THE TOP OHIO PREP FOOTBALL TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2025: DIVISION II 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 VII
REGION 25: Malvern
County: Carroll.
Enrollment: 101.
Nickname/Mascot: Hornets.
Colors: Green & White.
Head Coach: Matt Chiurco (8th @ Malvern; 53-24).
Conference: Inter-Valley Conference - North Division.
Last Season: 11-2; IVC - North champions; Region 25 semifinalists.
Class of 2026: 29-7 (.806); two IVC - North titles, an IVC - North runner-up, and a regional semifinals appearance.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Mogadore.
Key Games: Aug. 22 @ Valley Christian; Aug. 29 @ Martins Ferry; and Oct. 10 @ Newcomerstown.
2024 Region 25 Final: Hillsdale defeated Cuyahoga Heights, 44-14, at Orrville’s Red Rider Stadium, Heartland Field.
Team Preview: On offense, the Hornets returns three honorable mention All-Ohio selections: RB Julius Gore, receiver Roy Simmons, and lineman Darnell Jackson.
Receiver and outside linebacker Josh Untch was second team All-IVC North a year ago.
Defensively, linebacker Owen Ball returns after an honorable mention All-Ohio performance.
Head coach Matt Chiurco was last year’s all-district co-coach of the year.
REGION 26: Columbus Grove
County: Putnam.
Enrollment: 108.
Nickname/Mascot: Bulldogs.
Colors: Red & Gray.
Head Coach: Andy Schafer (14th at CG, 101-53; 19th overall, 124-91).
Conference: Northwest Conference.
Last Season: 14-1; D-7 state semifinalists; Region 26 champions; NWC champions.
Class of 2026: 38-7 (.844); three state semifinal appearances; two NWC titles; NWC runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Aug. 29 vs. Liberty-Benton.
Key Games: Sept. 5 @ Patrick Henry; Oct. 17 @ Lima Central Catholic; and Oct. 24 vs. Bluffton.
2024 Region 26 Final: Columbus Grove beat Delphos St. John’s, 14-0, at Lima Spartan Stadium.
Team Preview: After a third team All-Ohio selection as a sophomore, Landon Best had a season-ending leg injury in week three of last season. Prior to the injury, Best completed 72.4-percent of his passes for 284 yards, two TDs, and two INTs on the season. Best also rushed for 77 yards and four TDs.
The leading returning rusher for the Bulldogs is sophomore Brody McCluer, with 28 rushing attempts for 157 yards, and a TD a year ago.
Returning to catch Best’s balls are two honorable mention All-Ohio receivers from a year ago—senior Trevon Baxter and junior Brady Basinger. Baxter returns after a team-leading 45 receptions for 713 yards and 11 TDs. Basinger snagged 17 balls for 252 yards and four TDs I 2024.
Baxter also garnered 75 tackles, six INTs, three deflections, two fumble recoveries, a force fumble, and a TFL on defense.
Gavin Barraza, a senior DB who was selected as second team all-district a year ago, had 58 tackles, 10 deflections, six INTs, and four TFL.
Senior kicker Evan Verhoff was a honorable mention All-Ohio honoree last season.
Head coach Andy Schafer was Division VII co-coach of the year in 2024 seems to have Grove in a groove over the last couple of seasons. This isn’t unexpected for a programs whose reached the highest heights previously, but it is nice for the Bulldog faithful.
REGION 27: Danville
County: Knox.
Enrollment: 89.
Nickname/Mascot: Blue Devils.
Colors: Royal Blue & White.
Head Coach: Matt Blum (5th at Danville, 40-14).
Conference: Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference.
Last Season: 12-3; D-7 state semifinalists; KMAC runner-ups.
Class of 2026: 36-7 (.837); state semifinal appearance; KMAC title, Region 25 runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 19 vs. Northmor.
Key Games: Aug. 22 @ Worthington Christian; Sept. 5 vs. Lucas; and Oct. 10 @ Centerburg.
2024 Region 27 Final: Danville defeated Beaver Eastern, 40-6, at Logan’s Chieftain Stadium.
Team Preview: Junior QB Nolan Ridgway is the only returning player to have thrown a pass last season. Ridgway was 6-of-11 for 40 yards, and two TDs a year ago.
Also in the backfield will be sophomore Cyren Wallace ran for 1,008 yards and 14 TDs as a freshman last year—good enough for honorable mention all-district fame.
Wesley Payne, last year’s leader in receptions is back after an all-district nod as well. Payne caught 16 passes for 149 yards and a couple TDs. Junior Aidan Mickley is back as well after 13 receptions, 164 yards, and a TD in 2024.
Defensively, Wallace had 81 tackles, six PBUs, two INTs while Payne had 63 tackles, 14 PBUs, three INTs, and one TFL.
Chris Mosher made 84 tackles, two PBUs, one TFL, a fumble recovery, and half a sack; junior Owen Gronberg was honorable mention all-district after making 79 tackles, eight TFL, five sacks, a PBU; and Carson Proper’s 71 tackles, five INTs, and four PBUs earned him all-district honors as well.
REGION 28: Marion Local
County: Mercer.
Enrollment: 108.
Nickname/Mascot: Flyers.
Colors: Royal Blue & Green Bay Yellow.
Head Coach: Tim Goodwin (27th at ML, 325-48).
Conference: Midwest Athletic Conference.
Last Season: 16-0; D-7 state champions; Region 28 champions; MAC champions.
Class of 2026: 48-0 (1.000); three state titles; three regional titles; three MAC titles.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 24 vs. Coldwater.
Key Games: Sept. 26 vs. Versailles; Oct. 10 vs. Anna; and Oct. 17 @ Minster.
2024 Region 28 Final: Marion Local beat Minster, 21-7, at Wapakoneta’s Mercy Health Wapak VFW Field.
Team Preview: The Flyers are riding a 64-game winning streak. They don’t rebuild. They reload. This years’ senior class is looking to be the second in modern Ohio high school football history to go their entire careers without losing a game. Last year’s squad was the first.
Tight end Oliver Huelsman and defensive back Cale Nagel, both seniors, return after All-MAC honorable mention a year ago.
PREDICTED DIVISION VII CHAMPION: Marion Local.
OTHER CONTENDERS: Ansonia, Cincinnati Country Day, Hillsdale, and Minster.
DARK HORSES: McComb and Berlin Center Western Reserve.
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/
