For the first time in program history, the Taft Senators are regional champs!Taft defeated Alter 26-12 Friday night at Monroe High School to take home some well-earned hardware and nab their spot in the state semifinals."It was huge," Taft coach Tyler Williams said. "It was a beautiful moment."Williams, in his fourth season as the Taft head coach, was emotional speaking with the team after the game. "It was a very special moment for us," Williams said. The Taft players and families gathered on the field after the game to soak in the moment."For our program and community it meant a lot," he said.Taft (12-2) advances to play Gnadenhutten Indian Valley (14-0) in a Division IV state semifinal Nov. 29 at a location to be announced Sunday.On Friday night, the Senators became the first Cincinnati Public Schools football team to win a regional championship since 1992."Under the exceptional leadership of Coach Tyler Williams, the Senators have navigated challenges this season, showcasing resilience and determination," CPS Athletics Manager Josh Hardin said. "He has taken this program to new heights and we look forward to rallying behind him and these great student athletes as they continue to write history for Taft and CPS representing the great city of Cincinnati! The success of these student-athletes not only honors the legacy of past teams, but also inspires future generations within our community."This was Taft's first regional final since 2021, when first took over as head coach.Its been really good leadership, Williams said after earning his 41st win in the regional semifinals. Weve been doing a good job of taking it one game at a time.The regional final was a rematch of the Senators' Week 3 showdown with the Knights, which they won 36-7. Taft dominated on both sides of the football Friday night. Several players played well including junior Nijia Hill, sophomore quarterback Monsanna Torbert and senior running back Aaron Dowdell Jr. Taft persevered through adversity this season and executed the game plan Friday night. Taft won the first Cincinnati Public Schools football regional championship since 1992, according to CPS athletics. Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education (CAPE) won the last of its three state championships in 1992 (Division IV). CAPE also won state titles in 1986 (Division III) and 1985 (Division IV). "It's a great thing to be able to make history," Williams said. SIGN UP: Subscribe to our high school sports newsletter