Two Catholic high schools located in the Diocese of Toledo are finding themselves in a familiar place Dec. 5. Delphos St. John High School and Norwalk St. Paul High School meet for the third time since 1997 in the Division VI football high school state championship game.

“Norwalk has an outstanding program and we respect it very much,” says Donald Huysman, principal at St. John. He adds that it really says something about the caliber of the diocesan schools to have them facing one another in the championship game.

Both teams enter the game with a 14-0 record for the season. In the two previous times they faced off (1997 and 1999) the St. John Blue Jays ended up victorious. Also at stake for the St. John team is a repeat of its state victory last year. In all, the Jays have won five state championships: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005 and 2008.

This is Norwalk’s fourth trip to the championship game. In 2004, they played Dola Hardin Northern.

The game begins at 3 p.m. at Massillon. Tickets are $10 at the gate, which opens at 1:30 p.m.