COLUMBUS – A health advisory issued by Columbus and Franklin County officials to slow the spread of the coronavirus has prompted the Ohio High School Athletic Association to moving this weekend’s football state championship games to Massillon.
The advisory issued recommends the games not be played in Franklin County so Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon offered to host all six games.
That includes the Division III title game, featuring DeSales (9-1) and Chardon (11-0), which will kick off at 6:15 p.m. Saturday so that the stadium can be closed by 10:00 p.m., in compliance with a statewide curfew.
The games were scheduled to be played at Fortress Obetz in southeast Columbus but the decision to move them came Thursday morning after discussions with county and facility officials.
The schedule remains the same as announced Wednesday, with games on Friday and Saturday at 1:15 and 6:15 and then Sunday at 12:15 and 5:15.
The advisory recommends a pause on all extra-curricular activities for schools and asks all persons to be home by 6:00 p.m. until Dec. 18.