For most of the year, the Maplewood Rockets boys cross country team has rolled past its foes, packing up and racking up their fair share of first-place victories.
Today, at the state cross country meet at National Trail Raceway in Hebron, Maplewood is trying for one more first-place finish as they step on the course at 11:05 a.m. today in the Division III state final.
If the Rockets get this one more win, it will be the team's sixth state championship in school history - a history that began in 1972 when former coach Ted Rupe led the Rockets to state championship glory in Class A.
Then, Maplewood came back 25 years later with another state title, this one in Division III.
It would be the first of four titles in Division III and the start of Trumbull County dominance in the sport.
The Rockets won state again in 2002, 2003 and 2005.
In 1999, McDonald captured its first Division III state title. The Blue Devils ended a drought, not so long as Maplewood's, but ending nonetheless. McDonald won its first titles in 1982 and 1983 under then coach Barry Clute in Class A.
The Blue Devils would go on to win state in 2001, 2004 and 2011.
Girard's boys had wins in 1998 and 2000. The Indians won Division II in 1998 and Division III in 2000.
During that time span, Trumbull County was the mecca of cross country.
In some ways, it still is with Maplewood and McDonald as the top two ranked teams in Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches poll.
However, polls are meaningless when it comes to state meets, but they're a darn good predictor of what's to come.
Maplewood's pack has been phenomenal, especially leading into the postseason - posting back-to-back perfect scores of 15 heading into districts.
The Rockets have eased their way to district and regional titles and set themselves up for the team's sixth state title in school history.
Maplewood's pack has tightened as the weeks have gone along. Runners one through five have been as tight as can be expected as the competition heightens.
Then there's McDonald, the defending Division III state champion. The Blue Devils haven't really shown their hand all seasons, albeit from setbacks on and off the course, but nonetheless seem like they might make a run at Maplewood.
There might not be enough to catch the Rockets, but enough to stand next to them as runners-up on the podium. Frankly, that would end a great year for McDonald.
Lead runners Patrick Kunkel and Bobby Johnson have produced all year. Can the team's three through five runners to draw closer and run personal bests?
Then, there are the two other teams in this equation - Seneca East and Garaway. Both teams have hovered around the top five all season.
Seneca East knows all about top-notch runners. In fact, one of its grads is Briana Shook. The 1999 graduate was the 3,000-meter steeplechase record holder from 2004-07.
As for the boys team, the Tigers has a string of second-place finishes in Division III from 1994-97.
Garaway hasn't cracked the top two in school history.
Both teams are in search of their first state title.
However, McDonald and Maplewood might have something to say about that.