CINCINNATI — While there might not be "a ton to do in Cincinnati," the city has had some great sports moments in 2021.

The Bearcats smashed college football’s glass ceiling by becoming the first school from a so-called “Group of Five” conference to advance to the sport's four-team playoff.

While in many ways it was the year of the Bearcat, several other highlights happened in Cincinnati sports this year.

Joe Burrow returned from a knee injury earlier than most believed possible. He and former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase have the Bengals in the hunt for the postseason for the first time since 2015. Chase, defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Joe Mixon were named to the Pro Bowl (with Burrow and four others named alternates).

The Bengals also debuted new stripes for the franchise’s first new look since 2004.

Despite a renaissance season from Joey Votto and all-star nods for outfielders Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker, the Reds failed to make the postseason, running out of gas in September.

The sport shut down in December as the owners locked out the players. The strike season of 1994 was the last time baseball has experienced a work stoppage.

While it may feel like the year of the Bearcat, it was not Cincinnati's day at Cintas Center earlier this month. Xavier beat UC 83-63 in the Crosstown Shootout.

FC Cincinnati opened TQL Stadium this year, but only won once in the West End. The new stadium did welcome back Cincinnati native Rose Lavelle, who scored in the fourth minute in the USWNT's game against Paraguay this September. The Mount Notre Dame graduate also assisted two goals in the 8-0 win.

The Western and Southern Open returned to Mason after a year away due to the pandemic.

Three Tri-state football teams celebrated state championships — Winton Woods, Beechwood and Clinton-Massie. The Warriors routed Akron Archbishop Hoban to capture their second championship ever, while the Tigers and Falcons won close games to earn their hardware.

Mount Notre Dame basketball brought home its eighth state title, while the school's soccer team won its first state championship ever in November.

Trenton native Zach Apple won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics while swimming the anchor leg on the United States men's 4x100m freestyle relay team. Apple, Caeleb Dressel, Blake Pieroni and Becker won the race in 3 minutes, 8.97 seconds, the third-fastest time in history.

The year isn’t over. UC football continues its run to a national title on New Year’s Eve against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

RELATED: Clinton-Massie wins state title in miraculous fashion
RELATED: Joe Burrow on why team avoided COVID outbreak: 'Fortunately there's not a ton to do in Cincinnati'

CINCINNATI — Winton Woods football coach Chad Murphy arrived home around 5 a.m. Friday but he didn't seem to mind at all.

In fact, Murphy was all smiles two days later, reflecting on a state championship journey that no one at Winton Woods will ever forget.

"It's just been a little surreal," Murphy said Sunday afternoon. "It's like it's set in but it hasn't. Do you know what I mean? It still seems like we're probably going to practice tomorrow and that kind of stuff. It's been wild."

Murphy joined the WCPO High School Insider podcast to reflect on the Warriors' Division II state title.

Listen to this episode in the player below:

Winton Woods defeated Akron Archbishop Hoban 21-10 in the Division II state final Dec. 2 in Canton to capture the state championship.

"It was finally mission accomplished," Murphy said. "Like you said – 16 weeks is a long time. A lot of blood, sweat and tears go into it – behind-the-scenes stuff."

Winton Woods was one of three schools to capture state football titles this past week.

Mike Dyer/WCPO

Beechwood captured the Kentucky Class 2A state title with a 23-21 win over Lexington Christian at Kroger Field.

Clinton-Massie had a dramatic rally on Friday to defeat Youngstown Ursuline 29-28 thanks to a two-point conversion with 45 seconds left in the Ohio Division IV state final.

Mike Dyer/WCPO

Clinton-Massie coach Dan McSurley reflected on how much the seniors impacted the football program and a two-point conversion attempt in Canton that won't ever be forgotten in Clinton County.

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CANTON, Ohio — This Clinton-Massie state football championship won't ever be forgotten.

"Surreal," senior running back Colton Trampler said.

Clinton-Massie football coach Dan McSurley let the seniors decide whether to go for a two-point conversion with 45 seconds left and a state championship on the line early Friday afternoon.

"I think all the seniors said, 'Coach, let's win this thing,'" McSurley said.

Senior quarterback Kody Zantene pitched the ball to senior running back Carson Van Hoose who ran to the right and in the end zone for a two-point conversion that gave the Falcons a 29-28 win in the Division IV state final.

"My dad (Clinton-Massie assistant coach Jeskee Zantene) said he was watching a state championship game about four or five years ago and they won a state championship on that play and it was awesome," Clinton-Massie senior quarterback Kody Zantene said.

The Falcons (14-1), winners of 14 consecutive games, captured their third state football title in school history.

"It means so much to me," Clinton-Massie senior running back Colton Trampler said. "I think back to every second that we spent in the offseason working and just doing everything we could to try to get this win and this was always the dream. It has been since third grade. I could walk into that locker room right now. There is going to be tons of people laughing and crying. It's just so exciting that were able to get it done this year."

The Falcons trailed 28-7 with 5:23 left in the third quarter but never lost faith. Zantene scored on a 49-yard touchdown run nearly two minutes later.

Then, senior offensive lineman Garrett Vance recovered a fumble in the end zone to put the Falcons within seven points early in the fourth quarter. It was the first career touchdown for Vance.

"This feeling is great especially having the community here," Vance said. "It's the best feeling in the world."

Zantene rushed for a 1-yard touchdown run with 45 seconds left in the game.

The Falcons finished the game scoring 15 unanswered points in the third and fourth quarters. This was Clinton-Massie's third state title after winning back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.

"This was such a fitting end to these seniors and their whole career starting back in third grade," said McSurley, who earned his 250th win at Clinton-Massie. "It's an unbelievable group. I probably will never have another opportunity to coach a group of seniors like this the rest of my life. This will be without question go down in history as one of the greatest comeback victories in high school history. I'm just so pleased and so happy to be a part of it."

Trampler had 19 carries for 117 yards while Van Hoose had 15 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter. Zantene had seven carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Zantene had 12 tackles while junior defensive lineman Leyton Bell had 10 tackles.

WCPO: Winton Woods wins Division II state title

Welcome to the football state championship week.

Greater Cincinnati has four opportunities at state football finals this week including Badin (Division III), Beechwood (Kentucky Class 2A), Clinton-Massie (Division IV) and Winton Woods (Division II) in the respective state finals.

You will hear from Winton Woods coach Chad Murphy, Badin coach Nick Yordy and Clinton-Massie coach Dan McSurley on this week's WCPO High School Insider podcast.

Each coach reflects on the special journey of this season and what they will remember the most from this team as they prepare to travel to Canton.

Listen to this episode in the player below:

• 02:18 - Winton Woods coach Chad Murphy
• 08:45 - Clinton-Massie coach Dan McSurley
• 20:59 - Badin coach Nick Yordy

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CINCINNATI — Four Greater Cincinnati high school football programs are in their respective state finals next week.

WINTON WOODS
In Ohio, Winton Woods (12-3) plays Akron Archbishop Hoban (11-3) at 7 p.m. Dec. 2 in the Division II state final at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

Winton Woods defeated Green 20-7 in a Division II state semifinal Friday night at Westerville Central.

The Warriors will make their third state final appearance, the first since finishing as state runner-up in 2017. Winton Woods won the 2009 Division II state title.

Winton Woods advances to state championship

CLINTON MASSIE
Badin (Division III) and Clinton-Massie (Division IV) will attempt to win their respective state titles on Dec. 3.

Clinton-Massie (13-1) plays Youngstown Ursuline (11-3) at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 3. The Falcons defeated Bloom-Carroll 24-21 in a Division IV state semifinal Friday night. The team is making its fourth state final appearance and the first since 2017, when it was a state runner-up. This would be their first state title since 2013.

Clinton-Massie overcomes early deficit to win in state semifinals

BADIN
Badin (14-0) plays Chardon (15-0) in a battle of undefeated teams in the Division III state final at 3 p.m. Dec. 3.

The Rams defeated Granville 14-0 in a Division III state semifinal Friday night. They are in the state final for the first time since 1990, when they won the Division III state championship. Their other appearances were in 1980 and 1978.

Badin's undefeated season continues

Moeller (11-4) completed its season as a Division I state semifinalist Friday night. Springfield defeated Moeller 22-21 to advance to the Division I state final.

BEECHWOOD
In Kentucky, Beechwood (14-0) plays Lexington Christian (14-0) in the 2A state final at 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at Kroger Field in Lexington.

Beechwood rolls to state championship game

The Tigers are going for their 16th state football title in program history. They defeated Lexington Christian 24-23 in the 2020 2A state final.

Ohio

State football finals at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

Division II

Winton Woods (12-3) vs. Hoban (11-3), 7 p.m. Thursday (Dec. 2)

Division III

Badin (14-0) vs. Chardon (15-0), 3 p.m. Friday (Dec. 3)

Division IV

Clinton-Massie (13-1) vs. Youngstown Ursuline (11-3), 10:30 a.m. Friday (Dec. 3)

Kentucky

Friday, Dec. 3

2A state final at Kroger Field in Lexington

Beechwood (13-0) vs. Lexington Christian (13-0), 4 p.m.

Welcome to the football regional finals week around Ohio.

Seven Greater Cincinnati high school football teams are still playing this week with opportunities to reach the state semifinals Nov. 26.

On this week's High School Insider podcast, you will hear from several high school head football coaches including:

These coaches reflect upon their teams and how the school communities have expressed significant support during this postseason.

The Ohio high school boys basketball season is right around the corner and you will hear from Triple Double Prospects analyst Corey Albertson about some of the top teams and players to watch this winter.

Listen to this episode in the podcast player below:

Subscribe to High School Insider with Mike Dyer podcast:

CINCINNATI — The high school football scene was impacted by severe weather around the Greater Cincinnati area on Friday night.

Multiple games were in weather delays prior to scheduled kickoff times. Some games were scheduled to start later than the common 7 p.m. kickoff due to heat concerns. The lightning just added to the weather situation.

The Clinton-Massie (0-0) at Anderson (0-1) game was postponed until 10 a.m. Saturday.
The game had been a Spectrum News 1 game of the week in Southwest Ohio.

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"We fought through more adversity last year than ever before and we've been trained to be prepared for any opportunity at any moment," Anderson coach Evan Dreyer told WCPO.

"I think things like this make your program and teams better. We want to be a playoff team, so we must fight through adversity. We must adapt and overcome to be a great football team."

The Princeton (1-0) at Loveland (0-1) game is postponed until 10 a.m. Saturday. There was a power outage plus lightning on Friday, according to Loveland coach Andy Cruse.

The Lakota East (0-1) at Milford (1-0) game is postponed until 9 a.m., according to the Milford athletic department.

The Holy Cross (1-0) at Walton-Verona (0-1) game is postponed until 7 p.m. Saturday.

The Franklin (0-1) at Beavercreek (0-1) game is postponed until 10 a.m. Saturday.

WCPO will continue to update this story.