Saturday was a day for history as the largest crowd to gather for an Ohio high school football state tournament game — 47,743 — packed Paul Brown Stadium. Their reward: sunshine, blue skies and a doubleheader for the ages.

        Controversy this week over where to play the games, then whether to let the schools' marching bands perform at halftime, could not stop the record crowd from cheering on four of Cincinnati's prep football powerhouses: the Colerain Cardinals, St. Xavier Bombers, Elder Panthers and Princeton Vikings.

        “This is huge. Three top nationally ranked teams all playing on the same day,” said St. Xavier fan Joey Edgington, 30, of Blue Ash.

        “Cincinnati will never see anything like this again. Oops, maybe I shouldn't say that. I hope we do.”

        In the opening game, St. Xavier, No. 2 in the state, defeated Princeton, 6-0. In the second game, Elder, ranked third in the state, beat Colerain, the No. 1 Ohio team, 35-21.

        Win or lose, most fans agreed Saturday was perfect for pigskin and preps at Paul Brown Stadium.

        Said Dave Siereveld, 48, of Colerain Township: “I'm more excited about this than any Bengals game.”

        “Who needs pro sports? This is bigger than the Cincinnati Stuff and hockey,” said Joe Spampinato, 40, also of Colerain Township.

        “The pros can learn a lot from this. These kids are out here playing for the heart of the game, not for the

        bucks. And as you can see, more than 40,000 people are willing to pay their money for that.”

        The previous state tournament attendance record was 31,409 in 1982, a championship doubleheader at Ohio Stadium in Columbus.

        As late as Friday, the Bengals had tried to prevent the bands from marching on the turf at halftime for fear of the damage they could cause.

        Hamilton County commissioners voted Friday evening to order the stadium management company owned by the Bengals to allow the bands on the fields.

        Commissioner Todd Portune even threatened to have sheriff's deputies escort the bands on and off the field if the Bengals would not comply.

        “Those guys call the shots. We're just here to be a part of the game,” said John Bardenhagen, a 17-year-old saxophonist in Princeton's band.

        Before the 1 p.m. kickoff, Princeton band director Dave Maroon was making final checks.

        “We're just here to cheer and root on our Princeton Vikings to victory,” he said. “Whether it's in the stands or on the field, we are going to rock 'n' roll.”

        Princeton's was the first marching band to take the field at halftime. The band was greeted with a standing ovation.

        “If you ask me, (the controversy) was all very stupid to begin with,” said Sharon Fischer, a St. Xavier fan from Northern Kentucky.

        “If the players could be out there with their cleats, then why not the bands, too.”

        Roger Webster, 46, of Colerain Township, has two sons who are members of Colerain's marching band. He said the whole controversy with the Bengals has left him with ill feelings toward the National Football League.

        “The kids in the band are as much a part of football as the players,” Mr. Webster said. “I pay taxes. I own part of this stadium.”

        Hundreds of fans braved Saturday's morning chill to buy tickets — $10 adults for both games, $5 children — to be a part of Cincinnati sports history.

        Others, who already bought tickets, arrived at the stadium as early as 9 a.m. to wait for the gates to open at 11 a.m.

        Joe Robben, 36, of Harrison, and Jerry Boland, 60, of Bridgetown, were first in line at Gate D. Both men, clad in purple Elder sweat shirts and baseball caps, praised the decision to move the game from Welcome Stadium in Dayton to the riverfront.

        While most fans left no doubt about who they were cheering, some were divided in their loyalties.

        Joyce Vogt, 34, for example, teaches at St. Xavier. Her 16-year-old year daughter, Kathy, is a junior at Colerain.

        “This week I can root for them both,” she said.

        Mr. Webster faced a different predicament. He's an Elder graduate whose two sons attend Colerain.

        “Talk about being torn,” Mr. Webster said. “I'm rooting for Colerain but in the back of my mind I'm pulling for my alma mater.”

        For some, Saturday's games weren't about cheering for a particular team at all.

        “I'm for anybody that wins,” said Guy McAffry, 54, of downtown. I just want to see a good football game.”

        “I just love high school football,” said Dave Taylor, 48, of Forest Park. “How often do you get to see three of the top teams in the nation play on the same day for one price?”

        The doubleheader gave fans like Nikki Salinas, 18, a Miami University freshman, their first peek at a state-of-the-art National Football League stadium.

        “It's a great opportunity for a great price,” she said.

        Ronald Hall, 30, a Princeton High graduate from Forest Park, brought his 6-year-old-son, Ronald Jr., a veteran of pee-wee football.

        “He might be down here playing one day,” Mr. Hall said.

        Ken Bowan, 51, of White Oak, brought his three children — Ali, 10; C.J., 7, and Mary 4 — to the game to cheer on St. Xavier, then Colerain.

        “I think this is bigger than life, especially for the (players),” Mr. Bowan said.

Prep football stories and photos

Drop in gas prices should hold for holidays
Driving drunk, again and again
Laws get tougher on drunken drivers
Record crowd enjoys prep games, bands
Shaken-baby trial verdict solves little
First race conversations this week
CAN Cincinnati?
New memorials pay tribute to veterans
Veterans Day closings
Events honoring veterans
PULFER: Separating the wheat from the stuff
BRONSON: Stop whining
Byrd lawyer's removal good, experts say
Congrats
Good News: Pastor pushes organ giving
Local Digest
Luken says Republicans helped him
Norwood gives project the go-ahead
Raking way to give back, help others
Adult escorts required at Levee
CROWLEY: Fund-raisers highlight of a quiet year
Kentucky Education Notes
Cities donate toward annexation law repeal
Loaded guns found in car
Ohio fights matchbook ads
Ohio River back open after spill
Plan for wetlands angers critics
Spirits high as Britney appears
Teacher may sue in hemp dispute
Two accused of using fake licenses in thefts
Wilkinson bankruptcy will stay in Ch. 11