Bishop Watterson preview: Ohio high school football Division III state championship notes, history, prediction

Get all the information for the 2023 Division III Ohio high school football playoffs on SBLive

The OHSAA football playoffs are down to the last 14 teams standing, as the final two teams in each division will take the field in Canton this weekend for a chance to hoist the championship hardware.

>> Ohio high school football playoffs roundup: St. Edward, Massillon, Marion Local among winners in state semifinals (11/17/2023)<<

The seven OHSAA football State championship games will be played in Canton at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium from Nov. 30-Dec. 2. The Division III state championship will be on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 pm.

>> Ohio high school football playoff brackets 2023 <<

Here, we will take a look at the teams remaining in Division III, along with the matchup, history, notes and a predicted winner for the state championship game.

Stay with SBLive Ohio for all of the matchups, game times and scores throughout the 2023 OHSAA football playoffs.

(All state championship information used is since the beginning of the playoff era in Ohio, which began with the 1972 season)

Division III state semifinals bracket

State championship game:

Toledo Central Catholic vs, Bishop Watterson, Friday, Dec. 1 at 7:30 pm.

Results from state semifinals:

Toledo Central Catholic: Def. Chardon 35-7

Bishop Watterson: Def. Celina 27-14

Number of state championships:

Toledo Central Catholic: 4 (2022, 2014, 2012, 2005)

Bishop Watterson: 2 (2010, 2002)

Notes: After winning the Division II state championship game a year ago, Toledo Central Catholic dropped down to Division III this season and will be looking to finish an undefeated season. 

Central Catholic is averaging 40 points per game in the postseason, while Watterson has allowed 10 points or less in 11 of its 15 games this season, including the first three rounds of the playoffs.

Predicted state champion: Toledo Central Catholic

-- Ryan Isley | ryan@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveoh

(Feature photo: Toledo Central Catholic players celebrate winning the 2022 Division II state championship. Photo credit: Jeff Harwell)


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Ryan Isley, SBLive Sports
RYAN ISLEY, SBLIVE SPORTS

Ryan Isley is a regional editor at SBLive Sports for the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania. Ryan, a native of Akron, Ohio, has been following and covering high school sports in Ohio for more than 20 years, including the St. Vincent-St. Mary basketball teams that featured NBA superstar LeBron James. Ryan joined the SBLive staff full-time in May, 2022 after freelancing for SBLive Sports for nearly nine months, beginning with his experience covering Bishop Sycamore, which was featured in a documentary in the summer of 2023. You can reach Ryan at ryan@scorebooklive.com