THE TOP OHIO PREP FOOTBALL TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2025: DIVISION VI EDITION

By Kyle Holsinger

Welcome back everyone for the beginning of the 2025 high school football season. I’m excited to get back on the sidelines to cover some games in the coming weeks. 

During the season, I do not make any picks or predictions publicly in case I end up getting sent to cover that game on short notice. That being said, the following series of articles are my preseason predictions to win all 28 regions, and my picks for state champions in each of the seven divisions in OHSAA 11-man football this season. There will be seven articles—one for every OHSAA division.

At the end of each division’s predictions, I will list my state champion pick along with some contender and dark horse schools that were not picked as regional champions that could hoist the state championship trophy at the end of the 2025 season. 

I also want to preface that it was difficult to gauge some non-Ohio opponents for these schools. So, if I wasn’t sure then I didn’t consider them for a team’s toughest opponent or key game. Some schools’ schedules were so difficult that it was eenie, meanie, miney, moe as to who their toughest opponent was actually.

I hope all of the schools in the state have a healthy and sportsmanlike year, and at the end of the season, we’ll recap and see how close I ended up on these picks.

All recruiting information is thanks to 247Sports.com.

DIVISION VI

REGION 21: Kirtland

County: Lake.

Enrollment: 143.

Nickname/Mascot: Hornets.

Colors: Blue & Gold.

Head Coach: Tiger LaVerde (17th at Kirtland, 244-21; 20th overall, 264-31).

Conference: Chagrin Valley Conference - Valley Division.

Last Season: 15-1; D-6 runner-ups; Region 21 champions, CVC - Valley champions.

Class of 2026: 45-3 (.938); state title; two state runner-ups; three state semifinal appearances.

Toughest Opponent: Sept. 5 vs. Perry.

Key Games: Aug. 29 vs. Ashland Crestview; Oct. 3 vs. Berkshire; and Oct. 24 @ Rootstown.

2024 Region 21 Final: Kirtland defeated Dalton, 41-6, at North Royalton’s Serpentini Stadium.

Team Preview: Kirtland has won Region 21 the last three seasons, Region 17 the three seasons before that, and Region 21 the two season previous for a total of eight consecutive regional titles.

Hornets coach Tiger LaVerde was 2024 D-VI co-coach of the year.

His son, Jake LaVerde, is a two-time All-Ohio QB, making the second team in 2024 and the first team last season. LaVerde, a dual-threat QB, rushed for 1,215 yards and 12 TDs

Blocking for LaVerde is junior Lucci Cantini, who made second team All-Ohio a year ago. Running back John Silvestro comes back after rushing for 757 yards and eights TDs in an honorable mention all-district effort last season.

The Kirtland defense will be led by Ty Bledsoe, who returns from an third team All-Ohio performance last year as nose guard.

Kicker Xavier Lasecki made All-Ohio honorable mention in 2024.

REGION 22: Hopewell-Loudon

County: Seneca.

Enrollment: 117.

Nickname/Mascot: Chieftains.

Colors: Scarlet & Gray.

Head Coach: Brian Colatruglio (16th at H-L, 140-41; 25th overall, 204-77).

Conference: Sandusky Bay Conference - River Division.

Last Season: 11-1; SBC - River champions; Region 22 semifinalists.

Class of 2026: 32-5 (.865); three SBC - River titles; two Region 22 semifinals appearances.

Toughest Opponent: Sept. 5 @ Milan Edison.

Key Games: Aug. 22 vs. Carey; Sept. 12 vs. Calvert; and Sept. 19 @ Gibsonburg.

2024 Region 22 Final: Bluffton beat Patrick Henry, 24-7, at Findlay’s Donnell Stadium.

Team Preview: Senior Aiden Ewald is a two-time All-Ohio selection as a defensive lineman and was also first team All-SBC River as an offensive lineman last season. Ewald garnered 57 tackles and five sacks last year for the Chieftains.

Helping Ewald on the offensive line will be senior Scott Turco, who made honorable mention all-district last season.

The junior backfield tandem of Jacoby Ellis and Kellen Frankart returns with the two combining for 1,811 passing yards last season. Ellis is the clear starter at quarterback, throwing for 1,458 yards and 11 TDs a season ago in a first team All-SBC River campaign. However, Frankart did throw six TDs for H-L last season while also rushing for 721 yards with nine TDs. Preparing for this duo will be a challenge for opposing defenses.

Senior receiver Jack Colatruglio, a 2024 second team all-district honoree, returns after catching 52 passes for 852 yards and five TDs. Frankart also caught nine passes for 119 yards and two TDs out of the backfield.

Linebacker Mason Reinhart leads the Scarlet & Gray defense. Reinhart gained second team all-district accolades after committing 93 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles with one recovery a season ago. 

Turco also had 38 tackles and three sacks on the defensive side of the ball. In May, he deadlifted an unofficial world record of 611.7-pounds.

Colatruglio was first team All-SBC River as a defensive back as well—turning in 35 tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a defensive TD last year. Luca SanGregory, a senior DB who was a 2024 second team All-SBC River selection, will be assisting in the defensive backfield. SanGregory made 42 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and an interception last year as a junior.

Frankart also averaged 38.1 yards per punt last year for Hopewell-Loudon on special teams.

After coming off a season where Hopewell-Loudon head coach Brian Colatruglio won his 200th career game and received all-district co-coach of the year honors, the Chieftains look to get back to the state final four after last seasons’ regional semifinals finish.

REGION 23: Fort Frye

County: Washington.

Enrollment: 149.

Nickname/Mascot: Cadets.

Colors: Red, White, & Blue.

Head Coach: Eric Huck (18th at FF, 152-46).

Conference: Ohio Valley Athletic Conference - Class 3A / Twin-State League.

Last Season: 9-4; TSL co-champs; Region 23 semifinalists.

Class of 2026: 32-9 (.780); state semifinals appearance; two TSL titles.

Toughest Opponent: Aug. 22 @ Barnesville.

Key Games: Sept. 5 vs. Wheeling Central Catholic (WV); Sept. 12 @ Waterford; and Oct. 24 vs. Point Pleasant (WV).

2024 Region 23 Final: Northmor defeated Grandview Heights, 37-6, at Westerville Central High School.

Team Preview: The Cadets can rely on senior All-Ohio RB Tyce Beardsley, who rushed for 1,231 yards and 10 TDs as a junior.

Junior quarterback Grady Hesson was the starter last year, completing 57.1-percent of his passes for 873 yards, seven TDs, and seven picks. Hesson was able to run for 236 yards and 10 TDs as well a year ago.

Hesson will have honorable mention all-district sophomore wideout Luke Phills. Phills caught 22 passes for 358 yards and four TDs as a freshman.

Returning to the O-line is second team all-district Blake Wheeler and honorable mention all-district Sam Beaver.

Defensively, Fort Frye returns Kainan Bradford—a second team all-district linebacker with 105 tackles, 11 TFL, an INT, and a fumble recovery last season.

Hesson was second team all-district as a defensive back as a sophomore with 46 tackles, an INT, a force fumble, and a TFL.

Cadet junior kicker Tytan Waller made second team all-district last year for his efforts.

REGION 24: Coldwater

County: Mercer.

Enrollment: 153.

Nickname/Mascot: Cavaliers.

Colors: Orange & Black.

Head Coach: Chip Otten (16th at Coldwater, 182-31; 22nd overall, 208-65).

Conference: Midwest Athletic Conference.

Last Season: 15-1; D-6 state champions; Region 24 champions; MAC runner-ups.

Class of 2026: 38-5 (.884); 

Toughest Opponent: Oct. 24 @ Marion Local.

Key Games: Aug. 22 @ Valley View; Aug. 29 vs. Clinton-Massie; and Sept. 19 vs. Minster.

2024 Region 24 Final: Coldwater beat Anna, 45-21, at Sidney Memorial Stadium.

Team Preview: The Cavaliers’ Bryce Couchot was an All-Ohio second team selection as a kicker last season.

Offensively, Cain Obringer returns after an honorable mention all-district campaign a year ago. Senior center Rudy Kremer was also all-district honorable mention in 2024.

Coldwater coach Chip Otten was all-district co-coach of the year in 2024 after bringing home the Division VI title.

PREDICTED DIVISION VI CHAMPION: Kirtland.

OTHER CONTENDERS: Garaway and Dalton.

DARK HORSES: Bluffton, Columbia, Patrick Henry, Archbold, and Northmor.

Thanks for reading, and look for the other six divisions of previews for the upcoming 2025 at Heart of Ohio Sports!

DIVISION I https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-i/

DIVISION II https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-ii/

DIVISION III https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-iii/

DIVISION IV https://heartofohiosports.com/top-ohio-prep-football-teams-2025-division-iv/

DIVISION V https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-v/

DIVISION VI https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-vi/

DIVISION VII https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-vii/