OUR TRADITION
BEFORE THE DAVIDSON NAME
Before there was Hilliard Davidson, there was Hilliard.
The community began in 1853 as Hilliard’s Station, a small railroad stop surrounded by farmland in western Franklin County. The station connected local farmers to markets, brought new families into the area, and helped a small settlement grow into a village and eventually a city.
As Hilliard grew, its schools became gathering places where generations of families built relationships, represented their community, and established traditions that would outlive any single season.
FOOTBALL BECAME PART OF THAT STORY.
Hilliard football history reaches back long before the school carried the Davidson name.
The program’s early championship record includes Franklin County titles in 1942, 1947, and 1948, followed by Mid-8 championships in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1969. Those teams established a tradition of physical football, community pride, and responsibility to the players who came before them.
In 1989, a new Hilliard High School opened near the intersection of Davidson and Avery roads. As the district continued to grow and add new high schools, Hilliard High became Hilliard Davidson beginning with the 1997–1998 school year.
The name changed. The history did not.
The Wildcats carried forward decades of Hilliard football and continued building upon it with conference championships, regional runs, unforgettable teams, and two seasons that reached the highest level of Ohio high school football.
Coach Bob Davidson, who led the program from 1968 to 1980, played a pivotal role in shaping the culture of the team. His emphasis on fundamentals and character set the standard for the generations that followed. The program saw steady growth, transitioning from a small-town team to a regional power, setting the stage for the championship era.
OUR TRADITION
BEFORE THE DAVIDSON NAME
Before there was Hilliard Davidson, there was Hilliard.
The community began in 1853 as Hilliard’s Station, a small railroad stop surrounded by farmland in western Franklin County. The station connected local farmers to markets, brought new families into the area, and helped a small settlement grow into a village and eventually a city.
As Hilliard grew, its schools became gathering places where generations of families built relationships, represented their community, and established traditions that would outlive any single season.
FOOTBALL BECAME PART OF THAT STORY.
Hilliard football history reaches back long before the school carried the Davidson name.
The program’s early championship record includes Franklin County titles in 1942, 1947, and 1948, followed by Mid-8 championships in 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1969. Those teams established a tradition of physical football, community pride, and responsibility to the players who came before them.
In 1989, a new Hilliard High School opened near the intersection of Davidson and Avery roads. As the district continued to grow and add new high schools, Hilliard High became Hilliard Davidson beginning with the 1997–1998 school year.
The name changed. The history did not.
The Wildcats carried forward decades of Hilliard football and continued building upon it with conference championships, regional runs, unforgettable teams, and two seasons that reached the highest level of Ohio high school football.
Coach Bob Davidson, who led the program from 1968 to 1980, played a pivotal role in shaping the culture of the team. His emphasis on fundamentals and character set the standard for the generations that followed. The program saw steady growth, transitioning from a small-town team to a regional power, setting the stage for the championship era.
THE PERFECT SEASON
2006
The 2006 Wildcats entered the state championship game with a perfect record and left Canton as champions. Facing Mentor in the Division I final, Davidson fell behind by two touchdowns before fighting its way back. The game required two overtimes and ended with the Wildcats trailing by one point after a touchdown. Davidson chose to decide the game with its offense. Bo Delande carried the ball across the goal line for the winning two-point conversion, completing a five-touchdown, 236-yard performance and giving the Wildcats a 36–35 victory. Davidson finished the season 15–0 and claimed the program’s first state football championship. It was a dramatic ending, but the championship represented more than one final play. It was the product of an offensive line, a defense, a coaching staff, and a complete team willing to trust its identity when the season came down to one decision.
CHAMPIONS AGAIN
2009
Three years after the 2006 title, Davidson returned to the state final with a defensive unit that allowed only 8.5 points per game. The Wildcats faced Cleveland Glenville, one of the most athletic teams in the state, in a game that balanced defensive discipline against explosive talent. Davidson controlled the clock and the flow of the game, limiting opportunities for Cleveland Glenville and relying on a power rushing attack that wore down the defense. The Wildcats secured a 16–15 victory, earning their second state championship in four seasons. The 2009 title reinforced Davidson’s position as one of the elite programs in Division I and proved that the standard established in 2006 was not an isolated event.
STATE CHAMPIONS
2006 · 2009
REGIONAL CHAMPIONS
1993 · 2005 · 2006 · 2009 · 2010
THE TRADITION CONTINUES
The story of Hilliard Davidson football is not found in a single game or championship. It is found in the weight room at 6:00 AM, in the film sessions after practice, and in the relationships built between teammates who remain close long after their high school careers are over. It is a story of community pride and a commitment to doing things the right way, even when the results aren’t immediately visible. Current players step onto the field with a responsibility to the players who wore the helmet before them and a goal to leave the program better than they found it. This culture is the foundation of the Davidson tradition.