With Chagrin Falls and Kirtland practicing for state semifinals to be played Friday, here are some playoff tidbits about the Tigers and Hornets:

Chagrin Falls is the second area team to advance to the state semifinals three years in a row. Chardon also did it from 1993-95. The Hilltoppers were 1-2 in that stretch with the victory leading to the 1994 D-II state championship. The Tigers are 2-0 in state semis with their third appearance set for Friday. Three other area schools have made appearances in state semifinals two years in a row – Hawken, Lake Catholic (three times) and Mentor.

Kirtland is the first area school to win a regional title in Division V (The O.J. McDuffie Hawken teams of the late 1980s and VASJ’s 2003 squad were in Division IV). After losing in the first round in their first four playoff appearances, the Hornets have won at least two games in their last three postseasons – 2008, 2010 and this year.

The Chagrin Valley Conference has three teams in the state semifinals – Aurora (12-1) in Division II, Chagrin (13-0) in Division III and Kirtland (13-0) in Division V.

Chagrin Falls is a state-best 40-3 since the beginning of the 2009 season.

- Howard Primer