OHSAA Announces Division Changes
The OHSAA has annouced their updated divisional and regional assignments for the 2024 football season.
We take a look at the changes occuring among our Central Ohio schools across all seven divisions.
The OHSAA places the 70 largest schools in Division I, while the remaining is split as evenly as possible into Divisions II through VII. Divisions are realigned through updated base enrollment every year, as well as compeptitve balance data. You can see the details of the OHSAA's competetive balance process here: https://www.ohsaa.org/School-Resources/Competitive-Balance-Resource-Center
Division I
Central Crossing is one of three OCC-Ohio schools who will be playing in a new playoff bracket for 2024. After just one season in Division II, the Comets will return to the Division I field. Joining them in Division I will be Watkins Memorial, who will play in Region 3, while Central Crossing returns to region 2, alongside crosstown rival Grove City.
Division II
Additional changes within OCC-Ohio schools are New Albany and Westerville Central, who will move to Division II this season. New Albany's move comes by way of enrollment numbers, while Westerville Central's move is due to compeptitve balance after a 2-9 season. It was their second 2-win season in the past three years. Westerville Central's move now puts two of the three Westerville City Schools in Region 7.
Whitehall-Yearling is the only Central Ohio school to move upward into Division II. With Teays Valley joining the OCC, Whitehall-Yearling becomes the only MSL school inside of Division II and Region 7.
Divison III
Three Columbus City League schools will head to Division III in 2024. Independence and West come in from Division II, while Eastmoor Academy moves up from Division IV. All three schools moves' are enrollment-based.
Other movements include Bishop Hartley, Licking Valley and Sheridan. Bishop Hartley is now in the same region (11) as Catholic League rival Bishop Watterson. Licking Valley and Sheridan are also in Region 11.
CBC schools Bellefonotaine and London remain in Division III, but will slide over to Region 12. The two schools met in the Region 11 playoffs last season.
Divison IV
Heath, Highland (Marengo), New Lexington, and River Valley move from Division V to Division IV and Region 15. Circleville and Ontario move to Division IV after being Division III schools. They will join River Valley as the newest Region 14 schools.
Division V
Johnstown and KIPP Columbus have been placed into Division V after previously being in Division IV, while Northridge and West Libery-Salem come in from Division VI.
Division VI
Centerburg and Madison-Plains move into Division IV after being in Division V, while Berne Union and Mechanicsburg move from Division VIII
Division VII
Newark Catholic is the only Central Ohio school to move into Division VII. The Green Wave were in Division VI last season.
COLUMBUS, Ohio --
Recent News
Seasons are on the line as we hit the final stretch
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The days of warm weather and opening kickoffs under the sun are just over as, but that only means the most exciting portion of the regular season is ahead.
Mid-October in Central Ohio might be one of the more dramatic periods we've seen in awhile. We take a look at league title races and of course, some of the best matchups heading into week 8.
Thursday Night Football
Africentric 28, Independence 0: Africentric defeats Independence for the first time in school history.
Columbus Academy 52, Worthington Christian 7: Columbus Academy jumps out to an early lead in a blowout win.
Whitehall-Yearling 40, Bexley 21: Whitehall-Yearling snaps 8-game losing streak dating back to the 2023 season.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Granville (7-0) at Licking Valley (6-1)
While technically games can't be deemed as 'conference title games' before week nine, Granville at Licking Valley in the LCL-Buckeye is as close as it gets at this point in the season. Both teams have dominated their opponents all season, and should win their final two games after this weekend.
Granville and Licking Valley have been the standard of the LCL for a few years now. The Aces have won 9 games or more in every full season since 2017, including 20 consecutive wins in the regular season. Licking Valley hasn't been far behind in that span. The Panthers had numerous double-digit wins in the late 2010s, winning a regional championship in 2019. After a couple of down years in 2021 and 2022, they responded with 8 wins in 2023, and will likely match that win total before the playoffs begin.
Granville is led by quarterback Beckett Long, who committed to Middlebury during the offseason. Long is one of the best passers in the area, and the ability to make plays as a runner can't go unnoticed either. Their offensive line, which features an All-State award winner in Jackson Pelzer has proven to be the best in the LCL, and has created some great opportunities for leading rusher Theo Talbott. Kyle Kirby, Cooper Phillips, and Cash Thomas are fast linebackers who can cover a lot of ground.
Licking Valley's young quarterback Brody Rodgers has a few key weapons in the offense that have helped him throughout this season. Quinn Hornfeck and Kamden Walker are a pair of tall and physical receivers who don't need much space to make catches. The top targets are featured with running back duo Donevin Ghiloni and Trenton Markus, who will once again finish with over 1,000 rushing yards and be an LCL selection. Licking Valley lost an early-season game to West Muskingum in overtime, but is unbeaten since, coming off of back-to-back road wins over Licking Heights and Zanesville.
On top of everything else, this game will leave a mark on the playoffs as both of these teams are in a battle for a home game in the Division III, Region 11 field. Granville is the 5th seed entering week 8, while Licking Valley is 9th. Drew Pasteur's Fantastic 50 projections have Granville finishing as a 4 seed with a 10-0 record.
What to watch for: Can Licking Valley's passing game attack hit Granville in their weak spots, or is Granville's advantages up front too much for Licking Valley to withstand?
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES
Big Walnut (6-1) at Westerville North (5-2)
Westerville North attempts to get back into OCC title contention, while Big Walnut pushes for their first title since 2021.
Bloom-Carroll (6-1) at Bishop Hartley (3-4)
Bishop Hartley fights for a playoff spot while also hoping to finally put an end to their three-game skid.
Eastmoor Academy (4-3) at Walnut Ridge (7-0)
One of the City League's best rivalries heats up as Eastmoor Academy looks to spoil Walnut Ridge's perfect season.
Groveport Madison (4-3) at Pickerington Central (5-2)
Groveport Madison will try to finally slow down Pickerington Central's offense; the Tigers have scored 42 points or more in all five of their wins this season.
Olentangy Berlin (5-2) at Dublin Jerome (3-4)
Olentangy Berlin and Dublin Jerome have a chance to build their resume with a win this week.
Pickerington North (6-1) at Grove City (6-1)
Grove City is one of the final road blocks in Pickerington North's path to an outright OCC title.
Upper Arlington (6-1) at Olentangy Orange (6-1)
Number 2 versus number 3 in Division I, Region 3 will be big factor in determining who wins a share of the OCC-Central division.
Westland (6-1) at Westerville South (3-4)
Westland picked up a signature win at home last week, but another test looms against a Westerville South team who is better than what their record indicates.
LEAGUE TITLE RACES
- Big Walnut and Westland could be set for an OCC-Capital championship game if both teams win out
- Gahanna Lincoln is catching fire at the right time; Pickerington North only other unbeaten team in the OCC-Ohio
- Pickerington Central is on the cusp of another OCC title, however likely won't clinch outright until week 10.
- Olentangy and Olentangy Berlin are on a collision course in the OCC-Capital; the two teams will meet in week 10 for what should be an OCC championship game
- A share of the OCC-Central title is still mathematically in play for all six teams; winner of Upper Arlington at Olentangy Orange will be in control of their own destiny for the outright title
- Granville at Licking Valley matchup should decide the LCL-Buckeye division
- Bishop Watterson and St. Francis DeSales continue to dominate in the CCL; will meet in week 10 for what should be a league title
- London is in full control of the CBC after Kenton Ridge's loss to Urbana
- East and Linden-McKinley are in position to play for a City League North division championship game; both teams are unbeaten in North play
- Walnut Ridge is three wins away from becoming the first city league team to finish the regular season 10-0 since 2019
A crucial week five lies ahead
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's the middle of the season, OHSAA playoff ratings and conversations have begun, and that means the margin for error is getting smaller by the week.
In week five, we'll see some of the best programs around the state meet up, and plenty of games in regions 3 and 11 that will have a domino effect on the rest of the season.
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Linden-McKinley 16, Centennial 7
East 73, Mifflin 6
Beechcroft 43, Whetstone 13
Northland 14, KIPP Columbus 6
GAME OF THE WEEK
Olentangy Berlin (3-1) at Olentangy Orange (3-1)
Another battle between the Olentangy schools is on deck in Central Ohio this week. All four teams in the Olentangy Local Schools District are top 10 region 3 teams with 3-1 records, and this will be the third of five matchups between the teams this season. The remaining two will be league games involving both teams to close out the regular season--Olentangy Berlin at Olentangy and Olentangy Liberty at Olentangy Orange.
Olentangy Berlin shook the area with their second half rally against then unbeaten Olentangy Liberty. The Bears came back from a 21-7 deficit to win 22-21 after quarterback Aiden Eviston connected with Colton Less on a two-point conversion. Giving up only 15.5 points per game, Olentangy Berlin touts one of the best defenses in Central Ohio behind a talented core of linebackers and defensive backs. They held Olentangy Liberty to their lowest total of the season, and now have another tough test against a revamped Olentangy Orange. Berlin's offense hadn't been their calling card early, but they've gained some momentum after scoring 40 points against New Albany, and another 22 in the second half of last week's win.
Olentangy Orange scored 139 points in their 3-0 start, most of which was a result of their first half dominance. For a fourth time, the Pioneers led going into halftime, but Gahanna Lincoln pushed through for a 31-21 win. Dual threat quarterback Levi Davis has been the star of the offense, with senior running back Cohen Weaver not far behind him, as he's been the key to a balanced offense. Friday night is a great opportunity to not only respond to last week's loss, but also add another prove-it game to the resume as they look to climb the region 3 ranks.
What to watch for: Can Olentangy Orange put together a complete game on offense and defense and can Olentangy Berlin's offense produce enough points to support their defense?
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES
Big Walnut (3-1) at Westerville South (3-1)
Big Walnut continues to make strides in their offense, while Westerville South's defense hopes to make a statement against an OCC-Buckeye and region 7 opponent.
What to watch for: Can Big Walnut's offense keep their dominance against a defense that only gives up 15 points per game and has Westerville South found their playmakers on offense yet?
Bishop Hartley (3-1) at Ironton (4-0)
Bishop Hartley heads to the border for an anticipated matchup against a Division V contender. Hartley's dominant run game and suffocating defense clashes with premiere skill talent in Ironton.
What to watch for: Can Bishop Hartley's offense keep Ironton on their toes and how do they try to limit Shaun Terry's impact on the game?
Bishop Watterson (4-0) at Chardon (3-0)
Bishop Watterson heads to Chardon to face a defending regional champ in Division III and the top ranked team in region 9. Bishop Watterson won last season's matchup in Columbus 14-10.
What to watch for: Can Bishop Watterson beat Chardon in the trenches and control the running game?
Canal Winchester (3-1) at Pickerington Central (2-2)
Pickerington Central looks to finally capture their first home win of the season against a gritty Canal Winchester team, who is 12-2 against OCC opponents dating back to last season.
What to watch for: Can Corey Howard wear down Pickerington Central's defense and how does Canal Winchester counter against the threats that Pickerington Central's skill players present?
Columbus Academy (4-0) at St. Charles (4-0)
Columbus Academy heads on the road for their biggest test of the season, while St. Charles looks to maintain their top five spot Division II, Region 7 with a quality win over an unbeaten team.
What to watch for: Is St. Charles' defense good enough to slow down Columbus Academy's surging offense?
Dublin Jerome (2-2) at Olentangy Liberty (3-1)
Olentangy Liberty gets set to bounce back from last week's loss to Olentangy Berlin while Dublin Jerome hopes to find some consistent improvement with back-to-back wins.
What to watch for: Can Dublin Jerome get another complete game from their offense and defense, and how does Olentangy Liberty respond after their offense was silenced in the second half?
Dublin Scioto (1-3) at Worthington Kilbourne (2-2)
This year's Battle of Hard Road will greatly help or hurt playoff chances in Division II, Region 7 for Dublin Scioto and Worthington Kilbourne. That's on top of the OCC-Buckeye stakes and rivalry bragging rights that come with the game every year.
What to watch for: Can either team find their offensive identity in what will most likely be their biggest game of the season?
Gahanna Lincoln (2-2) at Dublin Coffman (1-3)
Gahanna Lincoln will need to limit Amari Valerio-Hudson's abilities to make plays out of the pocket, and Dublin Coffman is still looking for answers on defense after giving up 43 points last week.
What to watch for: How does Gahanna Lincoln handle a dynamic athlete at quarterback and can Dublin Coffman's defense hold up enough to give the Rocks a chance to win?
Westerville North (2-2) at Delaware Hayes (2-2)
Delaware Hayes looks for answers on defense after allowing 41 points last week, and Westerville North tries to string together another win before a monumental game against Westerville South.
What to watch for: Can Westerville North exert their dominance against a quality opponent with a winning record, and can Delaware Hayes prove they learned from last week's mistakes?
THE REGION 11 RACE
With the OHSAA computer rankings officially underway, we can finally start to get a feel for how each region will look come playoff time. Plenty of uncertainties still dominate the overall landscape, but we can see the bloodbath in Region 11 coming from a mile away.
Division III Region 11 features 20 teams from the 270 coverage area (CCL, City League, LCL, MSL, and MVL teams), with all 20 teams facing at least two teams after week five, and at least one team as a league opponent. So what does this mean? We'll have several teams playing each other for either home field advantage, a playoff spot, or a league title. In some cases, teams will be playing for all of the above.
When you look at the entire region, there are 18 teams with a 3-1 record, and multiple teams who are projected to finish with at least 6 wins who will miss the playoffs this season.
WHO CAN STAY PERFECT?
After a month of play, we're down to 14 unbeaten teams across Central Ohio. Six of the unbeatens (Columbus Academy at St. Charles, Shelby at Galion, and Tri-Valley at New Lexington) will be playing each other for the right for 5-0, while Bishop Watterson hopes to come back to Columbus without a loss after they play an unbeaten team from the Northeast Ohio area.
After Delaware Hayes, Olentangy Liberty, and Olentangy Orange lost last week, Grove City is the last remaining unbeaten in Division I amongst Central Ohio. Grove City started the year with wins over two 3-1 teams, but don't play another team who has won a game until October 11, when Pickerington North comes to their Leasure Field.
Granville, who finished with a perfect regular season in 2023, is also in great shape to extend their unbeaten stretch into October 11, when they play at Licking Valley.
Ontario and Urbana are the only unbeaten Division IV teams who won't play a fellow unbeaten in the area, as they'll instead be matched up with struggling 1-3 teams this week.
At 4-0, Grandview Heights and Northmor are ranked 1 and 2 in the OHSAA's point system in Division VI, Region 23. Both teams will have their perfect season's tested over the next several weeks, but will not face each other until or unless they are matched up in a playoff setting.
The Second Quarter of 2024 is Underway
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- We're already through the first quarter of the season. Earlier, we looked back at how the season started, and now we look ahead to a crucial week four.
While some leagues are getting into their first slate of league games, there's also plenty of other big time matchups with high stakes, as the first release of OHSAA computer rankings are around the corner.
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Whetstone 13, Mifflin 12
GAME OF THE WEEK
Walnut Ridge (3-0) at Africentric (1-2)
The first weekend of league play in the City League, this South division matchup is one we've had circled all summer. Africentric and Walnut Ridge are expected to be towards the top of the standings by the end of the season. It's only the second weekend of September, but we could be looking back at Friday night's matchup as the game that decided who comes out on top.
A revamped Walnut Ridge has lived up to offseason hype so far with a 3-0 start--all three wins coming against non-league CCS opponents. New head coach Rob Wheelwright looks to have brought the his alma mater back into city title contention. Led by junior quarterback Marquis Lucas, Walnut Ridge is a young, but well-balanced team with plenty of players who can impact games and have already shown vast improvements over last season.
Africentric's 1-2 record doesn't paint a full picture of how good or bad they've been this season. The Nubians haven't shied away from some of the best programs around the state, facing DeSales, Minster, and West Jefferson in their first three games. Africentric would've loved to see better results in the previous two weeks, but the early season tests should have them ready to go for a push toward first place in the City League. Like Walnut Ridge, Africentric is a team loaded with underclassman who contribute in multiple ways, and are developing into college prospects.
While this game doesn't decide the City League-South title, it certainly has the feel of one of the biggest games that will go down in the city this season, and its effects will linger throughout the rest of the season.
What to watch for: Can Walnut Ridge stand tall against Africentric's lineman, and who makes the biggest impact amongst the skill players?
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES
Bishop Watterson (3-0) at Columbian (2-1)
Bishop Watterson is already 3-0, but the real season starts now. The Eagles start a tough three-game road stretch when they travel to Tiffin to face one of the best Division III programs in Ohio.
What to watch for: Can Bishop Watterson keep up their dominance on the defensive side of the ball?
Delaware Hayes (3-0) at Big Walnut (2-1)
An unbeaten Delaware Hayes team hits the road for their first league game against a young, but up and coming Big Walnut team who is fresh off of a 24-13 win over Groveport Madison.
What to watch for: How does Big Walnut handle their next test against an experienced defense and can the Hayes offense continue to score at will?
Harvest Prep (3-0) at Perkins (3-0)
Harvest Prep gears up for another long road trip, this time heading to Sandusky. Perkins has several talents across their lineup who will play at the college level and is a contender to win a regional title in Division IV. Perkins has also outscored opponents 139-0 this season.
What to watch for: Can Harvest Prep break through against Perkins' defense and prevent their playmakers from taking over the game?
New Lexington (3-0) at West Muskingum (2-1)
The two most recent small-school champions take center stage in Muskingum Valley. After a 5-6 season, New Lexington has already righted their ship with a strong 3-0 start. West Muskingum's 2-0 start was dampened with a seven point loss to Garaway, but the Tornadoes are still the team to beat in the MVL. This week four matchup will play a huge role in the race for the league title this season.
What to watch for: Can New Lexington get to the 30-point mark, or will West Muskingum slow the game down and put the game away in the fourth?
Newark (3-0) at Groveport Madison (2-1)
Newark has scored 31 points or more ever week. Groveport Madison hasn't given up more than 24. Something has to give in this OCC-Buckeye matchup. Newark appears to finally have the pieces to compete in the OCC this year, but this is their first matchup against a team with a winning record. Groveport Madison's defense finally showed some flaws last week, but that only sets up a great chance for a comeback with a win at home.
What to watch for: Can Groveport Madison find some consistency on offense, and how does Drayson Peterson perform against one of the best secondary units in Central Ohio?
Olentangy Liberty (3-0) at Olentangy Berlin (2-1)
Olentangy Liberty has penciled themselves in as a regional title contender with two shutout wins in their first three games. The Patriots have passed their tests with flying colors so far, but Olentangy Berlin hasn't lost a home game in over two years and it'll be one of many tough games still to come this season.
What to watch for: Can Olentangy Liberty keep up their offensive pace against a defense who is always at their best at home?
Worthington Kilbourne (2-1) at Westland (2-1)
Another intriguing game in the OCC-Capital, two of the mot improved teams in Central Ohio face off in Galloway this week. After struggling against Canal Winchester's Corey Howard, things get tougher for Worthington Kilbourne as they line up against Kentrell Rinehart. Worthington Kilbourne will look for answers on the defensive end while also getting the offense back on track. Westland will secure a 3+ win season for the first time since 2015 with a win.
What to watch for: Can Worthington Kilbourne's offense keep up with (or slow down) Westland's rushing attack?
WELCOME TO THE OCC
New members Logan and Teays Valley make their league debuts in the OCC-Buckeye division, as Logan hosts Pickerington Central, and Teays Valley hosts Lancaster.
BOUNCE BACK WEEK?
Gahanna Lincoln, Pickerington Central, and Westerville North are three teams in Division I who are looking to get some bad tastes out of their mouths after underwhelming 1-2 starts.
ROAD WARRIORS
Several 3-0 teams across every division including Bishop Watterson, Harvest Prep, Olentangy Liberty, and Walnut Ridge will get tested when they hit the busses for big games this weekend.
GETTING LATE EARLY
New Albany, Thomas Worthington, Watkins Memorial, and Westerville Central are fighting uphill battles as they still look for their first wins.
Reviewing the first three weeks of the season
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's a long road sixteen-week road to get to Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton for the state championships in December. While we make our journey through the 2024 season, we'll be making some stops along the way to refelct on what twe've seen from teams across the Central Ohio landscape, some of the players who are standing out.
With three weeks of games already under our belt, let's take a look at some of the things we've seen so far around our wide-range 270 coverage area.
Bishop Watterson Dominates in Central Ohio
Bishop Watterson was the only team from Central Ohio to play for a state title last season, and it already looks like they're serious about making another trip to Canton. The Division III CCL school showed why they're one of the best teams in Central Ohio, regardless of division when they tore apart Westerville North 41-6 last week. Their other two opponents, Big Walnut and Dublin Scioto, who also happen to be from the OCC-Capital, did not score.
Watterson's focus shifts to three contenders within their own division. They'll hit the road for three straight games against Columbian (2-1), Chardon (3-0), and fellow Columbus rival Bishop Hartley (2-1) to finish the month of September.
Grandview Heights is Built for November
With a come from behind second half 28-0 run and a grueling overtime win, Grandview Heights has seen their fair share of playoff-like games to start the season.
The Bobcats will only face two teams in Division VI this season, and no remaining game on their schedule will be bigger than when they host Chesapeake, who is currently 3-0.
The Dawgs Are Barking
For the first time since 2001, Grove City is 3-0, and they might keep a zero in the loss column for a while. The Greyhounds will be heavy favorites in their next three games against Thomas Worthington (0-3), Hilliard Darby (0-3), and New Albany (0-3).
Grove City is averaging 38 points per game this season, defeating Teays Valley 42-7, Westland 38-28, and Hilliard Bradley 34-14. Grove City has consistently been in the mix for an OCC title, and looks like that'll be no different in 2024.
The Harvest Prep Tour
Having one of the most unorthodox schedules in the state, Harvest Prep will only play two home games this season, as they start their first four games on the road, and end with another three to close out their nine-game schedule. The regional contending Warriors are making the most of their regular season opportunities, beating a team from Central Ohio, Cincinnati, and Kentucky so far.
Next up is another great chance to strengthen their one seed hopes when they face a 3-0 Perkins team who hasn't allowed a score yet, before finally getting a couple of games at their home stadium in Canal Winchester.
Olentangy Liberty is Dominating in All Phases
No one in Division I, Region 3 has been more impressive than Olentangy Liberty so far. The Patriots' returning talent from a year ago has certainly gotten stronger in the offseason. Their offense is much more balanced and they've only allowed 13 points on defense this season--all of which came against Glenville.
Olentangy Liberty will look to stay hot as they go up against Olentangy Berlin and Dublin Jerome before getting into what should be a gauntlet OCC-Central schedule.
Roll 'Neers, Roll
Olentangy Orange's turnaround from a team who struggled mightly offensively into one of the best in area has been fun to watch. Coming over from Granville, Wes Schroder has revitalized the Pioneers' offense, and as a result players such as Levi Davis and Cohen Weaver have soared.
Orange has a lot of similarites with Liberty when it comes to their schedule. They're playing the same common opponents to wrap up non-league play (Gahanna Lincoln and Olentangy Berlin) before starting league games that conclude with a matchup against each other in week ten.
St. Charles Looks to Get Back in the CCL Mix
St. Charles has started the year with back-to-back 3-0 starts, defeating West Carrollton (0-3), Hamilton Township (2-1), and Independence (1-2).
A great start for the Cardinals, but the real tests begin in a couple of weeks, when they host Columbus Academy (3-0), and then head to St. Francis DeSales (2-1) for a CCL rivalry game and Region 7 matchup that will have playoff seeding implications.
Walnut Ridge's Attempt at City League Takeover
Walnut Ridge has an all-Columbus City League schedule this year, so they'll be facing more teams from the city than anyone in Central Ohio. They've knocked down Northland, Linden-McKinley, and Beechcroft with Africentric on deck. A win would be the first step in recapturing the South division title.
Worthington Kilbourne's Crazy Turnaround
We don't know where Worthington Kilbourne's season goes from here, but what a start it's been for the Wolves. Kilbourne entered the season with a freshman quarterback, riding a 12-game losing streak. They broke it with a game winning score in overtime, and then blew the doors off of a rival they hadn't beaten in three seasons. Last week's loss to Canal Winchester slowed down the hype train, but it's safe to say no one has had a crazier and unexpected turnaround than Worthington Kilbourne so far.
Bishop Hartley's Backs & Receivers
Bishop Hartley has gotten some explosive performances from their offensive trio in Brandon Hambric, Robert Lathon Jr., and Bryson Winbush this season. Lathon and Winbush combined for 359 all-purpose yards in a win over Elyria Catholic, while Hambric added another 142 rushing yards in last week's win over Chaminade Julienne.
Groveport Madison's Championship-Level Defense
There's plenty of great defenses around Central Ohio, but you'll struggle to find one more impactful than Groveport Madison so far this season. A star-studded front led by Indiana commit Keishaun Calhoun and Jalen Joyce is paired with the dangerous twin defensive backs in Jeremiah and Joshua Moore along with several others who are contributing as well. The Cruisers have already forced double-digit turnovers this season as they're off to a 2-1 start this season.
Olentangy Makes Them Pay
With a front line of Daniel Stephens and Andy Urda, rising linebacker talents in Lucas Jackson and C.J. Sanna, and elite safeties Kaden Gebhardt and J.J. Jah, Olentangy has been causing problems for opposing offenses over the last two weeks, and has blown games open with some incredible defensive plays that lead to easy scores.
Pickerington North Gives Taylor the Keys
After a combined 8 touchdowns in two weeks, and a school-record 289 rushing performance, Pickerington North has found the answer to their offense. Senior running back and Ohio committ Michael Taylor. Some credit also need to the offensive line. Their size advantage as a unit has worn down defensive fronts and paved the way for Taylor to show why he's one of the best backs in the state.
CENTRAL DISTRICT PLAYERS OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
Here's a look at some early season candidates for the Central District Player of the Year award. This is list is not necessarily reflective of our opinions, but rather the criteria we think the media will use to give a more accurate representation of who might win this award at the end of the season. We will continue to add players to this list and expand into all seven divisions as we progress through the season.
Division I
QB Levi Davis, Olentangy Orange (2026)
Stats: 31/47, 731 yards, 10 total touchdowns
HB Kentrell Rinehart, Westland (2025)
Stats: 202 rushing yards, 1 touchdown last week
HB Michael Taylor, Pickerington North (2025)
Stats: 47 carries, 485 rushing yards, 9 total touchdowns
DB Omar Jah, Olentangy (2025)
Stats: 3 interceptions, 4 pass break-ups, 9 tackles, 2 defensive touchdowns
Division II
QB Jason Burton, Briggs (2025)
Stats: 16 total touchdowns in the last two weeks
DB Isaac Patterson, Westerville South (2026)
Stats: 15 total tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception
Division III
WR Bryson Winbush, Bishop Hartley (2025)
Stats: 496 all-purpose yards, 5 total touchdowns
Division IV
QB Kolton Stover, Highland (2025)
Stats: 52/77, 764 passing yards, 8 passing touchdowns
Division VI
QB A.J. Bower, Northmor (2025)
Stats: 20/26, 524 passing yards, 7 passing touchdowns
DL Braddock Lusher, Grandview Heights (2025)
Stats: 29 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
270 GRIDIRON PLAYER OF THE YEAR LADDER
Offense
HB Michael Taylor, Pickerington North (2025)
QB Levi Davis, Olentangy Orange (2026)
WR Bryson Winbush, Bishop Hartley (2025)
WR Drayson Peterson, Newark (2025)
HB Keevin Gibbon, Hilliard Davidson (2025)
HB Favour Akih, Delaware Hayes (2026)
Defense
DB Omar Jah, Olentangy (2025)
DB Terris Dudley, Hilliard Bradley (2025)
LB Nevin Densel, Dublin Scioto (2026)
DL Braddock Lusher, Grandview Heights (2025)
DB Tyren Jones, Reynoldsburg (2025)
DB Isaac Patterson, Westerville South (2026)
Rookies
QB Jackson Szabo, Worthington Kilbourne (2028)
QB Eli Stumpf, Big Walnut (2027)
QB Collin Boff, Harvest Prep (2027)
HB Greyson Davis, Olentangy Liberty (2027)
HB Jett Jerwers, New Albany (2027)
WR Cameron Huebner, Westerville Central (2027)
Early season rivals take center stage in week 3
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- After a thrilling first two weeks of football in Central Ohio, we're excited for what's in store in the month of September. A hectic end to August has most teams sitting at an even 1-1 record.
The question now is, how long can teams stay in the race for the number one spot in their league and/or region?
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
Belmont 18, South 17
West 47, Millersport 12
East 32, Scott 0
GAME OF THE WEEK
Pickerington North (1-1) at Pickerington Central (1-1)
You could argue there weren't two teams who needed wins more than the schools from Pickerington heading into last Friday. One of the best rivalries in all of Ohio would've felt wrong with both teams sitting at 0-2 coming into the game, although that might've made the stakes for this Friday's game even higher.
Pickerington North got to get the taste of 28-0 out of their mouths an hour early when they defeated Grandville (MI) 53-51. On the other hand, Pickerington Central had to wait an extra hour before they got to respond to their home opening loss, eventually doing so with a 45-40 win over Wayne.
Pickerington North's offensive explosion was led by Michael Taylor, who tallied four touchdowns in last week's win behind an offensive line that has several college prospects. The Panthers also feature some of the best skill players in the area on offense, most notably wide receiver and Kentucky commit, Preston Bowman, who had three first-half touchdowns in last year's 39-34 win over Pickerington Central. Pickerington North has had some flashes of success on defense, but after giving up 36 second half points to Grandville, there's still a lot of room to grow in that area.
Pickerington Central's key to victory is in their running game, powered by arguably the best two-man backfield in Central Ohio with Kaejuan Alexander and Gerald Banks. Junior quarterback Rocco Williams has also shown some improvements in his playmaking abilities. He is developing into one of the most dangerous quarterbacks in the OCC, and with players like Sherone White Jr., there's plenty of reliable targets for him to throw to. The Tigers' defense has had some of their own struggles on defense, as they surrendered 27 fourth quarter points last week.
Pickerington Central may have had their first game at their new stadium on campus spoiled, but there wouldn't be a better team to capture that first win against than their rivals at North. An 0-2 start at home sounds unfathomable after the decades of success at the old Tiger Stadium, and so does back-to-back losses to their Pickerington rivals. The Tigers haven't lost the Battle of Picktown two years in a row since the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
It's a great opportunity for both teams to make a statement to the rest of Central Ohio, but more importantly, the winner has bragging rights in Pickerington for the remainder of the season. After changes to the OCC's alignment, this matchup seems to continue to fall earlier in the season than we would like, but in a season full of surprises, we're excited to take in another big time matchup between two of the best teams in their region.
What to watch for: How does each team go about getting the ball to their playmakers, and who steps up on defense?
OTHER NOTABLE GAMES
Gahanna Lincoln (1-1) at Olentangy Liberty (2-0)
Olentangy Liberty can pencil themselves as the best team in region 3 so far with a win over Gahanna Lincoln, who will be looking to respond after a disappointing offensive performance.
What to watch for: Has Olentangy Liberty found a winning formula with explosive plays on offense, and relentless pressure on defense?
Grove City (2-0) at Hilliard Bradley (1-1)
Grove City looks to keep their momentum rolling with another tough road win. Hilliard Bradley's defense can make a statement with a win, as Grove City has scored 35+ in each of their first two games.
What to watch for: Can Grove City's offense keep their pace against one of the better defenses in the OCC?
Grove City Christian (2-0) at Mount Gilead (1-1)
One of the most dominant teams in Division VI so far, Grove City Christian has outscored opponents 87-0. They head up to Morrow County for a test against another solid region 23 opponent.
What to watch for: Does Grove City Christian's dominant start carry over into region 23?
Johnstown (2-0) at Granville (2-0)
Granville and Johnstown will play for the Jug this weekend in one of Central Ohio's oldest rivalries, and one of the more exciting LCL matchups of the year. Johnstown hasn't beaten Granville since 2018, but is off to their first 2-0 start since 2020.
What to watch for: Does Johnstown have enough playmakers to compete with the powerhouse at Granville?
Walnut Ridge (2-0) at Beechcroft (1-1)
Two City League title contenders collide as new head coaches Stephen Ayers (Beechcroft) and Rob Wheelwright (Walnut Ridge) look for a statement win in Columbus this weekend.
What to watch for: How much of an impact can Marquis Lucas and Tyrell Russell have on the field?
Westerville North (1-1) at Bishop Watterson (2-0)
Bishop Watterson is out to prove why they are one of the best teams in Central Ohio regardless of division, while Westerville North quarterback Ronald Jackson hopes to bounce back against a dangerous secondary.
What to watch for: Can Westerville North protect the ball and limit Bishop Watterson's opportunities on offense?
Westerville South (2-0) at Olentangy (1-1)
Olentangy and Westerville South went off for 38 and 41 points last week, but the talent on the defensive side of the ball should make for one of the more entertaining games we see this season.
What to watch for: Who can keep their momentum rolling on offense, and who can play the most mistake-free football?
MOST UNDERRATED WR IN OHIO?
Newark senior receiver Drayson Peterson leads the area in receiving yards with 412 through two weeks. According to MaxPreps, he's currently 1st on the Ohio leaderboard and 12th in the country. We expect him to add at least another 150 yards in Friday night's game against Zanesville as he hunts down the 1,000-yard mark this season.
BIG GAME AT COFFMAN STADIUM
Dublin Coffman welcomes St. Ignatius to Central Ohio for their home opener after going 1-1 in road games. It's their third matchup against a team from outside of the central area before non-league games against Gahanna Lincoln and Pickerington North in the following weeks.
BEST THING ABOUT BEING 2-0...
Olentangy Orange will look to extend their dominant starts into another week when they travel to Hilliard Darby. The Pioneers have scored 42 points in each first half of their first two games.
Worthington Kilbourne's unexpected fast start was punctuated with their 49-14 blowout over rival Thomas Worthington. The Wolves have another opportunity to impress Central Ohio, and pick up some crucial computer points in region 7 with a win over Canal Winchester.
Franklin Heights, Grandview Heights, Northridge, St. Charles, and Tri-Valley are among some of the other early unbeatens in the area heading into week three.
The Registration "" is not currently available.
Tag(s): Home
