Division I Region 3 Preview: Olentangy Liberty vs. Pickerington North
#7 Pickerington North (11-2) vs. #1 Olentangy Liberty (11-2)
Historic Crew Stadium — Columbus, Ohio
Olentangy Liberty
Last regional championship appearance: 2022 (L vs. Springfield 35-7)
Points per game: 30.6
Points allowed per game: 12.7
Road to the regional: #16 Lancaster 41-7, #8 Groveport Madison 27-7, #5 Upper
Arlington 17-13
Pickerington North
Last regional championship appearance: 2017 (L vs. Pickerington Central 31-14)
Points per game: 33.8
Points allowed per game: 22.9
Road to the regional: #10 Westerville North 45-23, #2 Pickerington Central 35-14, #6 Olentangy Berlin 10-7
Fantastic 50 prediction: Olentangy Liberty -9
A last-minute 31-28 loss to Upper Arlington costed Olentangy Liberty an outright league title. It was the second time they had blown what was once a two score lead in the second half, and drew questions as to why they weren’t able to finish in the fourth quarter. They had dominated the majority of their opponents this season, but this loss, and another to Olentangy Berlin in September served as evidence that no one in Central Ohio is safe from adversity. A far cry from the 2023 season, which had three teams start the year 9-0.
Since then, Olentangy Liberty has outscored opponents 205-70. This includes a 50-22 win over Olentangy Orange that clinched a share of first place in the OCC-Central—easily Central Ohio’s most competitive league. After cruising through the first two rounds, Upper Arlington appeared in their path once again in last week’s regional semifinal. That’s when a heroic drive led by quarterback Andrew Leonard and capped off with a touchdown catch by Geno Saccoccia sent the Patriots to their third regional championship in five years.
“We were able to figure them at towards the end of the game. We just had to trust our coaches, trust our game plan and make big plays”, senior Charlie Donehue told us.
From the locker room to the warm up shirts, you can find Pickerington North’s mentality for the season everywhere. ‘The Chase’ as Pickerington North calls it, has come with unexpected twists ad turns. The regular season was bookended by disappointing losses at home to St. Edward and Gahanna Lincoln. In these two games, Pickerington North was unable to find the end zone, getting outscored 45-6. They once again had to settle for second place in the OCC-Ohio, and only came away with a 7-seed in Region 3. That doesn’t matter today. Because the Panthers are still playing for their ultimate goal.
Pickerington North scored 80 points in their first two playoff wins, 35 of which came in their second road win over rival Pickerington Central. It’s the first time they beat Central twice in the same season since 2012, when they won the regional title. In this postseason, it’s been defense and special teams answering the call. They’ve scored touchdowns on blocked field goals, forced fumbles, and interceptions in just three games this postseason. They forced turnovers and made key fourth down stops in a 10-7 win over Olentangy Berlin to reach their first regional championship in six years.
“We took a tough loss to Gahanna in week ten, but it’s been up ever since then”, offensive lineman ad Miami University commit Ayden Annarino said on the season thus far. “We’ve got to stay level headed. That’s best thing we can do as captains.”
For the second consecutive year, the Central District player of the Year will be at Historic Crew Stadium for regional title weekend. Olentangy Liberty senior quarterback Andrew Leonard has thrown for over 2,500 yards and has totaled 35 touchdowns heading into tomorrow night. When he isn’t playing football, he’s winning league awards in hockey and baseball. Leonard’s athleticism and quick decision making on the field has made him dangerous in his three years as a starting quarterback.
“I’ve just been trying to get my guys the ball in the easiest way and they do the rest.” Leonard said regarding his Central District recognition.
Two of his favorite targets this year have been classmates Christian Moulton and Jake Struck. Moulton landed on the first all-district team this season, blossoming into a 1,000 yard receiver—a milestone that only a few players in the area reach every year. Struck is another multi-sport athlete on Liberty’s team. The Ohio State lacrosse commit and Ohio Player of the Year won a state title this summer in the same stadium he’ll be playing in tonight. In the fall he contributes as a running back, but has been featured as a reliable pass catcher down the field as well. Sophomore Grayson Davis has also flashed as future star running back. Coming out of OLHS, it should be no surprise that he doubles his duties in another sport. He’s also a highly regarded outfield prospect.
Bailey Byrd, Cam Cole, Ryan Schapker, and Austin Stamp were all-district winners. These four, as well as others such as Charlie Donehue, Lincoln Gardner, and Tyler Thornton, are returning starters in Liberty’s dominant defense that has only given up 12 points per game this season.
“This is a group of guys that we’ve been waiting on for a couple of years, said Donehue. We have a ton of experience on defense, so that definitely helps. We’ve played together for so long. It’s about playing for the guys around you and having a super tight bond.”
“They’re obviously a hard-fought team. They’re always in the right place at the right time and that’s something we’ve got to work around. I think our athletes are going to be athletes on Friday. Get them the ball and let them make a play”, said Annarino.
No one in Central Ohio has more pieces to put to that test than the weapons under Pickerington North’s offense.
The Panthers have five Division I commits in their offense and a returning starter at nearly every position. They brought back their entire offensive line, their best receiver in Kentucky commit Preston Bowman, and Ohio University running back commit Michael Taylor, who had a rcord-setting 289 rushing yard performance this season. Youngstown State commit Emy Louis also returned to Pickerington North after a year at Massillon Washington. He and the Tigers won a state semifinal game here in Columbus, eventually winning it all the following weekend.
Bowman and Taylor have seen the wide range of talent in the skill positions lead to teams having to ‘pick their poison’ when preparing for Pickerington North this year.
“It makes defenses chose ‘are we going to get beat in the pass game or in the run game?’, so it brings out another side to our offense.”
“You basically have to pick how you want to get beat. If you want to guard me, then we’ll throw to Emy, or Ashton, or Rich. We have weapons all across the board.”
“Knowing that they have big threats on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, I think it’s important to stay together as a team”, Moulton added. [We] know that we’re capable of beating teams like this late in the season. We can depend on each other.”
Pickerington North’s star power doesn’t end there, however. A defense led by three-year starter and another Ohio University commit in defensive back Tyson Long also has plenty of promise in the 2026 class. Malachi Taylor leads the team in interceptions and defensive touchdowns. Amar’e Miller will be the latest D1 defensive back out of Pickerington North when the time comes. He contributed with a crucial interception in last week’s win. Linebacker Daunte Curtis’ blocked game-tying field goal was the difference last week on top of his ability to get pressures off of the edge.
“I think it all starts with our defensive coordinator, he draws play sup for our defense to make plays on the ball, Malachi Taylor, who set the school record with seven interceptions said.
The unsung heroes of tonight’s game come from within the trenches. Olentangy Liberty features some newcomers in the lineup this season, but three of their lineman made all-district teams. Bailey Byrd, Liam Hayward, and Keegan McBride are stars on both fronts. Sophomore Ed Nichols has also emerged as a rising star in the group.
At Pickerington North, it starts with the interior and Ayden Annarino. He along side Lance Blakely, Gabriel Ervin, and C.J. Moore have helped build a dominant running game that carried the load in the early portion of this season. Defensively, Pickerington North has Malachi Ervin and Elijah Durham-Smith playing off the edge, while Ben Thompson closes gaps on the inside.
While both teams would love to quickly remind you that they have bigger goals after tonight, playing for Central Ohio supremacy in the heart of Columbus is special. These teams have already left their mark in their respective programs, and now as we get deep into November, we wait to see where the story ends.
Annarino’s final comment to us paints the picture not just for Pickerington North, but all 28 remaining teams in Ohio: “It’s not over until we’re in Canton holding up that trophy, and getting our rings.”
COLUMBUS, Ohio --
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Division I Region 3 Preview: Olentangy Liberty vs. Pickerington North
#7 Pickerington North (11-2) vs. #1 Olentangy Liberty (11-2)
Historic Crew Stadium — Columbus, Ohio
Olentangy Liberty
Last regional championship appearance: 2022 (L vs. Springfield 35-7)
Points per game: 30.6
Points allowed per game: 12.7
Road to the regional: #16 Lancaster 41-7, #8 Groveport Madison 27-7, #5 Upper
Arlington 17-13
Pickerington North
Last regional championship appearance: 2017 (L vs. Pickerington Central 31-14)
Points per game: 33.8
Points allowed per game: 22.9
Road to the regional: #10 Westerville North 45-23, #2 Pickerington Central 35-14, #6 Olentangy Berlin 10-7
Fantastic 50 prediction: Olentangy Liberty -9
A last-minute 31-28 loss to Upper Arlington costed Olentangy Liberty an outright league title. It was the second time they had blown what was once a two score lead in the second half, and drew questions as to why they weren’t able to finish in the fourth quarter. They had dominated the majority of their opponents this season, but this loss, and another to Olentangy Berlin in September served as evidence that no one in Central Ohio is safe from adversity. A far cry from the 2023 season, which had three teams start the year 9-0.
Since then, Olentangy Liberty has outscored opponents 205-70. This includes a 50-22 win over Olentangy Orange that clinched a share of first place in the OCC-Central—easily Central Ohio’s most competitive league. After cruising through the first two rounds, Upper Arlington appeared in their path once again in last week’s regional semifinal. That’s when a heroic drive led by quarterback Andrew Leonard and capped off with a touchdown catch by Geno Saccoccia sent the Patriots to their third regional championship in five years.
“We were able to figure them at towards the end of the game. We just had to trust our coaches, trust our game plan and make big plays”, senior Charlie Donehue told us.
From the locker room to the warm up shirts, you can find Pickerington North’s mentality for the season everywhere. ‘The Chase’ as Pickerington North calls it, has come with unexpected twists ad turns. The regular season was bookended by disappointing losses at home to St. Edward and Gahanna Lincoln. In these two games, Pickerington North was unable to find the end zone, getting outscored 45-6. They once again had to settle for second place in the OCC-Ohio, and only came away with a 7-seed in Region 3. That doesn’t matter today. Because the Panthers are still playing for their ultimate goal.
Pickerington North scored 80 points in their first two playoff wins, 35 of which came in their second road win over rival Pickerington Central. It’s the first time they beat Central twice in the same season since 2012, when they won the regional title. In this postseason, it’s been defense and special teams answering the call. They’ve scored touchdowns on blocked field goals, forced fumbles, and interceptions in just three games this postseason. They forced turnovers and made key fourth down stops in a 10-7 win over Olentangy Berlin to reach their first regional championship in six years.
“We took a tough loss to Gahanna in week ten, but it’s been up ever since then”, offensive lineman ad Miami University commit Ayden Annarino said on the season thus far. “We’ve got to stay level headed. That’s best thing we can do as captains.”
For the second consecutive year, the Central District player of the Year will be at Historic Crew Stadium for regional title weekend. Olentangy Liberty senior quarterback Andrew Leonard has thrown for over 2,500 yards and has totaled 35 touchdowns heading into tomorrow night. When he isn’t playing football, he’s winning league awards in hockey and baseball. Leonard’s athleticism and quick decision making on the field has made him dangerous in his three years as a starting quarterback.
“I’ve just been trying to get my guys the ball in the easiest way and they do the rest.” Leonard said regarding his Central District recognition.
Two of his favorite targets this year have been classmates Christian Moulton and Jake Struck. Moulton landed on the first all-district team this season, blossoming into a 1,000 yard receiver—a milestone that only a few players in the area reach every year. Struck is another multi-sport athlete on Liberty’s team. The Ohio State lacrosse commit and Ohio Player of the Year won a state title this summer in the same stadium he’ll be playing in tonight. In the fall he contributes as a running back, but has been featured as a reliable pass catcher down the field as well. Sophomore Grayson Davis has also flashed as future star running back. Coming out of OLHS, it should be no surprise that he doubles his duties in another sport. He’s also a highly regarded outfield prospect.
Bailey Byrd, Cam Cole, Ryan Schapker, and Austin Stamp were all-district winners. These four, as well as others such as Charlie Donehue, Lincoln Gardner, and Tyler Thornton, are returning starters in Liberty’s dominant defense that has only given up 12 points per game this season.
“This is a group of guys that we’ve been waiting on for a couple of years, said Donehue. We have a ton of experience on defense, so that definitely helps. We’ve played together for so long. It’s about playing for the guys around you and having a super tight bond.”
“They’re obviously a hard-fought team. They’re always in the right place at the right time and that’s something we’ve got to work around. I think our athletes are going to be athletes on Friday. Get them the ball and let them make a play”, said Annarino.
No one in Central Ohio has more pieces to put to that test than the weapons under Pickerington North’s offense.
The Panthers have five Division I commits in their offense and a returning starter at nearly every position. They brought back their entire offensive line, their best receiver in Kentucky commit Preston Bowman, and Ohio University running back commit Michael Taylor, who had a rcord-setting 289 rushing yard performance this season. Youngstown State commit Emy Louis also returned to Pickerington North after a year at Massillon Washington. He and the Tigers won a state semifinal game here in Columbus, eventually winning it all the following weekend.
Bowman and Taylor have seen the wide range of talent in the skill positions lead to teams having to ‘pick their poison’ when preparing for Pickerington North this year.
“It makes defenses chose ‘are we going to get beat in the pass game or in the run game?’, so it brings out another side to our offense.”
“You basically have to pick how you want to get beat. If you want to guard me, then we’ll throw to Emy, or Ashton, or Rich. We have weapons all across the board.”
“Knowing that they have big threats on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball, I think it’s important to stay together as a team”, Moulton added. [We] know that we’re capable of beating teams like this late in the season. We can depend on each other.”
Pickerington North’s star power doesn’t end there, however. A defense led by three-year starter and another Ohio University commit in defensive back Tyson Long also has plenty of promise in the 2026 class. Malachi Taylor leads the team in interceptions and defensive touchdowns. Amar’e Miller will be the latest D1 defensive back out of Pickerington North when the time comes. He contributed with a crucial interception in last week’s win. Linebacker Daunte Curtis’ blocked game-tying field goal was the difference last week on top of his ability to get pressures off of the edge.
“I think it all starts with our defensive coordinator, he draws play sup for our defense to make plays on the ball, Malachi Taylor, who set the school record with seven interceptions said.
The unsung heroes of tonight’s game come from within the trenches. Olentangy Liberty features some newcomers in the lineup this season, but three of their lineman made all-district teams. Bailey Byrd, Liam Hayward, and Keegan McBride are stars on both fronts. Sophomore Ed Nichols has also emerged as a rising star in the group.
At Pickerington North, it starts with the interior and Ayden Annarino. He along side Lance Blakely, Gabriel Ervin, and C.J. Moore have helped build a dominant running game that carried the load in the early portion of this season. Defensively, Pickerington North has Malachi Ervin and Elijah Durham-Smith playing off the edge, while Ben Thompson closes gaps on the inside.
While both teams would love to quickly remind you that they have bigger goals after tonight, playing for Central Ohio supremacy in the heart of Columbus is special. These teams have already left their mark in their respective programs, and now as we get deep into November, we wait to see where the story ends.
Annarino’s final comment to us paints the picture not just for Pickerington North, but all 28 remaining teams in Ohio: “It’s not over until we’re in Canton holding up that trophy, and getting our rings.”
Central Ohio teams are keeping the dream alive in the semifinals
We’ve reached the neutral site portion of the tournament, which means we have an exciting Friday night of regional semifinal action. With 20 Central Ohio teams still in playoffs mode, we take a look at some of the top matchups we’ll be following tonight.
Division I, Region 3
#5 Upper Arlington (10-2) vs. #1 Olentangy Liberty (10-2)
Upper Arlington
Second Round: #4 Olentangy Orange 24-20
Olentangy Liberty
Second Round: #8 Groveport Madison 27-7
Fantastic 50 prediction: Olentangy Liberty -11
Upper Arlington knows everything about tonight’s game very well. This will be their fourth playoff game at Westerville Central’s Warhawk Stadium since 2020. They’re only 1-2 in those games, but the only win was a regional championship in 2021. The Golden Bears have returned to the semifinal in every year since, and only fell a few plays short of winning another regional title since. No one in Central Ohio has been on a better run this decade than the Golden Bears. Last week their defense once again terrorized a quality opponent, sending them into the winter sports season. And now, for the second year in a row, they face the number one seed in Region 3, a league opponent who they’ve played every year since the 2020 season.
Upper Arlington struggled to find answers against the Olentangy Liberty offense, led by Central District Offensive Player of the Year, Andrew Leonard. The Patriots jumped out to a 28-16 fourth quarter lead against Upper Arlington last month. They’ve lead every opponent by at least two scores at one point this season. They have arguably the best quarterback-receiver connection in Central Ohio with Leonard and breakout senior Christian Moulton. In two instances however, those leads weren’t enough and Olentangy Liberty’s offense wasn’t able to expand before a furious comeback was routed. In a game like this, the small wins mean everything. Winning the field position, time of possession, and turnover battles will be the difference as Upper Arlington looks to recapture the fourth quarter magic from their 15-0 run just a few weeks ago.
#7 Pickerington North (10-2) vs. #6 Olentangy Berlin (10-2)
Pickerington North
Second Round: #2 Pickerington Central 35-14
Olentangy Berlin
Second Round: #3 Gahanna Lincoln 17-14
Fantastic 50 prediction: Pickerington North -11
In many cases, celebrating a win with your students in the bleachers at your rivals’ new stadium twice in the same season, with the second occurrence ending their season in the playoffs is more than enough for a successful season. Pickerington North isn’t satisfied with their third consecutive win over Pickerington Central, and they certainly have bigger goals than returning to the regional semifinal. After a sobering loss at home to Gahanna Lincoln, the Panthers have dominated in their first two playoff wins, and now it’s time to right the wrong of last season, when they struggled to find anything offensively in a semifinal loss to Hilliard Bradley. Pickerington North is the lowest remaining seed in Region 3, but as offensive lineman Ayden Annarino told us on the sideline, don’t be fooled by the number 7 that sits next to Pickerington North’s name. Pickerington North’s riches of talent was on display when Preston Bowman took over the game. His coffin-corner punt led to a strip sack touchdown. Then he took two plays to the house—one one a short pass and another on a direct snap to put the game away. In the first matchup against Pickerington Central, it was Michael Taylor, whose record-setting all-purpose performance blew the game open in the second half.
Olentangy Berlin held on tight for a very on-brand 17-14 win over Gahanna Lincoln on the road. While Gahanna Lincoln ended the season shorthanded after Brennen Ward’s hand injury, the difficulty of beating Gahanna Lincoln in their place doesn’t change. Olentangy Berlin has already seen some of the best of what Central Ohio has to offer with wins over Olentangy and Olentangy Liberty. They also went on the road to see Olentangy Orange and Upper Arlington this season. Led by Aiden Eviston on offense, Olentangy Berlin will capitalize on opportunities whenever they see them, but the number one priority will be to limit the amount of time Pickerington North’s offense sees the field.
Division I, Region 2
#8 Wayne (7-5) vs. #5 Hilliard Davidson (8-4)
Hilliard Davidson
Second Round: #13 Hilliard Bradley 34-12
Wayne
Second Round: #1 Kettering Fairmont 20-10
Fantastic 50 prediction: Hilliard Davidson -9
After two rematches from the regular season, Hilliard Davidson shifts their attention to a new opponent for the first time this postseason. The Wildcats will face Wayne for a trip to the regional championship. This is Davidson’s deepest postseason run since 2018. They defeated this same program 28-21 in the first round back then. Today, they are led by quarterback Johnny DiBlasio and his favorite target Kaden Windham, a punishing running back in Keevin Gibbon, who runs behind a forceful offensive line, and a deep group of linebackers and safeties that include Hayden Buckley and Paul Knapke. Hilliard Davidson’s depth of returning starters has been a strength all season. It’s been awhile since they got here, but Hilliard Davidson has always prided themselves on building a program designed to win on the third Friday of November, and beyond.
Wayne is one of two GWOC teams who will face an OCC-Central opponent in Region 2 tonight. If not for early-season injuries, the Warriors would have likely fared much better than a 5-5 regular season. Wayne flashes some of the best talent out of the Dayton area with quarterback Tyrell Lewis and receivers Jamier Averette-Brown, Teaunn Hunter, and Gauge Miesse. The trio combined for nine receptions, 133 yards, and a touchdown. A shorthanded Fairmont team out gained Wayne by 90 yards in the ground game, but two interceptions and two long touchdown runs of 34 and 55 yards were enough for Wayne to end the number one seed’s season last week.
#14 Dublin Coffman (4-8) vs. #2 Centerville (9-3)
Dublin Coffman
Second Round: #6 Lebanon 56-20
Centerville
Second Round: #7 Springboro 14-7
Fantastic 50 prediction: Centerville -14
Quarterback Amari Valerio-Hudson has turned a great regular season into a stunning postseason. It would be unfair to the rest of the Dublin Coffman team to say he’s gotten them to this point by himself, but with 14 total touchdowns in the first two rounds, he’s certainly carrying more than just the weight of his shoulder pads this November. The Shamrocks’ 105 points in wins over Lebanon and Westland are the most among Central Ohio teams still playing for the regional title. The question heading into the Region 2 semifinal tonight is whether or not Valerio-Hudson can break out against what many believe to be the best defensive unit remaining in this bracket.
Centerville has only allowed 17 points per game in 12 contests. This includes a rough stretch to start the year, where they gave up 127 points in their first four games of the season. The Elks have a dangerous dual threat quarterback of their own in junior Shane Cole, and their linebacker group will be the key in trying to silence Valerio-Hudson. Centerville’s defense has been much improved since early in the year, and with a recent home-and-home series in 2022-23, there’s a lot familiarity between these programs. But this is Centerville’s first time preparing for Valerio-Hudson under his new role in the offense.
Division II, Region 7
#4 Ashland (7-5) vs. #1 Big Walnut (11-1)
Big Walnut
Second Round: #9 Massillon Perry 35-24
Ashland
Second Round: #5 Columbus St. Francis DeSales 27-14
Fantastic 50 prediction: Big Walnut -2
The beast that is Massillon Washington likely awaits the winner of this game, but it’s still one of the best regional semifinal matchups across all of Division II tonight. The Ashland Arrows and Big Walnut Eagles have both risen from the mats after 5-win regular seasons to combine for 23-1 records this season. Big Walnut’s underclassman talent already had us excited for the future in Sunbury, but that future came sooner than expected when running back Nolan Buirley, and quarterback Eli Stumpf among several others stepped into starting roles and turned in all-conference seasons. Nine underclassmen can be found on first and second teams for 2024, a testament to just how deep the program is right now.
From one OCC to another, Ashland’s program was everywhere in the Ohio Cardinal Conference awards. Junior quarterback Nathan Bernhard won Offensive Player of the Year with over 2,000 passing yards and 39 total touchdowns this season. Tyler Sauder, Carson O’Brien, and head coach Scott Valentine are also award winners in the conference. Big Walnut has seen some tough offenses this season with teams such as Bishop Watterson, Westerville North, and Westland, but there hasn’t been an offense ran by a quarterback of Bernhard’s caliber on the Eagles’ schedule so far this season. On the other hand, none of Ashland opponents present the same challenges that Big Walnut can bring. It’ll be interesting to see how both teams respond tonight.
Division III, Region 11
#4 Licking Valley (11-1) vs. #1 Bishop Watterson (12-0)
Bishop Watterson
Second Round: #8 Jackson 34-0
Licking Valley
Second Round: #5 Bloom-Carroll 29-17
Fantastic 50 prediction: Bishop Watterson -20
At this point of the season, it becomes a lot harder to find matchups in which we’ve seen both teams outside of Division I. Bishop Watterson and Licking Valley check that box Region 11. Licking Valley features Central District Defensive Player of the Year, defensive back Kam Walker who doubles as a threat in the passing game, and Quinn Hornfeck, another lengthy DB who can make plays on the ball. The Panthers will also rely on their senior running back Trenton Markus to set the tone on offense. Licking Valley won 9 regular season games, including a signature win over Granville that won them the LCL title for 2024. Their only loss came in week two, when West Muskingum beat them in overtime.
Bishop Watterson has been a buzzsaw to everyone on their schedule. They’ve shut down Division I teams, blown through other premiere Division III opponents, and demoralized their CCL rivals. The range of athletics from players like Drew Bellisari, Cal Mangini, Ben and Jake Uhlenhake, Zack Weber and really just about anyone else in Bishop Watterson’s rotation of players makes them two-dimensional and one of the deepest teams in the state of Ohio. We are still waiting to see if or when someone will present a challenge to the Eagles in this region. With each passing week, that answer continues to look like it will be a ‘no’.
Division IV, Region 14
#3 Ontario (11-1) vs. #2 Shelby (12-0)
Shelby
Second Round: #10 Ottawa-Glandorf 26-14
Ontario
Second Round: #6 Clyde 38-7
Fantastic 50 prediction: Shelby -4
For over a year, we’ve seen the greatness of Shelby quarterback Brayden DeVito through social media, and a few weeks ago, we finally saw it in-person as well. DeVito’s seven touchdown performance stamped himself in Mr. Football conversations—if he wasn’t there already. His efforts brought the outright MOAC title back to Shelby after a 50-36 shootout win over Ontario n week nine. Quarterback and future Ohio State wide receiver Bodpegn Miller had his own sensational performance, doing everything he could on the ground, in the air, in the secondary, and even on special teams to try to will Ontario to a win that night, but it wasn’t enough. The Warriors will get another crack at their MOAC rivals tonight, with so much more on the line in the postseason. While many are unsure of what either team presents as a challenge to the favorite in this region (Perkins), another great semifinal should be in store on this side of the bracket.
Division V, Region 19
#4 Harvest Prep (9-2) vs. #1 Ironton (11-1)
Harvest Prep
Second Round: #5 Columbus Academy 48-7
Ironton
Second Round: #8 Portsmouth 44-0
Fantastic 50 prediction: Ironton -20
History repeats itself in Region 19. For the second year in a row, we get a highly anticipated Harvest Prep-Ironton matchup in the regional semifinals. Just like last year, Ironton enters the game as heavy favorites. Harvest Prep never found another win that stacked up to their first one over Pickerington Central, a win that sent shockwaves through Columbus. Otherwise they would’ve earned themselves a higher seed. Last season, the Warriors used a rushing attack and key stops on defense to knock off the Ironton 20-14. This season they’ll look to do the same, but now have the added wrinkle of a passing threat in Collin Boff, and an even more polished Jamarcus Jones (Central District Defensive Player of the Year) at cornerback and receiver, who will be looking to make a game changing impact once again.
The gap between Ironton and the rest of Southern Ohio continues to be astonishing. The Fightin’ Tigers are consistently beating 8, 9, and 10 win teams by 40 points in that region. Their rivals Portsmouth got outscored 94-0 in a three-week span. Portsmouth was an 8-win team in Division V this year. Division III Jackson was dragged 51-14 by Ironton earlier this season, and 10-win Fairland was blanked 41-0. Still alive in this region is 14-seed Wheelersburg—another team that Ironton beat by 30. Harvest Prep is the last legitimate threat to Ironton until at least the state semifinals. They have one of the most dangerous players in Ohio High School football in Shaun Terry, who should be in high consideration for Mr. Football, and have plenty of athletes in the secondary, headlined with Penn State commit Joshua Johnson.
An in-depth look at our first round playoff matchups in Division I
Seasons are on the line as we hit the final stretch
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.
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