Shawnee, Alder to play at Hilliard Bradley

D-III, Region 12 final will pit two 12-0 teams vying for a final four berth.

SPRINGFIELD — Rick Meeks knew Friday night where his Shawnee High School football team would play in the Division III, Region 12 final. On Sunday, the Ohio High School Athletic Association made it official.

The No. 1 seed Braves will play a fellow 12-0 team, No. 3 seed Plain City Jonathan Alder, at

7:30 p.m. Friday at Hilliard Bradley High School.

“I’m pleased about the location,” Meeks said. “We played there a couple of years ago when we played Logan Elm in the second round. It’s a nice facility. Tim Dellapina (a former Shawnee teacher, coach and administrator) is an assistant principal there. He’ll help take care of us.”

The Braves, who beat Thurgood Marshall 20-13 on Friday, will be seeking their first final four berth. Alder has been to state once, finishing second in 2006. Shawnee and Alder have never played, as far as Meeks knows.

Alder handed No. 7 seed Jackson its first loss Friday, winning 28-7. Alder beat Logan Elm 35-21 in the first round.

“They’re a good football team,” Meeks said. “They’ve got tradition. They’re a hard-nosed running football team. They’ve got aggressive, big, strong kids.”

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