For a sixth straight year, the Mahoning Valley will be represented in the state semifinals of the Ohio High School Athletic Association football tournament.

Springfield and John F. Kennedy won regional championships over the weekend, and as a result the Eagles and Tigers are both one win away from playing for a state title in their respective divisions.

Springfield won a Division VI, Region 21 title for a second straight year with a thrilling 52-48 win over Creston Norwayne. After Norwayne scored a touchdown with 34 seconds left in the game to take a 48-45 lead, Springfield marched 65 yards in five plays for the win.

The Tigers scored on a jet sweep reverse-flea flicker with 5 seconds left to seal the victory.

Springfield junior quarterback Beau Brungard threw for 168 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 138 yards and five TDs. He also pulled in a reception for a score.

Springfield plays Beverly Fort Frye, which won the Region 23 championship with a resounding 47-7 win over Fairland. The Tigers and Cadets will play Saturday at John D Sulsberger Memorial Stadium in Zanesville. Both will enter with 10-0 records.

Fort Frye is making its second trip to the state semifinals. It last won a regional title in 2018. The Cadets own an overall playoff record of 11-8 in nine postseason appearances.

A year ago Springfield advanced to the Division VI title game before falling to Anna. The Tigers become the first Mahoning Valley school to win back-to-back regional titles since 2010 when Ursuline won the fourth of four straight titles.

Springfield becomes the first public school from the Mahoning Valley to win back-to-back regional titles since Campbell accomplished the feat in 1989 and 1990.

Kennedy (8-2) won the Division VII, Region 25 title with a dominating 21-0 win over Lucas. Kennedy senior Cam Hollobaugh rushed for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and completed 5-of-6 passes (one touchdown) to lead the JFK offense. Meanwhile, the Kennedy defense limited the Cubs’ vaunted running game to just 89 rushing yards on 20 carries.

For the Eagles, it is the eighth trip to the state semifinals in school history. JFK has appeared in five state championship games, winning state titles in 1991 and 2016.

Kennedy plays Newark Catholic (7-3), which won the Region 27 title with a 10-7 win over Shadyside. The Eagles and Green Wave meet Friday at Massillon’s Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

Newark Catholic has one of state’s the most impressive post-season resumes. The Green Wave own eight state titles. They have made 25 playoff appearances with a post-season record of 79-26, including 26 regional titles.

Surprisingly, this is the first-ever meeting between the Eagles and the Green Wave.

The last time the Mahoning Valley didn’t send at least one team to the state semifinals was 2014. Since then, regional titles have been won by Ursuline (2015), JFK (2016), South Range (2017), Girard (2018), Poland, Springfield (2019) and now Springfield and JFK.