Columbus-area high school football: 5 things to watch in OHSAA regional finals
State semifinal berths will be on the line Friday for seven central Ohio high school football teams.
At least one of those teams will see its season end, because the Division I, Region 3 final features Hilliard Bradley and Upper Arlington in a matchup of OCC-Central rivals.
Dublin Coffman (Division I, Region 2) will play in its first regional final since 2019, while Watterson (Division III, Region 11) is looking to reach its first state semifinal since 2010. Harvest Prep (Division V, Region 19), West Jefferson (Division VI, Region 23) and Danville (Division VII, Region 25) also are seeking regional titles.
Here are five things to watch in the regional finals:
1. Hilliard Bradley, Upper Arlington set for rematch
The fifth all-time meeting between Bradley and UA, this one at Historic Crew Stadium, will be by far the most important. The winner captures the Region 3 championship and advances to a Division I state semifinal Nov. 24 against two-time defending state champion Lakewood St. Edward or Medina.
Second-seeded Bradley (12-1) and No. 4 UA (10-3) are only seven weeks removed from an OCC-Central thriller that the Jaguars won 24-22, their only victory over UA. The Golden Bears lost again the next week, 19-16 in overtime to Olentangy Liberty, and have reeled off six wins in a row since.
“Bradley is very similar on offense and defense (to the first meeting), they’re just better,” UA coach Justin Buttermore said. “Their defense is playing at an incredibly high level. They’re extremely physical at all three levels. Their defensive front and linebackers are outstanding … they’re as good as anybody around here. They’ve dominated teams over the last couple weeks.”
Bradley, which is in its first regional final, held Pickerington North to 4 yards rushing in a 19-0 regional semifinal win.
UA held top-seeded Gahanna Lincoln, which averaged 38.7 points through 12 games, without an offensive touchdown in a 12-7 upset victory. The Bears are playing for their second regional title in three seasons.
“Justin and I both knew we were going to have to play really clean football games to win (in the regional semifinals),” Bradley coach Mike LoParo said. “They did and I think we did. Justin’s one of the best in the area. We’re really good friends and now we’re matching up.”
2. Dublin Coffman to take on Springfield
Coffman will seek its first regional title since 2007 when it squares off against Springfield in the Region 2 final at Hilliard Darby. The Shamrocks, who also won a regional title in 2001, have never reached a state final.
The winner plays West Chester Lakota West or Cincinnati Moeller in a state semifinal.
The teams last met in the 2019 regional final, with Springfield winning 7-3. The Wildcats have won four consecutive regional championships.
Last week, sixth-seeded Coffman upset second-seeded Olentangy Berlin 24-7 and 12th-seeded Springfield stunned top-seeded Olentangy 37-24.
Despite facing the lone double-digit seed remaining in the playoffs, Coffman coach Geron Stokes has warned his team not to become overconfident.
“I just worry about having a good Tuesday practice,” Stokes said Monday. “I never think about (seeds). I don’t think our kids care. Our program doesn’t operate that way. Our program operates as, 'Can you go practice with your hair on fire today?' You’re probably going to leave a little bit miserable and then you have to come back tomorrow and do it again.”
3. Watterson seeks first regional title since 2010
Top-seeded Watterson will take on seventh-seeded Bellefontaine in the Region 11 final at Marion Harding, with the winner playing Hamilton Badin or Celina in a state semifinal. The Eagles (12-1) are the lone remaining top-seeded team from central Ohio.
Watterson reached the regional final last season, losing to Bloom-Carroll 33-28. The Eagles avenged that loss by beating the Bulldogs 20-10 last week.
“Nobody wants their season to be over,” Watterson coach Brian Kennedy said. “Nobody wants to end on a loss. After getting this far last season, this was a goal in the offseason to get to this point and hopefully have a better outcome.”
The teams last met in 2021, with Bellefontaine winning 14-7.
Bellefontaine (11-2) features junior quarterback Tavien St. Clair, an Ohio State commit who passed for 223 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-21 win over third-seeded Granville last week. The Chieftains also beat second-seeded London 35-28 in a regional quarterfinal after losing to the Red Raiders 36-6 during the regular season.
“That quarterback beat us two years ago,” Kennedy said. “He was the starting quarterback as a freshman and he was good. That kid is the real deal.”
Bellefontaine is seeking its first regional title.
4. West Jefferson prepares for giant test
In one of nine regional finals statewide pitting first and second seeds, No. 2 West Jefferson (12-1) will face Sugarcreek Garaway (13-0) at Zanesville.
The first meeting between the teams will feature like-minded approaches, at least in part.
Behind an offense led by quarterback Brady Geibel (2,499 yards passing, 30 touchdowns, 8 interceptions), receiver Jenson Garber (65 catches, 1,208 yards, 17 TDs) and running back Dillon Soehnlen (1,249 yards, 23 TDs), Garaway has played only one game decided by fewer than 21 points. The Pirates average 39.3 points and allow 7.4 per game.
'We have grown a lot': Veteran line drives high-powered West Jefferson offense
Sophomore quarterback Austin Buescher (3,725 passing yards, 38 TDs) guides West Jefferson’s offense, which averages 38.1 points. His top targets are Mason Book (89 catches, 1,292 yards, 14 TDs) and Cameron Pearson (60 catches, 783 yards, 11 TDs).
“Offensively, they’re a challenge and defensively, they’re extremely aggressive in that 3-4 scheme and they’re very, very good at it,” Roughriders coach Shawn Buescher said. “Offensively, we are very similar. We’ll both go empty (backfield) a lot and do a lot of things in the passing game, but defensively they’re a three-down team by base and we’re four down (linemen). Even then, we still do some similar things.”
The Region 23 winner plays Kirtland or Mogadore in a Division VI state semifinal.
5. Harvest Prep prepares for Wheelersburg
Having knocked out one southern Ohio power in Ironton last week, fourth-seeded Harvest Prep (11-1) will face No. 7 Wheelersburg (9-3) at Athens.
The Warriors are seeking their fourth regional championship in eight seasons and second Region 19 title in three seasons.
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Led by senior linebacker and Southeast District Defensive Player of the Year Jake Darling, Wheelersburg has posted five shutouts. Harvest Prep defeated the Pirates 32-16 in Week 6, the most points Wheelersburg has allowed all season.
Running back/receiver Creed Warren (135 carries, 1,299 yards, 13 TDs; 34 catches, 433 yards, 4 TDs) is the top target for quarterback Braylon Rucker (1,843 yards passing, 18 TDs, 8 interceptions).
Four first-team all-district selections lead Harvest Prep’s defense in back Chris Brown, linebackers Marchello Cox and Dezmond Porter and lineman Elijah Lambert.
The winner faces Canfield South Range or Perry in a Division V state semifinal.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OHSAA football playoffs: Central Ohio regional final storylines
