OHSAA football playoffs: 10 burning questions for central Ohio teams
Central Ohio high school football has seen its fair share of deep postseason runs in recent years, but state championships have been relatively few for the area.
As the playoffs begin Friday, 64 teams will set out to bring the area its first title since 2019, when Pickerington Central won Division I for the second time in three years. Hartley’s three Division IV championships in the 2010s punctuated the program’s return to glory under coach Brad Burchfield.
So who’s got next, as the saying goes?
Here are 10 burning questions entering the playoffs:
1. Can anyone knock off Gahanna Lincoln in Division I, Region 3?
The lone 10-0 team in the region and the defending champions, the top-seeded Lions are the team to beat, especially after rallying from 14 points down in Week 10 to topple previously undefeated Pickerington North 35-28 in double overtime.
Gahanna, which hosts 16th-seeded Reynoldsburg (1-9) in the first round, lost to Lakewood St. Edward 31-7 in a state semifinal last season.
Lions quarterback Brennen Ward and running back Diore Hubbard are a difficult duo to defend. Ward has passed for 1,825 yards with 16 touchdowns and four interceptions, and Hubbard has rushed for 1,220 yards and 18 scores.
Third-seeded North (9-1) could run into second-seeded Hilliard Bradley (9-1) in a regional semifinal.
“It is going to be an extremely competitive region,” Bradley coach Mike LoParo said. “There is a great deal of parity in central Ohio. It will come down to who is executing at the most consistent level each week.”
Bradley is led by quarterback Bradyn Fleharty, who has passed for 2,114 yards with 23 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Fourth-seeded Upper Arlington (7-3) and No. 5 Pickerington Central (7-3) could be other contenders. Led by first-year coach Jeff Lomonico, Central has an impressive postseason resume with nine regional titles, five state final appearances and two championships.
2. Is Olentangy the favorite in Division I, Region 2?
The Braves (9-1) earned the top seed by almost three points over Olentangy Berlin (9-1) — which handed Olentangy its only loss (27-20 in Week 6) and won the OCC-Cardinal title as a result — but it’s a virtual lock that the region will feature a lot of high-scoring games if not a surprise or two.
The top 10 teams in the region have at least seven wins. No. 13 Olentangy Orange (4-6) has struggled of late but is capable of an upset with sophomore quarterback and 1,600-yard passer Levi Davis running the show, and No. 14 Olentangy Liberty (3-7) has a knack for hitting its stride late.
Olentangy quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, a 2,000-yard passer and Penn State commit, leads an offense averaging 40.5 points since the loss to Berlin. Ryan Montgomery of third-seeded Findlay has thrown for more than 3,000 yards, and the Trojans have scored at least 40 points eight times.
If a central Ohio team wins the region, its path to state might go through two-time defending champion St. Edward, which is the top seed in Region 1.
3. Can a Columbus City League team make a run?
Nine City League teams have qualified for the postseason, with City-North champion Northland earning the highest seed at No. 5 in Division II, Region 7.
The Vikings (9-1) host 12th-seeded Big Walnut (5-5) on Friday in the program’s first home playoff game.
“This is directly related to the work we’ve put in for the past four years, and see what our kids have done,” fourth-year Northland coach Ryan Sayers said. “We’re a 9-1 team hosting the first-ever (home) playoff game in school history, and we’ve been open (since 1966). This is a really special thing for these seniors.”
Northland is led by senior running back Amir Brown, who has rushed for 1,150 yards and nine touchdowns. Alex Neff is at quarterback in place of Charles Woodfork Jr., who suffered a season-ending ACL injury in a 34-0 win over Mifflin on Oct. 5.
Also in Region 7, seventh-seeded Independence (5-5) plays 10th-seeded Watkins Memorial (7-3) at Africentric, eighth-seeded Briggs (7-3) hosts ninth-seeded Westerville South (6-4) and 15th-seeded Walnut Ridge (3-7) visits second-seeded Canal Winchester (9-1).
In Division III, Region 11, 15th-seeded Beechcroft (4-6) visits second-seeded London (10-0) and 16th-seeded South (4-6) visits top-seeded Watterson (9-1).
In Division IV, Region 15, eighth-seeded East (8-2) hosts ninth-seeded Licking Valley (7-3) and 11th-seeded Marion-Franklin (6-4) visits sixth-seeded St. Clairsville (8-2).
In Division V, Region 19, 10th-seeded Africentric (7-3) visits seventh-seeded Wheelersburg (6-3).
4. Can Harvest Prep or Columbus Academy win Division V, Region 19?
Fourth-seeded Harvest Prep (8-1) hosts 13th-seeded New Lexington (5-5) and sixth-seeded Academy (9-1) hosts 11th-seeded Utica (7-3) in the first round. Academy hopes to bounce back from a 28-7 setback against Ready in Week 10.
Harvest Prep is making its 10th consecutive postseason appearance and seeking its fourth regional championship. The Warriors won regional titles in 2021, 2019 and 2016.
E.J. Pierce has passed for 724 yards and 11 touchdowns, Chris Brown has 913 yards receiving and 15 scores and Dez Porter has rushed for 687 yards and eight touchdowns.
“We’re not a complete team yet, and I don’t think the best teams are complete yet,” coach Milan Smith said. “You want to play your best football heading into November, and you want to be at the apex of this thing late November, early December.”
In its fifth consecutive postseason, Academy is seeking its first regional title since 2003, when it went on to win the Division V state championship.
Jack Yeoman has passed for 904 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions, and Greyson Thomas has rushed for 895 yards and nine scores.
“We’re far from a perfect football team, but we have hungry kids who are coachable and we’ll get better,” coach Robin Miller said.
5. Can Canal Winchester win its first regional title?
Canal Winchester begins pursuit of its first regional title when it hosts Walnut Ridge.
The Indians must rebound from a 17-0 loss to Big Walnut in their regular-season finale. For coach Jake Kuhner, the loss didn't alter the team's goals.
“Our ultimate goal is to make a run and contend to be a regional champion,” he said. “When you become a regional champion, anything can happen in the (state tournament). We need to play for one another and trust that everyone is doing their job and focus on playing a disciplined game, and win the turnover battle.”
Canal Winchester has a challenging road to the Region 7 title, with potential semifinal opponents including third-seeded Uniontown Green (7-3) and sixth-seeded DeSales (5-5). The title likely will go through top-seeded Massillon Washington (10-0), the defending regional champion.
Massillon defeated Canal Winchester 34-0 in a regional quarterfinal last season.
Maxton Brunner has passed for 586 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions and Kaseem Wade has rushed for 490 yards and six scores to lead the Indians.
6. Can Watterson earn its first state semifinal berth in 13 years?
Watterson is seeking its ninth regional title, but first since 2010. It won state championships in 2010 and 2002.
The Eagles lost to DeSales 27-24 in Week 10 and play South in a Region 11 first-round game Friday at Ohio Dominican.
This is a deep region. Central Ohio teams following the top-seeded Eagles include second-seeded London (10-0), third-seeded Granville (10-0), fifth-seeded Bloom-Carroll (8-2) and eighth-seeded Hamilton Township (9-1).
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“It’s a new season,” Watterson coach Brian Kennedy said. “With the success that we had last year, we’re trying to do a little bit better this year. We have to make sure our kids’ heads are right after that loss on Friday. That was a tough one, but now it’s a blank slate.”
Watterson lost to Bloom-Carroll 33-28 in the regional final last season. The Bulldogs lost to Canfield 35-14 in the state final.
7. Can Hartley or Ready win Division IV, Region 15?
Third-seeded Hartley (8-2) and fifth-seeded Ready (9-1) could meet in the regional final, but both face a difficult road to that round. The former CCL rivals last met in 2018.
Hartley has an added obstacle in that its first-round game was canceled because of an illness within the program of 14th-seeded Duncan Falls Philo. The Hawks host St. Clairsville or Marion-Franklin in a regional quarterfinal Nov. 3, and second-seeded Thornville Sheridan is a potential opponent in a semifinal.
“We won’t practice Friday and we’ll give them the weekend off,” Hartley coach Brad Burchfield said. “We’ll get ready for our next opponent. You have to keep practicing like you normally would practice.”
Robert Lathon has rushed for 1,417 yards and 16 touchdowns and Mathew Galich has passed for 894 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions to lead Hartley.
Ready plays 12th-seeded Jonathan Alder (7-3) on Friday at Central Crossing. The next two opponents might be fourth-seeded Logan Elm (9-1) and top-seeded Steubenville (9-1).
Kentrell Rinehart has rushed for 2,535 yards and 41 touchdowns to lead Ready.
“I want to keep this going,” first-year coach T.J. Burbridge said. “We’re not done yet. We have to be 1-0 now or you’re going home.”
8. Can Danville make a deep run in Division VII?
Ranked fourth in the final state poll and seeded second in Region 25, the Blue Devils (10-0) seem to have everything it takes to last deep into November. Danville has run for 2,722 yards, passed for 1,257 and is plus-19 in turnovers. Cole Delaughder’s 1,121 yards and 18 touchdowns pace the ground game, and Walter Weckesser has passed for 1,179 yards and 14 scores and rushed for almost 600 yards and another 13 touchdowns.
A 14-12 overtime win over archrival East Knox in Week 10 was by far Danville’s closest game of the year, but rivalries can be strange birds. It shouldn’t count against the Blue Devils’ body of work.
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Fairfield Christian (8-2) is the fourth seed in Region 27. An offense led by running back Danny Blair’s 1,225 yards and 15 touchdowns averages 48.1 points against sub-.500 teams but only 14.8 points against .500 or better opponents.
Of course, Division VII statewide likely runs through Maria Stein Marion Local. The Flyers have won 42 consecutive games and back-to-back state titles — last year in Division VI and 2021 in Division VII — and routinely make top-tier teams look pedestrian.
9. Which lower seeds could pull off long playoff runs?
This, of course, is pure guesswork. But it’s happened, and recently at that. It was only four years ago that 5-5 Olentangy ended up reaching a Division II regional final, only to fall to perennial power Toledo Central Catholic.
Westerville South, Watkins Memorial and Big Walnut — the ninth, 10th and 12th seeds in Region 7 — all have played tough schedules and stand solid chances in the first round against City League competition.
Hamilton Township is only the eighth seed in loaded Region 11, but no team is 9-1 by accident.
It’s a similar story for No. 12 Jonathan Alder in Region 15. The Pioneers have scored 40 or more points seven times.
10. Which central Ohio teams have the best chance to win a state title?
At midseason, we suggested Gahanna and Bloom-Carroll were the most likely candidates.
Now, add Danville, Harvest Prep, London and Watterson to that list. All have what it takes to get out of their regions, and considering that three of them are in a loaded Region 11, that might be the most fun showdown to watch in our area.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OHSAA football playoffs: 10 questions for central Ohio teams
