St. Thomas Aquinas, Central Catholic to Pause Series

The two Canton schools will suspend their football rivalry for the upcoming 2027-2028 school year.

Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Football

St. Thomas Aquinas, Central Catholic to Pause Series

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St. Thomas Aquinas and Central Catholic will pause their football series for the 2027-2028 school year. President Joe French announced the decision following a strategic review of the athletic programs.

Why it matters

The decision aims to address competitive disparities between the schools as they navigate different enrollment figures and league dynamics. Officials intend to re-evaluate the matchup in the future as athletic conditions evolve.

Canton Central Catholic competes in Division V, while St. Thomas Aquinas plays in Division VI. The pause is set specifically for the 2027-2028 school year.

The players

Joe French

Joe French serves as the president of the institution making the decision to pause the series.

St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas is a high school located in Canton that competes in Division VI athletics.

Canton Central Catholic

Canton Central Catholic is a high school located in Canton that competes in Division V athletics.

The details

President Joe French initiated the pause to ensure a more appropriate level of competition for the student-athletes. The administration cited differences in enrollment and changing league dynamics as the primary drivers for the hiatus.

October 22, 2026: The schools play their final scheduled game before the hiatus.
2027-2028 school year: The football series remains paused.

Season Trajectory

This pause reflects the ongoing difficulty in maintaining consistent regional rivalries as enrollment figures fluctuate across high school divisions. The move prioritizes balanced competitive matchups over historical scheduling habits.

Fans in Canton will see a gap in the local football calendar for the 2027-2028 season as the schools remove this fixture from their schedules. The change effectively eliminates the annual head-to-head meeting until administration officials decide to resume the series.

The takeaway

Schools often pause long-standing rivalries when shifting demographics create significant disparities in athletic program size. Maintaining a competitive balance is essential for the long-term viability of high school sports programs.