For Cuyahoga County, it does not get any better than this.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For Cuyahoga County, it does not get any better than this.
Friday and Saturday arguably was the county's greatest high school football weekend in the playoff era -- two days that deserve a permanent place in Cleveland sports history. In fact, as far as the year 2010 is concerned, just remove the "high school football" disclaimer. The year in Cleveland sports just peaked. In an era when so little else is going right in our sports world, this is a moment worth cherishing.
With their first football state titles, Maple Heights and St. Edward are the ninth and 10th Cuyahoga County schools to win it all. Each school honored its team Monday; a morning rally at St. Edward and an evening celebration at Maple Heights.
Cuyahoga County has had two champions three times before, most recently in 2001, but never with this kind of drama.
In the Division II final Friday, Maple Heights fell behind Trotwood Madison, 13-0, and trailed, 26-7, in the second quarter. The Mustangs scored on six consecutive possessions and won, 45-33, in Massillon.
In Saturday night's Division I final in Canton, St. Edward was losing to Huber Heights Wayne, 21-7, in the third quarter. The Eagles won, 35-28, on tailback Terrell Bates 17-yard touchdown run with 1:32 remaining.
As St. Edward senior Deonte Gibson said amid a wild on-field celebration Saturday, "This is like a movie. I couldn't have scripted it any better."
Not all movies have happy endings. Buchtel and Chagrin Falls lost in the divisions II and IV finals, respectively, yet both were heartwarming stories because they defied even the most optimistic expectations by reaching the title game. They were, in the end, part of a historic weekend.
