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Akron-area high school football schedules, rankings and more: A guide to the 2023 season

akron beacon journal
·5 min read

High school football is back in the Greater Akron area. Several teams will be looking to make a push for a state title. Last season, Hoban was the only area team to make a state title game. But the Knights came up short in its bid for another state title, losing to Toledo Central Catholic in the title game.

Who could get there this year? It all starts this week. Before games kick off, here's everything you need to know about the 2023 high school football season.

Greater Akron high school football player rankings, preseason poll, best games to watch

St. Vincent-St Mary High's quarterback Markell Carter dives on a carry against Archbishop Hoban High during the Div. II regional semifinal football game at University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium in Akron on Friday.
St. Vincent-St Mary High's quarterback Markell Carter dives on a carry against Archbishop Hoban High during the Div. II regional semifinal football game at University of Akron's InfoCision Stadium in Akron on Friday.

Top players to watch in 2023: 10 players we can't wait to watch | 10 QBs to watch | 10 RBs to watch | 10 WRs to watch | 10 OL to watch | 10 DL to watch

College football recruiting: Ranking the top 20 Greater Akron/Canton high school prospects

Preseason rankings: What are the best teams going in to the season? Here are our rankings

The best games to watch: You don't want to miss these 10 football games

High school football schedule: Summit County-area team-by-team 2023 schedules

Coaches confidential: Here's what high school football coaches really think

New Coventry High School football head coach Rich Smith, right, smiles with his son, Benjamin Smith, in 2022. Rich coached and Ben played on the Coventry fifth-sixth grade team that topped Field to win the Northeast Ohio Youth Football League championship.
New Coventry High School football head coach Rich Smith, right, smiles with his son, Benjamin Smith, in 2022. Rich coached and Ben played on the Coventry fifth-sixth grade team that topped Field to win the Northeast Ohio Youth Football League championship.

We granted anonymity to high school football coaches in Greater Akron to answer assorted questions for us before the start of the 2023 season.

Does the high school football season start too early? As can be expected, there were a variety of thoughts on Week 1 being close to the middle of August. There were additional concerns, including the overall length of the season and demands on the athletes. Here is what the coaches had to say.

What’s most important to achieve in preseason football practices? We received an array of anonymous answers from some of the area's best high school football coaches. Here's what they're saying about preseason practices.

Akron-area high school football team-by-team previews

East head coach Marques Hayes has been a fixture on the Dragons sideline and is helping his athletes earn college scholarships.
East head coach Marques Hayes has been a fixture on the Dragons sideline and is helping his athletes earn college scholarships.

Archbishop Hoban Knights - Hoban football has new starters at running back and QB and the hardest schedule of Tim Tyrrell's tenure. But it also has championship-caliber talent. Read more here.

Barberton Magics - The Barberton Magics enter the 2023 high school football season seeking another trip to the OHSAA playoffs. Read more here.

Buchtel Griffins - The Buchtel Griffins enter the 2023 high school football season as the reigning City Series champions and a Division IV playoff team. Read more here.

Copley - Copley enters the 2023 high school football season with a first-year head coach who is a Copley alum and a former quarterback. Read more here.

Coventry Comets - After a .500 season in 2022, Coventry turns to new coach Rich Smith looking to move up in the Metro Athletic Conference. Read more here.

Cuyahoga Falls Black Tigers - Cuyahoga Falls alumnus Kevin Pask takes over his alma mater looking to pull Falls out of a prolonged slump. Read more here.

CVCA Royals - As the youngest team in the Principals Athletic Conference, CVCA won a share of the title. The Royals want more with greater experience this fall. Read more here.

East Dragons - The East Dragons enter the 2023 high school football season with talented senior and junior classes. Read more here.

Ellet - Ellet enters the 2023 high school football season with a first-year head coach and seniors hungry to win. Read more here.

Firestone Falcons - The Firestone Falcons enter the 2023 high school football season with a solid mix of seniors and juniors trying to rise up the City Series standings. Read more here.

Garfield Rams - The Garfield Rams enter the 2023 high school football season trying to rise up in the City Series standings with several juniors and sophomores. Read more here.

Highland Hornets - Highland's football team lost quite a few starters but long playoff runs have become the norm under coach Mike Gibbons. Read more here.

Hudson Explorers - After winning the Suburban League National Conference and reaching the regional final, Hudson hopes to reload for another run behind Ian Ludewig. Read more here.

Manchester Panthers - The Manchester Panthers begin their first season under Kevin Stacy and are loaded with veteran leadership and the want to succeed. Read more here.

Nordonia Knights - With 26 returning letterwinners, the Nordonia football team is poised to make another run in the playoffs this season. Read more here.

North Vikings - New Akron North football coach DeMonte Powell has only two seniors on his roster, so he's relying on a young group to help the Vikings bounce back. Read more here.

Norton Panthers - Luke Dobbins and Noah Willig lead a veteran Norton football team into a 2023 full of promise. Read more here.

Revere Minutemen - Revere enters the 2023 high school football season with talented sophomores and juniors teaming up with a small senior class. Read more here.

Springfield Spartans - After the death of coach John Tanksley, Springfield will be led by his son, Corey, and hopes to overcome the adversity from the offseason. Read more here.

St. Vincent-St. Mary Fighting Irish - A season after STVM doubled its win total under coach Terry Cistone, it will have a new philosophy on offense and a glaring change on the schedule. Read more here.

Tallmadge Blue Devils - Ty Hurst and Collin Dixon are gone, but Tallmadge football has high expectations for the 2023 version of the Blue Devils. Read more here.

Twinsburg Tigers - Charles Saulter enters Year 2 as Twinsburg's football coach with 21 letterwinners returning and plenty of veteran leadership. Read more here.

Walsh Jesuit Warriors - Walsh Jesuit football could be in for a magical season with a mixture of veterans and youth ready to take the Warriors to the next level. Read more here.

Woodridge Bulldogs - Woodridge welcomes alum Phil Martter as its new head coach as it seeks to repeat as Metro Athletic Conference champion Read more here.

The Akron Beacon Journal's sports staff covering high school football

Michael Beaven - @MBeavenABJ

Brad Bournival - @bbournival

Michael Leonard - @MLeonard_ABJ

Nate Ulrich - @ByNateUlrich

This is your guide to 10 can’t-miss high school football games for the Greater Akron area

Summit County-area high school football preseason rankings: Who we see as the top teams

College football recruiting: Ranking the top 20 Greater Akron/Canton high school prospects

A look at the 6 biggest holes Summit County high school football teams must replace in 2023

Summit County-area team-by-team 2023 high school football schedules

Coaches Confidential: Does the Ohio high school football season start too early

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron, Summit County high school football guide to the 2023 season