CLEVELAND — The dog days of summer are beginning to wind down, students are returning from their months-long break, and the sound of pads crashing against each other is now filling the air.
Yes, high school football is back in Northeast Ohio, and 3News is celebrating the only way we know how: By bringing back our WKYC.com High School Football Game of the Week.
This is the fourth year for our annual spectacle, which sees us showcase one local contest each Friday via a live audio broadcast as well as highlights on "What Next" at 11 p.m. We even continued through COVID-19 last season, which saw all teams in the state limited to just six regular season games with an automatic trip to the playoffs.
Re-listen to one of our top games from last season: North Royalton vs, Olmsted Falls in the Division II playoffs:
Due to those restrictions, we were sadly forced to eliminate the Game of the Week voting component last year, as logistically it would've been impossible to plan for capacity limits as well as possible cancellations. But fear not, because in 2021, fans can once again make their voices heard.
We have three incredible games to choose from this week, with all teams involved having legitimate visions of a possible state championship this fall (2020 records listed below):
- Euclid (5-3) vs. Aurora (6-3)
- Benedictine (4-5) vs. Walsh Jesuit (5-2)
- Avon (10-1) vs. Brunswick (6-3)
Voting opened Monday morning and will close Wednesday. Until then you can vote now in the poll below, with a chance to win a free Chick-fil-A meal! Just give your name and email address or Facebook account before casting your ballots:
Once the results are final, 3News digital reporters Dave "Dino" DeNatale and Tyler Carey will announce the winning game Wednesday on their high school football preview show, where they will also look into the rest of the big matchups for the week. Then, on Friday, Dino and a to-be-determined guest will call the game live on WKYC.com, the WKYC App, and the WKYC YouTube page. Tyler will also pop in to provide analysis and scoring updates from around the area.
We are just as excited as you are to once again bask in the glow of Ohio's "Friday Night Lights." Happy voting, and good luck to all the schools involved!
