MIDDLETOWN, Ohio — The Greater Cincinnati area is guaranteed to have a high school football representative in the Division I state final Dec. 5 in Canton.

That’s because an intriguing matchup with Middletown (11-2) and St. Xavier (10-2) is set for 7 p.m. Friday in a Division I state semifinal at Welcome Stadium in Dayton.

It’s the first game between the programs since 2012.

“Middletown is as fast and athletic a team as we have played this year,” St. X coach Steve Specht said. “When you watch their playoff film, the first thing that jumps off the screen is the passion and tenacity of their defense. They are built around that group and they play very fast.”

The Middies are in the state semifinal for the first time in program history after Middletown won the Region 2 championship over Hub

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