CANTON, Ohio — Kyan Mason’s hopes quickly turned to expectations with one opportunity last year as a sophomore, when his coaches called on him to play receiver in a big early season showdown against Mentor.

“I didn’t even think they were going to call me,” said Mason, a 5-foot-8 and 150-pound athlete who rotated between offense, defense and special teams. “My heart dropped. I just kept my composure.”

Mason didn’t drop any passes either.

He broke past the secondary for a big reception that sent the Eagles on their way to a blowout win. His contributions continued as a kick returner and safety, where he started throughout the playoffs during last year’s run to an OHSAA Division I state football championship.

To start this year, he played a little bit of both before settling back into offense. It’s his preferred position, and his quarterback likes it, too. Mason is the X-factor to the title defense for St. Edward (14-1) that continues Friday night against Springfield (13-1) in the Division I state title game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

“Last year, I think he was such a great athlete we were just trying to figure out where he would fit in best,” junior quarterback Casey Bullock said, “especially with the seniors we had last year. This year, he’s just been such an explosive player for our offense that whenever we need a big play we know we can call his name, and he can do it.”

Throughout the playoffs, Bullock has found Mason on big plays. They hooked up Friday night in Mansfield on a 42-yard touchdown pass that put the Eagles up on the scoreboard with their first possession of a 31-7 win vs. Gahanna Lincoln.

“I just trusted my quarterback, and I knew the DB couldn’t guard me,” Mason said. “I knew Casey was going to put it right there.”

Two weeks ago, Mason compiled 106 yards on seven receptions in a 27-0 win against Mentor during the regional finals.

“He’s such an explosive player,” coach Tom Lombardo said that night. “The stats are misleading when you’ve gone against the schedule we’ve gone against. You start seeing now the type of players these guys are in games like this.”

Mason, who has scholarship offers from Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Kent State and Miami (Ohio), has 646 yards and six TDs on 43 receptions this season. He’s rushed for six more scores and ran back on TD on a kickoff.

Defensively, the Eagles have not used him as much as last year’s playoff run. He played extensively early in the season opener and against three-time defending Colorado state champion Cherry Creek.

St. Edward’s depth in the secondary has allowed Mason to remain at his preferred spot, while sophomore Bradley Eaton emerged as a starting safety.

Lombardo hasn’t ruled out using his diverse talent again on defense, if the situation calls for it.

“You never know,” the coach said. “We know we have him in our back pocket. We haven’t needed him.”

St. Edward (14-1) vs. Springfield (13-1)

What: OHSAA Division I state championship.

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.

About the Eagles: The defending state champions kept their sixth opponent in the seven weeks to one score or fewer, returning to Canton with a defense more unforgiving than the last one that reached Canton to face Springfield. Northwestern recruit Michael Kilbane (16.5 sacks) leads the Eagles up front with fellow pass rusher and Coastal Carolina recruit Wyatt Gedeon (16 sacks). They combined for 28.5 sacks last year during a run to the state title, which culminated with a 23-13 win against Springfield. What’s different is the personnel on offense. Junior right tackle Ben Roebuck holds scholarship offers from Penn State, Michigan State and several more Power Five schools and is a returning starter with center Ricky Wolverton, but two Power Five prospects have emerged at left tackle and left guard in Devontae and Deontae Armstrong. Junior quarterback Casey Bullock (1,770 yards passing with 18 TDs to six interceptions, 932 yards rushing and seven TDs) has command of the offense behind that big offensive line with senior running back Marvin Bell Jr. (1,707 yards, 25 TDs) bringing a blend of power and speed. The Eagles have won 10 straight since their only defeat, a mistake-plagued 31-28 loss at Massillon Washington in which they fumbled away the football in the final minute and gave up a three-point lead after missing four field goals. The only blemish on their record comes amid a regular season bookended by wins against the Division II state finalists with triumphs in between against three-time defending Colorado state champion Cherry Creek, Cincinnati Elder, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller for the No. 1 ranking in the Associated Press state poll and, of course, rival St. Ignatius. The only team to score more than once against them in the last seven weeks is Archbishop Hoban, which plays Thursday night for the Division II state title against Toledo Central Catholic, but suffered a 41-20 loss to the Eagles in Week 10. St. Edward played the Fighting Irish, too, opening with a 23-20 win in Lakewood. St. Edward seeks its fourth state crown since Lombardo took over as coach in 2015 and its sixth in program history.

About the Wildcats: There’s a new quarterback at the helm of Springfield since the last time the Wildcats met St. Edward last December in Canton. Bryce Schondelmyer (4,168 yards, 43 TDs to 10 interceptions entering last week) transferred in after earning All-Ohio Offensive Player of the Year honors last season at Arcanum. “He does a great job with his decision making,” Springfield coach Maurice Douglass said. “He’s seen just about every defense that’s out there. His toughest games have come in practices because coach (Conley) Smoot is coming after him. It’s slowed down on Fridays and things have come easier.” Coincidentally, Schondelmyer replaced Smoot’s son — Te’Sean Smoot — who is now at Jacksonville State. His top targets are familiar, including seniors Anthony Brown (Kentucky commit, 1,439 yards, 18 TDs on 70 receptions) and Daylen Bradley (1,230 yards, 12 TDs on 84 receptions). Junior Jayvian Norman is both their leading rusher and tackler. They topped Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller, 28-24, in another thrilling state semifinal that followed last year’s one-point win for the Wildcats. This time, Schondelmyer found Brown and Shawn Thigpen for all four Springfield scores (two each), while overcoming junior Jordan Marshall’s 168-yard night for Moeller. Down 24-21, Brown scored on a 48-yard pass from Schondelmyer with 4:13 left for what became the deciding score. Last year’s title game marked Springfield’s first state championship appearance after falling in the 2020 and ‘19 state semifinals. Douglass said he is taking a different approach this year, as the team will travel to Canton on Thursday and not the day of the game.

How to watch: Spectrum News 1 will televise the finals. They also can be streamed from the OHSAA (click here) for a $9.99 fee.

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com).