Loveland, Oklahoma - In a highly anticipated Week 1 matchup, Loveland High School will battle with Loveland High School to open the 2023 high school football campaign. Officially known for sponsorship purposes as The Kay Jewelers LOVEland Classic, the contest will be hosted neutrally at Loveland High School, located roughly equidistant between both participating schools.
The Red Wolves of Loveland, Colorado enter the August 18th primetime bout following a successful 2022 season. The Red Wolves finished the year ranked as the #9 team in the state of Colorado after finishing with an overall record of 12-2. Their Loveland, Ohio counterparts and competitors are coming off a program-building year in which the Tigers finished 4-7, culminating in the school’s first playoff appearance in nine years.
Loveland High School on the Oklahoma Panhandle will be the site for one of the most high-profile high school football matchups of the 21st century. In the booth for the showdown is ESPN Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit, who anticipates a high-scoring shootout, stating, “All factors indicate that this will be a lovely matchup to open the season. Loveland’s re-tooled offense should be able to find the endzone plenty of times, while Loveland and junior quarterback Cupid Iverson aim to build on last year’s success, when the offense averaged a whopping 38.3 PPG.”
Herbstreit’s partner Chris Fowler also looks forward to the meeting, stating, “Never in my 30-plus year broadcasting career have I been more excited for a sporting event. To have the opportunity to call The LOVEland Classic is a dream come true.”
The Tigers enter the year with high expectations following an OHSAA playoff berth in 2022. Rising senior WR and captain Julius Vorbroker (11) feels that his Loveland side will use the game to build on last year’s success, saying, “We’ve had a great start to the offseason with a large core returning from last year’s group. We’ve already started to prepare for that game, so I feel confident that we can open 2023 with a big win.”
Head Coach Andy Cruse agrees with his senior, saying, “Our guys have put in the work to have a great season, and it all starts out in Oklahoma on the 18th against Loveland. They have a special team with talented athletes across the board, but we feel prepared to go out there and start the season with a bang.”
The Red Wolves are aiming to capture their third consecutive league championship this fall, after winning the Class 4A League 1 title the prior two years over Windsor High School. Head Coach Allan Jeffries claims that winning the league isn’t their only priority this year, saying, “We obviously want to kick Loveland’s tail in Week 1 and win our league again, but this group’s main goal is winning the Colorado State Championship. We got to the Final Four last season, and this year we are looking to capitalize.”
All in all, this game should prove to be one of the greatest high school sporting events in recent memory. With the entire nation watching, Loveland and Loveland will square off to prove that their school is the true Loveland.
Feel free to stop by the athletic office for ticketing and travel information. If you can’t be there in person, be sure to catch the game live on ABC.