St. Edward (14-1) has won four state championships (2010, 2014, 2015 and 2018), and Lombardo has been the head coach for the last two. Douglass coached Trotwood-Madison to a state championship in 2011 and has led the Wildcats to their first appearance in the title game.
Playing an Ohio powerhouse like St. Edward one week after beating nine-time state champion Cincinnati Moeller 22-21 last Friday in Sidney gives Springfield (13-1) extra incentive.
“It’s just another little niche for us to try to keep knocking down the dominoes,” Douglass said.
Springfield scrimmaged Louisville Trinity, one of Kentucky’s greatest programs, in the preseason. It also beat Cleveland St. Ignatius, an 11-time state champion, 24-20 in Week 1.
No current Greater Western Ohio Conference program has won a state championship, though Trotwood-Madison won three while it was a member of the conference (2011, 2017 and 2019) and Piqua (2006) and Lebanon (1998) also won state titles while in the GWOC. Wayne is a four-time state runner-up. Centerville reached the state championship game in 1991.
Douglass was asked Tuesday if his team is ready for the challenge it will face at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
“Believe me, they’re ready,” he said. “This town is ready.”
Springfield practiced at Wittenberg’s indoor facility, The Steemer, on Monday and practiced there again Tuesday. It will practice outside at the high school on Wednesday and Thursday. It will depart for Canton at 11 a.m. Friday and spend the night there after the game with plans to tour the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Wittenberg has opened its facility in recent weeks to the team when there’s poor weather.
“We’ve been able to go in there from 2 o’clock to 4:30, really any day that we need it,” Douglass said.
Douglass said the offense benefits from playing on the turf. It helps with the timing of quarterback Te’Sean Smoot and his receivers and running backs. On Wednesdays, the team goes back outside and emphasizes defense. That routine has led to the team’s third straight run to the state semifinals and now its first appearance in the championship game.
“It’s been successful for us,” Douglass said.
FRIDAY’S GAME
Who: Springfield vs. Lakewood St. Edward
What: Division I state football championship
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday
Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Canton
TV: Spectrum News 1
Tickets: ohsaa.org/tickets
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