The level of interest in Division I football prompted the Ohio High School Athletic Association to make an exception for this week's second-round playoff games.

REGIONAL SEMIFINALS

DIVISION I   • Colerain (11-0) vs. St. Xavier (8-3), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Nippert Stadium   • Fairfield (8-3) vs. Elder (7-3), 7 p.m. Saturday at Middletown Barnitz Stadium   DIVISION II   • Loveland (8-3) vs. Piqua (9-2), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Centerville   DIVISION III   • Purcell Marian (8-3) vs. Portsmouth (11-0), 7 p.m. Saturday at Hillsboro Richards Memorial Field   • New Richmond (11-0) vs. Day. Chaminade-Julienne (9-2), 7 p.m. Saturday at Lockland Memorial Stadium   DIVISION IV   • Wyoming (9-2) vs. Blanchester (10-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday at Princeton   DIVISION V   • Reading (9-2) vs. Milford Ctr. Fairbanks (9-2), 7 p.m. Saturday at Huber Heights Wayne

        Rather than play one of the two Division I games on Saturday at a site with limited seating, the OHSAA decided to schedule the Colerain-St. Xavier game Friday at UC's Nippert Stadium.

        In past years, the OHSAA has been reluctant to make such changes, but the monetary benefits that will be reaped from a large crowd won out.

        Fairfield and Elder meet in the other Division I semifinal game at 11,000-seat Barnitz Stadium in Middletown on Saturday.

        St. Xavier coach Steve Rasso was happy with the site but concerned about playing on Friday.

        “We just played a Saturday game and we'll now have to go back to a Friday schedule,” Rasso said. “We'll just have to work things around and go back to a normal Monday practice schedule.”

        As for playing artificial turf, Rasso wasn't concerned.

        “The artificial turf benefits the team with speed,” Rasso said. “We and Colerain both have excellent speed and it won't be an advantage for either.”

        Colerain and St. Xavier last played in 1998, in the Division I regional championship game. St. X won 42-14 at Welcome Stadium.

        Fairfield's upset of Moeller adds an interesting dimension to its regional semifinal against Elder.

        Before becoming coach at Fairfield five years ago, Tom Grippa coached at Elder where he installed a a successful passing offense. . Elder coach Doug Ramsey has continued the tradition.

        “I've been gone for over four years. I didn't coach any of Elder's kids,” Grippa said.

        A healthy tailback Earl Haynes, who had battled a sprained ankle, has made a big difference for Fairfield the past three weeks.

        “The defense has had flashes of playing good and also playing bad,” Grippa said. “Against Moeller, we shut down Marcus Blanks, which was the key.”

        Josh Benoit, Chris Waldroff, Matt Martinkovic and Joe Hampton have played well in the trenches and will be challenged by Grippa to stop Elder tailback Kyle Koester, who has rushed for over 1,400 yards.

        “The running game is a wash and it will come down to who throws the ball better,” Grippa said. “Games like this are usually determined by two to three plays and whoever executes usually wins.”

        • In Division II, Trenton Edgewood coach Steve Channell got his wish: the Cougars will play their Division II regional semifinal game Friday against Vandalia Butler on the artificial turf at Dayton's Welcome Stadium

        “We're small but have outstanding speed,” Channell said. “This should benefit our kids.”

        Loveland and Piqua play at Centerville in the other Division II game while the return matchup between Wyoming and Blanchester will be played at Princeton. Wyoming defeated Blanchester 36-34 in overtime the final game of the regular season.

        • In Division III, New Richmond and Chaminade-Jullienne play at Lockland and Purcell Marian goes on the road to Hillsboro for a game against undefeated Portsmouth.

        Reading's next opponent is Maria Stein Marion Local, a No. 8 seed that upset No.1 Columbus Ready. They meet on Saturday at Huber Heights Wayne.

        Complete prep football coverage at Enquirer.com/prepfootball

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Cincinnati playoff pairings Ohio playoff pairings Cincinnati football scores Ohio football scores Northern Ky. football scores Kentucky football scores Indiana football schedule Indiana football scores Second-round outlook Beechwood 50, Fairview 0 Bellevue 33, Paris 13 Blanchester 8, Badin 3 Cedarville 41, Summit Country Day 13 Colerain 37, Anderson 7 CovCath 36, Frankfort Western Hills 12 East Central 35, Jennings County 0 Edgewood 32, Glen Este 13 Elder 42, Lebanon 12 Fairfield 14, Moeller 7 Highlands 55, Franklin County 6 Holmes 28, Bourbon County 12 Lexington Catholic 49, Lloyd 20 Loveland 24, McNicholas 21 New Richmond 44, Logan Elm 12 Newport Central Catholic 48, Berea 20 Piqua 54, Talawanda 33 Purcell Marian 41, Gallia Academy 12 Reading 41, Columbus Academy 20 Ryle 37, Lou. Ballard 24 St. Xavier 42, Western Hills 7 Valley View 53, Madeira 7 Wyoming 23, Indian Hill 20