COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After a 2020 season that was shortened, confusing, and in some ways disappointing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the upcoming 2021 season hopes to return high school teams and fans to normalcy this August.

Central Ohio is filled with countless teams with different levels of hopes and dreams come the regular season.

Some teams may search for all-time glory in a state championship, some are searching for their place in Ohio high school football, and others are more concerned with how the sport brings communities together every Friday night.

Whatever the goal is, high school football is back and the staff at 270 Gridiron is looking forward to all the coverage we will provide for our fans this year.

This series of preseason guides are the first of many articles we plan to write this year.

The guide features all of the teams 270 Gridiron covers in the Central Ohio area, and features information garnered from research, coach interviews, and social media.

Without further adieu, I present this year’s 270 Gridiron Regular Season preview for the Ohio Capital Conference.

Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye

Pickerington Central (D-I)

2020 Record: 11-1 (5-0)
Offense: 37.0 PPG (5th in area)
Defense: 10.8 PPG Allowed (4th in area)
Key Players: Sonny Styles, SS; C.J. Doggette, DT; Kwabena Asamoah, T; Kobi Gorman, DT; Roman Pearson, CB; Khalil Walker, T; Kyle Imboden, T; Dakari Frazier, DE; Dylan Bryan, RB
Game to Watch: Week 1 @ Massillon-Washington

Pickerington Central continued to be the top team in central Ohio during the 2020 season as they once again made it all the way to the state championship before falling to St. Xavier from Cincinnati.

Ranking higher than fifth in the area in both offense and defense, the Tigers had an impressive score differential of 26.2 points per game meaning they were likely to defeat their opponent by at least 26 last year.

Pickerington Central is yet again prepared to make a deep run into the playoffs as Jay Sharret and his coaching staff return.

High School Football America ranks the Tigers No. 59 in the country.

Pickerington Central will need this season to yet again show that the preseason talk is not just fleeting hype, so a Week 1 win would do just that.

On August 20 the Tigers will travel to Massillon to face Washington.

Like Pickerington Central Washington made it all the way to the state championship for Division II but were taken down by Archbishop Hoban.

This game will certainly be interesting to watch as some of the best players from both Divisions I and II will be on display to kick off the season.

Groveport-Madison (D-I)

2020 Record: 5-3 (4-1)
Offense: 22.5 PPG (55th in area)
Defense: 20.6 PPG Allowed (44th in area)
Key Players: Delaney Wilburn, FS; Jordan Ramella, OL/DL; Tahj'wan Moss, DE; JaiLon Ricks, WR/CB; Jayden Sawyer, RB; Mike Robinson, RB/LB; Cameron Spencer, OL/DL; Jace Nincehelser, RB/DB; Keyon Shaver, FB; Martez Davis, FB/LB
Game to Watch: Week 1 @ Canal Winchester

The Cruisers of Groveport-Madison had a somewhat successful 2020 season finishing with the second spot in their conference only behind the dominant 11-1 Pickerington Central.

Coach Mitchell Westcamp said that the pandemic greatly affected his team last year, so he is glad to get back to normal this season.

“With all the restrictions last year, it didn't feel like real football to our players and staff,'' Westcamp said. “This year we feel like things are going back to normal in regards to football with practice.”

Westcamp said his offense will run the Wing T and has been going over this offense with his players in-depth as many of them are new to the varsity team.

The Cruisers’ Week 1 game at Canal Winchester will be crucial as the Cruiser lost in this matchup last year by just three points, so a win here would show improvement.

Westcamp said that he has been impressed with the work his coaches and players have done in the offseason and is excited to see how his team plays Week 1.

“The staff has done an outstanding job this summer getting these guys prepared,” Westcamp said. “We can't wait to finally get out and play some football on August 20.”

Reynoldsburg (D-I)

2020 Record: 4-4 (2-3)
Offense: 35.0 PPG (9th in area)
Defense: 26.5 PPG Allowed (72nd in area)
Key Players: Dijon Jennings, QB; Markez Gillam, WR; Zion Jackson-Wilborn, RB; Keyshawn Slaughter, OL/DL; Jabari Mitchell, OLB/WR; Alex Crump-Witson, FS; Bryson Woodfork, DE
Game to Watch: Week 6 vs. Groveport-Madison

The Raiders enjoyed moderate success last year with an even record overall and an offense that ranked in the top 10 in points per game last season.

Coach Theodore White is optimistic about the season from what he has seen from his players during the offseason.

“I feel very good about this season,” White said. “The players have put the work in and they are very confident.”

An important test will be when the Raiders take on Groveport- Madison in Week 6.

Reynoldsburg lost 43-14 against the Cruisers last year, so it would show great improvement if they were able to pull off a win in this year’s matchup.

In the competitive OCC-Ohio, White said that his team will be prepared to take on anyone in the conference.

“We have a very strong schedule and the team is ready to take it on,” White said.

Central Crossing (D-I)

2020 Record: 2-8 (2-4)
Offense: 10.5 PPG (104th in area)
Defense: 21.3 PPG Allowed (47th in area)
Key Players: Jae'V'on Pass, RB; Luke White, OLB; Kolin Hendricks, MLB; Alec Boyd, RB; Josh Codjoe, WR
Game to Watch: Week 5 vs. Upper Arlington

Central Crossing had a difficult 2020 season playing teams like Pickerington Central and Westerville North ultimately ending with a 2-8 record overall.

Week 1 against Grove City as nearly a win yet Central Crossing ended up falling 7-6 in this close season opener.

The Comets of Central Crossing will look to improve their record this year by looking to the bright spots of this team including the defense which ranked 47th in the area in points allowed per game.

This will be on full display against Upper Arlington in Week 5 as they have a defense that was ranked 32nd in the area.

The clash of these defensive regimes will possibly prove to be a low-scoring yet competitive affair that will show much about each team’s skill and determination in that they were evenly ranked on both sides of the ball last year.

Lancaster (D-I)

2020 Record: 3-6 (2-5)
Offense: 20.9 PPG (60th in area)
Defense: 25.7 PPG Allowed (64th in area)
Key Players: Ajay Locke, MLB; Eli Rathburn, FS; Nasir Robinson, RB; Xavier Conrad, DE; Riley Poston, QB
Game to Watch: Week 8 @ Reynoldsburg

The Lancaster Golden Gales enjoyed moderate success last year with some key wins against Reynoldsburg and Newark, but ultimately ended up with a 3-6 record.

That being said Lancaster played consistently on both offense and defense ranking above 65 in the area in both points per game and points per game allowed.

The Golden Gales will look to improve this year against a tough schedule that features the Division 1 runner-up Pickerington Central and OCC-Cardinal champion Marysville.

An intriguing game for Lancaster will be in Week 8 against their in-conference rival Reynoldsburg.

Last year the Golden Gales beat Reynoldsburg 41-40 in the regular season yet lost in the same matchup later in the postseason.

A win for Lancaster in this year’s matchup will finally settle which team rules this matchup all while the Golden Gales get a crucial late-season win with the playoffs looming.

Newark (D-I)

2020 Record: 0-9 (0-4)
Offense: 6.9 PPG (109th in area)
Defense: 34.7 PPG Allowed (101st in area)
Key Players: Caleb Hall, CB; Giovanni Aber, RB; Jonathan Marty, RB/OLB; Trey Robinson, DB
Game to Watch: Week 1 @ Zanesville

Newark’s Wildcats were unable to win a game last year while having an difficult schedule that included Pickerington Central, Hamilton Township, and Thomas Worthington.

Coming in the 2021 season Coach Bill Franks and his team will hope to win more this season although their schedule still features competitive opponents such as Reynoldsburg and Lancaster.

Newark’s Week 1 game at Zanesville will be interesting to watch as the Wildcats played this team last year but lost 28-6.

With 2021 being a new year on many fronts, it is possible that Newark can pull off this Week 1 win and make a statement to all central Ohio teams that they will not be winless this year.

Ohio Capital Conference-Capital

Westerville South (D-II)

2020 Record: 8-1 (4-0)
Offense: 41.4 PPG (1st in area)
Defense: 27.0 PPG Allowed (78th in area)
Key Players: Kaden Saunders, WR/DB; Tyler O'Reilly, OL/DL; Brandon Armstrong, RB/DB; Javi'er Wills, WR/DB; Nadir Carpenter, OL/DL; Jack Bates, LB; Finn Jones - OL/DL; Thomas Zerman, LB; Jalen Wheeler, WR/DB; Ethan Hanna, LB/RB; Craig Horton, OL/DL
Game to Watch: Week 2 @ Westerville Central

The Wildcats of Westerville South had great success last year going undefeated in the regular season and ending with the highest scoring offense in the area.

Coach Matthew Christ said that his team will be running a 3-4 on defense but wants to change things up from time to time while stressing speed as the team’s first defensive strength.

On offense Christ said that his player will be balanced in running and passing but may have one take precedence depending on how well each would work against every specific team.

An important game for Westerville South will be in Week 2 against Westerville Central as the Wildcats get a chance to play a competitive opponent while also showing that they can win both outside their conference and even their division.

Christ said his team is excited to get the season started and enjoys the confidence that his staff and players have shown in the offseason.

“We feel great!” Christ said. “We love how much we have installed and how confident our guys are with what we are doing.”

Westerville North (D-I)

2020 Record: 6-4 (4-1)
Offense: 15.9 PPG (81st in area)
Defense: 14.6 PPG Allowed (20th in area)
Key Players: Wyatt Buxton, QB; Nathan Dunfee, C; James McCreery, WR; Edwin White, DB; Donovan Varney, WR/DB
Game to Watch: Week 2 @ New Albany

Westerville North’s Warriors had an impressive 4-1 conference schedule last year and fielded a top-20 defensive team in the process.

Coach Bryan Johnson said that he has stressed efficiency on offense while having his team focus on attacking the ball on defense to create turnovers.

“On offense we would like to be efficient in our operations and make plays when they present themselves,” Johnson said. “On defense we want to swarm to the ball and make some noise by creating turnovers.”

The Warriors’ most important game early in the season will be a matchup against New Albany as the Eagles handily defeated Westerville North 34-3 in the playoffs last season.

This would be a chance for Johnson and his team to show how much they have grown in the offseason while also showing that they are competitive enough to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Johnson said he is looking forward to Week 1 and has been impressed with how large the football program at Westerville North has become.

“We are excited over here at North, the numbers in the program are growing,” Johnson said. “We are looking forward to the growth of our team to take the next step as a program.”

Dublin Scioto (D-II)

2020 Record: 7-2 (3-1)
Offense: 27.8 PPG (35th in area)
Defense: 16.9 PPG Allowed (28th in area)
Key Players: Amare Jenkins, QB; Tysen Boze, WR; Lesley Andoh, WR; Jackson Waldrum, MLB; Jeremiah Watkins, WR; Maxwell Martin-Lee, T; Dayo Olobatuyi, RB
Game to Watch: Week 3 vs. Olentangy Berlin

The Irish of Dublin Scioto put on an impressive 2020 season going 7-2 behind an offense that scored about 28 points per game and a defense that only allowed about 17 points per game.

The Irish nearly won the conference but were thwarted by Westerville South who defeated Dublin Scioto when the teams faced off in Week 1 last year.

Even so the Irish managed to make it to the third round of the playoffs before losing to Massilon-Perry.

This year Dublin Scioto will hope to make it even further in the playoffs while also playing better against in-conference teams.

The Irish’s Week 3 game against Olentangy Berlin will be intriguing as this could very well be a playoff matchup as both these teams are in the same division and were just shy of winning their respective conferences.

Canal Winchester (D-II)

2020 Record: 5-5 (1-1)
Offense: 28.8 PPG (27th in area)
Defense: 23.7 PPG Allowed (58th in area)
Key Players: Stephan Byrd, RB; Reece Music, QB; Myles McKee, RB; Mason Fry, OL; Ryan Steinbrink, OL; Ishmael Moss, WR/DB; Ty'on Minnis, DB/WR; Alex Sourhina, LB; Austin Sickles, FS/WR; Thomas Smith, DB
Game to Watch: Week 8 vs. Westerville South

Coach Jake Kuhner and the Indians will try to improve on their even record last year during the upcoming season.

Kuhner said that his coaching staff has changed many aspects of its offense to simplify to make it simpler and help players fit better in their positions.

The Indians’ defense will also be hard-nosed and aggressive to combat the offensive powerhouses of the OCC-Capital such as Westerville South and Big Walnut.

This defensive strategy will especially be tested against Westerville South in Week 8 as the Wildcats had the best offense in the area last year averaging 41.4 points per game.

With the regular season coming up, Kuhner said that he is confident that his team will work hard with everything they have in every game.

“We have the skill and speed to match up with anyone,” Kuhner said. “I'm excited to see our guys play someone else.”

Big Walnut (D-II)

2020 Record: 6-5 (2-3)
Offense: 30.0 PPG (19th in area)
Defense: 12.9 PPG Allowed (13th in area)
Key Players: Nicky Pentello, QB; Garrett Stover, FS; Nathan Severs, RB; Lucas Tindall, OLB; Zac Griffith WR/DB/RB
Game to Watch: Week 5 vs. Westerville South

Big Walnut’s Golden Eagles played well in 2020 ending up with a winning record overall all while producing a defense and offense that ranked higher than 20 in the area in points per game and points per game allowed.

Three losses against in-conference opponents like Dublin Scioto and the conference’s winner Westerville South brought Big Walnut down in the standings although their offense and defense played better statistically that some of these teams.

The Golden Eagles’ score differential of 17.1 points per game last season was one of the best in the area and the team will look to replicate that success on both sides of the ball this year.

One way to show offseason growth for Big Walnut would be a Week 5 win against Westerville South who averaged an area-best 41.4 points per game last season.

Big Walnut allowed an average of just 12.9 points per game last year so it will be very telling if they could replicate that skill in a game versus a premier offense that also defeated them last year.

Worthington Kilbourne (D-II)

2020 Record: 6-4 (2-2)
Offense: 25.1 PPG (46th in area)
Defense: 22.1 PPG Allowed (51st in area)
Key Players: Nash Biglin, QB; JJ Callip, RB; Marcus Gipson, TE/LB; Ashton Selph, TE/DL; Bryce Taylor, TE/DL; Jason Miller, OL/DL; Nana Amponsah, OL/DL; Reed Williamson, OL/DL; Joey Cottrill, WR/DB Lachlan Korn, WR/DB
Game to Watch: Week 9 @ Westerville North

Worthington Kilbourne’s Wolves ended last season with a winning record which is impressive considering they play in one of the more difficult Ohio conferences.

Coach Michael Edwards said that the offseason has been important in honing in on his players’ fundamental skills.

Edwards said that both the offensive and defensive lines will be the focus of the team as they contain all returning players while most other positions feature players who did not start last year.

One game that will test the Wolves’ offense and defense will be Week 9 against Westerville North.

Westerville North beat Worthington Kilbourne by just one point last year, so for the Wolves to overcome this in-conference rival would be crucial not only for their pride but also for the OCC-Capital standings.

Edwards said that his program is based on pure fundamental techniques and that with those, he is very intrigued as to what his team can accomplish.

“Fundamentally sound football is at the forefront of our program,” Edwards said. “As long as we continue to improve on blocking, tackling, and pursuing at the level we have, we are excited to see what our guys can do this year.”

Delaware-Hayes (D-I)

2020 Record: 2-8 (0-4)
Offense: 13.7 PPG (95th in area)
Defense: 26.3 PPG Allowed (68th in area)
Key Players: Elijah Burton, RB; Connor Dutton, NG; Sean Couch, QB; Sawyer Sand, OLB; Austin Koslow, WR; Aidan Pili, RB
Game to Watch: Week 4 vs. Big Walnut

Delaware-Hayes started off slow last year losing their first six games.

The Pacers ended the season strong though with a 2-2 record in the final four games and had a somewhat effective defense that only allowed 26.3 points per game which was better than the OCC-Ohio champion Westerville South.

Hayes would like to improve upon this defensive potential from last year if they want to move up in their conference standings.

A Week 4 win against Big Walnut would show just this as Big Walnut averaged 30 points per game last season.

Preventing Big Walnut from scoring will be crucial for the Pacers in this game and would show just how far the team has come since last year.

Franklin Heights (D-II)

2020 Record: 1-7 (0-5)
Offense: 14.8 PPG (88th in area)
Defense: 37.3 PPG Allowed (105th in area)
Key Players: Drew Chapman, NG; Noah Adkins, T; Dylan Legge, QB; Ta'Yon Ervin, WR; Beshoy Beshay, RB; Tyler Leitz, QB
Game to Watch: Week 3 vs. Briggs

The Falcons had a disappointing 2020 season, but will hope to put that behind them as they come into 2021 with a 0-0 record like everyone else.

Scoring an average of about 15 points per game last year, Franklin Heights was able to at least score against some of the best defenses in the area like Worthington Kilbourne who the Falcons dropped 26 points on.

Franklin Heights will hope to score even more this year as they face defensive powerhouses like Big Walnut who only allowed about 13 points per game last year.

The Falcons can show off this offense in Week 3 against neighborhood rival Briggs.

Briggs did not have an offense on par with Big Walnut, yet they still only allowed 25 points per game, so it will be interesting to see if the Falcons can overcome this non-conference opponent offensively.

Ohio Capital Conference-Cardinal

Marysville (D-I)

2020 Record: 6-2 (3-1)
Offense: 29.9 PPG (21st in area)
Defense: 14.0 PPG Allowed (17th in area)
Key Players: Gabe Powers, OLB; Gavin Rohrs, T;Tanner Powers, CB; Braden Deere, FS; Griffin Johnson, RB
Game to Watch: Week 2 @ Pickerington North

Marysville won the OCC-Cardinal last year by just one game over the Olentangy Braves.

The Monarchs’ win against the Braves came in the midst of a five-game winning streak that Marysville went on to end the regular season.

Marysville was then defeated in the second round of the playoffs by just one touchdown by Northmont.

This season Marysville will work to retain its conference title while also trying to show that they can stand next to their Division I OCC counterparts like Pickerington Central and Westerville South.

The fortunate part for the. Monarchs is that senior linebacker Gabe Powers will be the best player on the field in likely every game they play this season. That's not a bad problem to have.

The perfect chance for the Monarchs to show this comes in their Week 2 game against Pickerington North.

Pickerington North won the OCC-Ohio in 2020, so this matchup should prove to be intriguing and would be a statement for Marysville if they prevail.

Olentangy (D-II)

2020 Record: 5-3 (3-2)
Offense: 30.0 PPG (20th in area)
Defense: 16.0 PPG Allowed (25th in area)
Key Players: Tommy Kipfer, TE; Ethan Grunkemeyer, QB; Michael Parsio, RB; Angelo McCullom, DE; Dubby Agudosi, WR
Game to Watch: Week 10 vs. Marysville

Olentangy fell one game short of the OCC-Cardinal title last year as they fell in Week 5 to Marysville.

Yet the Braves showed great skill in both offense and defense ranking in the top-25 in both points per game and points per game allowed.

This season Olentangy will look to keep this balanced approach going and ensure that their offense and defense keep producing for them.

It should come as no surprise that the Braves’ most crucial game this season comes against their in-conference rival Marysville in Week 10.

With a win in this game, Olentangy may hop over the Monarchs toward an OCC-Cardinal title and even better standing among Division II teams in Ohio.

Olentangy Berlin (D-II)

2020 Record: 5-4 (3-2)
Offense: 32.4 PPG (13th in area)
Defense: 33.3 PPG Allowed (99th in area)
Key Players: Jon Harder, RT; Bennett Lawrence, WR/DB; Austin Burchinal, DT
Game to Watch: Week 4 @ Olentangy Liberty

Olentangy Berlin’s Bears enjoyed mild success last year winning a game above even and making it to the fourth round of the playoffs.

Coach Mark Nori said that the loss of three key seniors has led to new players needing to fill important roles.

“We have some upcoming juniors and seniors competing for those spots,” Nori said. “We are working to prepare them for football Friday nights.”

The Bears will be tested by their in-city rival Olentangy Liberty in a game where Berlin could avenge last year’s 14 point loss to the Patriots while also defeating a competitive non-conference team.

Nori said that he is happy with how his team has practiced thus far although he does not know how they will perform until games actually begin.

“We have a good group of young men who come to work every day and put the time in and work hard,” Nori said. “Time will tell how it will all come together.”

Hilliard Darby (D-I)

2020 Record: 4-4 (3-2)
Offense: 23.9 PPG (49th in area)
Defense: 26.6 PPG Allowed (74th in area)
Key Players: Blake Horvath, QB; Nate Burdick & Beau Bridges, RB; Matt Sech & Jake Baird, WR; Hayden Gladden & Brady Smith, OL; Ben Marsh, LB; Caden Mills, DB; Jakob Williams, DL
Game to Watch: Week 4 @ Hilliard Davidson

The Panthers of Hilliard Darby ended with an even record last season losing in their final game to the Division 1 runner-up Pickerington Central.

Coach John Santagata said that his offseason focus for the team was simply to ensure that they were prepared for Week 1.

“We want to avoid the mistakes that most teams make in Week 1,” Santagata said.  “This requires a lot of practice regarding the basics.”

The team will run a 50 Shade defensive scheme while letting quarterback Blake Horvath lead the team on offense with the triple option.

Santagata said he hopes that his team will avoid injury as they work hard in practice while also commented on how the veterans need to lead his roster.

“I think that our kids are working hard, just need to stay healthy for a 10 game season,” Santagata said. “We also need our seniors to continue to take ownership of this team.”

One crucial game for Hilliard Darby will be Week 4 against Hilliard Davidson as the Panthers lost this game by four points last year and will look for revenge on their in-city rival.

Dublin Jerome (D-I)

2020 Record: 2-5 (2-2)
Offense: 24.1 PPG (48th in area)
Defense: 30.0 PPG Allowed (91st in area)
Key Players: David Adolph, WR; Preston Everhart, RB; Kyler LaRosa OL/DL; Derek Hole, OL/LB; Brady Sestili, DB
Game to Watch: Week 7 vs. Marysville

The Celtics of Dublin Jerome had an average 2020 season with an even record within their conference yet were ultimately defeated in the first round of the playoffs by Marysville.

Coach Brett Glass is in his first year at Dublin Jerome and has been dedicated to introducing his new schemes to the existing players.

“We have been extremely focused on teaching a new system to the players,” Glass said.  

Glass said that his offense will be using various spread sets that will mainly be new to players returning from last year.

Glass’s strategies will be tested in the Celtics’ Week 7 game against Marysville as the Monarchs not only in the playoffs last year but also earlier in the season.

A Celtics win in this game would give them a crucial confidence booster that close to the postseason.

Glass said he is looking forward to how his team will perform after the effort they put in during the offseason.

“I'm feeling excited to see our guys get out there and compete after working extremely hard this off season,” Glass said.

Thomas Worthington (D-I)

2020 Record: 2-7 (0-5)
Offense: 12.7 PPG (99th in area)
Defense: 27.6 PPG Allowed (81st in area)
Key Players: Caleb Ortega, QB; Anthony Brewu, RB; Camden Beatty, WR/CB/P Joey Zalewski, WR; Matthew Parks, DT; Trevor Caruso, OLB; Bernard Oteng Jr., RB/OLB/DE Tyler Kemp, OLB/SS
Game to Watch: Week 2 @ Grove City

The Cardinals struggled to gain their footing last year leading to a losing record including a winless conference schedule.

Coach Michael Picetti said that last year was a difficult year as the pandemic prevented the team from properly forming, yet this summer has been important in fixing this.

“Last year with Covid we lost a lot of time to try and install our program,” Picetti said. “This offseason has been huge.”

Thomas Worthington’s defense will stay the same but simpler while the offense switches its style as a new offensive coordinator steps into the position.

Picetti said that he is proud of the way that his team has worked during the offseason both physically and with its mentality.

“The kids did a great job in the weight room,” Picetti said. “We are doing a great job changing the culture to what we want.”

One game that will show just how much the team has worked will be Week 2 at Grove City.

The Greyhounds were a team Thomas Worthington beat last year but they also failed to win a single road game, so it will be important to see if they can get over this hump early in the season. 

Ohio Capital Conference-Central

Dublin Coffman (D-I)

2020 Record: 8-1 (5-0)
Offense: 34.4 PPG (10th in area)
Defense: 13.1 PPG Allowed (14th in area)
Key Players: Mason Maggs, QB; Trey Hedderly, WR; Michael Anderson, RB; Will Smith, DE; Max Smith, DT; Mitchell Broskie, OLB
Game to Watch: Week 6 vs. Olentangy Liberty

Dublin Coffman’s Shamrocks produced a successful 2020 in which they went undefeated during the regular season.

The Shamrocks’ only loss came in their last game in the third round of the playoffs against their in-conference rival Olentangy Liberty.

Dublin Coffman had defeated Liberty earlier in the season, yet they were unable to defeat Olentangy LIberty in the postseason losing 18-15.

This year Dublin Coffman’s main goal will be to redeem themselves of this loss in the playoffs by defeating Olentangy Liberty in Week 6. However, the Rocks will be under new leadership for the first time in 21 years, as Geron Stokes replaced 20-year coach Mike Crabtree who led Coffman to unprecedented success.

A Shamrock win in the rubber match against Liberty might also secure Dublin Coffman the top spot in the conference in 2021. That would be one heck of an accomplishment for Stokes in his first season for a program that lost one of its greatest all time players in Bryon Threats to graduation. 

Olentangy Liberty (D-I)

2020 Record: 8-3 (4-1) 
Offense: 26.0 PPG (42nd in area)
Defense: 14.9 PPG Allowed (22nd in area)
Key Players: Carter Smith, T; Dylan Graber, NG; J.J. Sebert, QB; Caden Minniti, RB; Jack Kendall, OLB; Benjamin Huefner, G
Game to Watch: Week 3 vs. St. Xavier

Olentangy Liberty produced a successful 2020 season ending with a winning 8-3 record featuring a 4-1 record in the OCC-Central.

The Patriots went 4-2 in non-conference play mostly in the playoffs as they made it to the fourth round before falling to Springfield.

This year Olentangy Liberty will hope to bring that same energy and skill into games so that they can continue this success.

One game where the Patriots will especially be tested comes in Week 3 when they host St. Xavier.

St Xavier won the Division I state championship in 2020 making them the team to beat not only in their conference, but in all of Ohio.

The way Olentangy LIberty plays against this formidable opponent will show just how much progress they have made during the offseason.

Even if the Patriots do not pull off a win, it will still be intriguing to see how they match up against the state champion St. Xavier.

Olentangy Orange (D-I)

2020 Record: 4-3 (3-1)
Offense: 19.9 PPG (66th in area)
Defense: 21.7 PPG Allowed (49th in area)
Key Players: Connor Kemmerling, T; Junior Sarpong, CB; Jordan Rudolph, CB; Isaac Campbell, RB; Jake Werling, QB
Game to Watch: Week 8 @ Upper Arlington

Olentangy Orange ended the 2020 season with a winning record on their way to the fourth spot in the OCC-Cardinal.

The Pioneers then lost in the first round of the playoffs to Upper Arlington.

Much like the Dubliln Coffman losing to Olentangy Liberty, Olentangy Orange actually defeated Upper Arlington earlier in the season.

Yet the Pioneers were unable to beat the Golden Bears in the postseason losing 17-10.

In 2021 it will be crucial for Olentangy Orange to defeat Upper Arlington to show that last year’s playoff was just a fluke.

The game also comes toward the end of the season in Week 8, so it is possible that this would affect how the conference standings turn out.

Hilliard Bradley (D-I)

2020 Record: 4-6 (1-2)
Offense: 19.4 PPG (69th in area)
Defense: 22.9 PPG Allowed (56th in area)
Key Players: Bradyn Fleharty, QB; Tayshaun Mayfield, WR; Mitchell Robinson, MLB; Emmanuel Teah Jr, OLB; Jackson Lemle, DT; Preston Wolfe, WR
Game to Watch: Week 2 @ Hilliard Darby

Hilliard Bradley ended last regular season with a 1-5 record and a three-game losing streak going into the postseason.

The Jaguars did not give up though, winning two games in the playoffs before falling 34-7 to the state runner-up Pickerington Central.

While they struggled in the regular season, Hilliard Bradley showed skill in defeating non-conference opponents in the playoffs.

The Jaguars will receive a major boost in the form of senior receiver Tayshaun Mayfield, who is back after suffering a season-ending knee injury last season. Mayfield is a major difference maker, as there aren't many players in the area who can combine his blend of size, athleticism and strength.

It will be interesting to see if this success against non-conference opponents continues this year especially on the road against Hilliard Darby.

The fans will also be energetic in this game as the Jaguars hope to defeat their in-city rival in just the second week of the season.

Upper Arlington (D-I)

2020 Record: 3-5 (1-3)
Offense: 18.0 PPG (74th in area)
Defense: 17.6 PPG Allowed (32nd in area)
Key Players: Carson Gresock, RB; Carter Brock, LB; Jacob Pritchett, OL/DL; John Pritchett, OL/DL; Doak Buttermore, DB/RB; Luke Frederick, DB; Doug Ryan, OL/DL; Jack Purcell, DB/WR; Chris Mazzaferri, DB/WR; Sam Cannon, DB/WR
Game to Watch: Week 4 vs. Westerville Central

The Golden Bears of Upper Arlington started off struggling in 2020 with a 1-4 record but improved toward the end of the season winning two out of their last three games.

Coach Justin Buttermore said that his main goal in the offseason has been increasing the cohesiveness among players as this was difficult to do during the pandemic.

“Our biggest focus has been on developing great team chemistry,” Buttermore said. “Due to COVID we were not permitted in the locker room and just did not spend as much time together as a team normally does during a season.”

Upper Arlington also lost to Westerville Central twice last season including during the second round of the playoffs.

In the Golden Bears’ Week 4 matchup against the Warhawks, it will be crucial for Buttermore and his team to get their revenge by winning and raising the team’s morale.

While he is excited Buttermore said that his team is still preparing for the regular season.

“We are making progress but still have plenty of work to do in order to be ready for week 1,” Buttermore said.

Hilliard Davidson (D-I)

2020 Record: 2-7 (0-5)
Offense: 13.6 PPG (96th in area)
Defense: 30.6 PPG Allowed (92nd in area)
Key Players: Aiden Ighnat, K; David Stump, OLB; Leo Nixon, RB; Adrick Phillips, RB; Blake Pettit, QB; Jayden Phillips, RB
Game to Watch: Week 3 vs. Independence

Hilliard Davidson struggled to gain its footing in the 2020 season and ended up going on a six-game losing streak including losing in the first round of the playoffs.

Although the Wildcats were able to win their first game on the road against their in-city rival Hilliard Darby, the wins just did not come for Davidson.

This season the Wildcats would hope to improve this record especially by winning at home which was something they were unable to do in 2020.

One way to show progress on this front would be to defeat Independence when the teams match up in Week 3.

A win for Hilliard Davidson against Independence would show their potential against non-conference teams while ensuring that they can protect their home field. This program is not used to being down, so a strong start to the year would go a long way in helping Davidson compete in the toughest six-team division in the state.

Ohio Capital Conference-ohio

 

Pickerington North (D-I)

2020 Record: 6-2 (4-0)
Offense: 36.4 PPG (6th in area)
Defense: 22.4 PPG Allowed (53rd in area)
Key Players: Kaedyn Dunbar, SS; Eli Coppess, OLB; Landon O'Connell, QB; Malik Ray, MLB; Jon Lipscomb, SS; Cayden Christopher, WR; Blake Bennett, MLB; Carl Allen, ll, WR
Game to Watch: Week 9 vs. New Albany.

The Panthers of Pickerington North won the OCC-Ohio last year going undefeated in conference play and only losing one game in the regular season.

Pickerington North also ranked 6th in the area in points per game and showed this in games such as a midseason 56-21 win against New Albany.

The Panthers would see New Albany yet again in the first round of the playoffs and were shocked by being handily defeated 44-21.

It is for this reason that the two teams’ rematch in Week 9 of this season will be crucial to show that Pickerington North has what it takes to constantly defeat the opponents in its conference.

Another important game for the Panthers would be their Week 4 matchup against their in-city rival Pickerington Central, and a win for them here would get attention from the entire state and possibly even the country.

Westerville Central (D-I)

2020 Record: 8-2 (4-1)
Offense: 30.3 PPG (18th in area)
Defense: 13.6 PPG Allowed (16th in area)
Key Players: Michael Ross, RB; Matthew Nguyen, MLB; 
Sidney Thompson, WR; Jason Robertson, WR; CJ Thomas, SS; Mekhi Kilburn, CB
Game to Watch: Week 6 @ Pickerington North

Westerville Central formed a successful 8-2 record last season behind an offense that averaged 30 points per game and a defense that usually did not allow more than 14 points.

This skill on both sides of the ball propelled the Warhawks to second in the conference yet they were prevented from reaching the top spot due to a midseason loss to the OCC-Ohio champion Pickerington North.

This season Westerville Central will want to get over this second spot on their way to an OCC-Ohio title.

The only way they can do this is by defeating Pickerington North when the teams play during Week 6.

A Warhawk win in this game against the competitive, 6th-ranked offense of Pickerington North might just be all Westerville Central needs to win the conference.

Gahanna-Lincoln (D-I)

2020 Record: 4-4 (4-2)
Offense: 23.8 PPG (51st in area)
Defense: 26.6 PPG Allowed (73rd in area)
Key Players: Jaden Yates, MLB; Zach Nelson II, FS; Brendan Raymond, WR; Tyree Johnson, OLB; Eli Smith, DT
Game to Watch:  Week 1 @ Mason

Gahanna-Lincoln went 4-2 in conference play which is impressive considering the challenge they had with teams like New Albany and Grove City.

Gahanna-Lincoln’s offense actually did not average more points than its defense allowed, yet this statistic can be skewed by an outlying 48-14 loss to Reynoldsburg last season.

The Golden Lions were not able to win against their non-conference opponents, so their overall record ended at and even 4-4.

This season Gahanna Lincoln will look to win more non-conference games, and it would certainly make a statement to do so against Mason on the road in Week 1.

New Albany (D-I)

2020 Record: 5-4 (3-2)
Offense: 27.4 PPG (37th in area)
Defense: 25.9 PPG Allowed (65th in area)
Key Players: Brock Kidwell, FS/RB/QB; esse Gordon, DB/RB; Caden Britton, LS; Jadyn Garnes, RB/OLB; Chris Pepper, TE/DE; Griffin Pringle, NG/OT; Cade Leggio, OG/LB; Alex Chattos,  LB/OG; Tom Bohman, LB/DE/RB; Jameson Rossler, WR/DB; Chidi Mabatah, OLB/RB
Game to Watch: Week 1 vs. Watkins Memorial

New Albany’s Eagles ended the 2020 with a winning record overall including an impressive playoff win against the OCC-Ohio champion Pickerington North.

New Albany actually lost to Pickerington North earlier in 2020, yet when the teams met in the playoffs the Eagles prevailed 44-20.

The offense of New Albany certainly performed well last year scoring an average of 27.3 points per game which is good for 37th in the area.

Coach Matthew “Bubba” Kidwell said that his coaching staff has focused on making his players as quick as possible for in-game situations.

“Whatever we do we have to do it better and faster than everyone else,” Kidwell said.  “Running to the football on defense and playing through the whistle are things that we have constantly been communicating in our program.”

The Eagles’ Week 1 game against Watkins Memorial will be intriguing to watch as Watkins Memorial ranked 38th offensively in 2020 scoring an average of 27.3 points per game.

These two evenly-matched offenses will be on full display on August 20, and it will be interesting to see which school comes out on top.

Kidwell said that he is proud of his team’s culture and the tight-knit group of players he has this year.

“We have very good football players that are hard-nosed and love playing New Albany Football,” Kidwell said. “Our Junior and Senior classes are very close and love to play for each other.”

Grove City (D-I)

2020 Record: 3-8 (2-4)
Offense: 12.5 PPG (100th in area)
Defense: 26.9 PPG Allowed (76th in area)
Key Players: Trevor Mills, RB/DB; Christian Isaacs, RB/LB; Dennis Ritlinger-Nirider, WR/DB; Jake Nelson, OL; Isaac Carter, OL/DL; AJ Jones, OL/DL; Zach Combs, TE/DL
Game to Watch: Week 2 @ Hilliard Davidson

The Greyhounds of Grove City will look to make some improvements this year off of a somewhat disappointing 2020 season.

Coach Matthew Shaul said that his team has focused on the basics during the summer and how to effectively use those techniques in games.

“Our staff has been working hard to build fundamental skills at each position,” Shaul said. “Teaching our team how to utilize skills in game scenarios has been an emphasis this summer.”

An important game for the Greyhounds will be in Week 2 against Hilliard Davidson as the Wildcats defeated Grove City last year by 21 points.

A Grove City win in this game would show immense offseason improvement and exhibit the Greyhounds’ ability to rise up in their difficult conference’s standings.

In the end, Shaul said that his players are improving and is satisfied with how his team has grown in skill and comradery during the offseason.

“I'm happy to see our kids learning and getting better every day,” Shaul said. “I'm very pleased with how our kids are coming together and developing a strong identity.” 

Westland (D-I)

2020 Record: 0-6 (0-6)
Offense: 5.3 PPG (112th in area)
Defense: 49.8 PPG Allowed (112th in area)
Key Players: Zane Gibbs, SB; Jack Little, WR; Noah Reynolds, DE; Makiah Crawford, MLB; Darius Love Jr., DT
Game to Watch: Week 2 vs. Franklin Heights

Westland had a rough go of it in the 2020 season having to play difficult teams like Pickerington North and Westerville Central.

The Cougars just could not gain a foothold in the conference and thus ranked last in the OCC-Ohio.

But 2021 is a different year with a different mindset for Westland in that they do not have to play the high-ranked offenses of teams like Pickerington North.

The start of Westland’s season is filled with non-conference games that could prepare them for conference play.

An intriguing early-season game for Westland would be Week 2 against Franklin Heights.

This game will give the Cougars experience against a team that ranked much closer to them in both defense and offense, so Westland would have a good chance at a momentum-building victory.