THE TOP OHIO PREP FOOTBALL TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2025: DIVISION IV 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 IV
REGION 13: Glenville
County: Cuyahoga.
Enrollment: 251.
Nickname/Mascot: Tarblooders.
Colors: Red & Black.
Head Coach: Ted Ginn Sr. (29th at Glenville, 264-66).
Conference: Senate League.
Last Season: 11-4; D-4 state semifinalists, Region 13 champions, Senate League champions.
Class of 2026: 39-7 (.848); two state titles, three state semifinal appearances, three Senate League titles.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 12 @ St. Edward.
Key Games: Aug. 22 @ Massillon Washington; Sept. 5 @ Avon; and Oct. 10 @ Hoban.
2024 Region 13 Final: Glenville defeated Perry, 12-6, in overtime at Macedonia Nordonia’s Boliantz Stadium.
Team Preview: Glenville have won three straight regional championships.
The Tarblooders bring back first-team All-Ohio guard Marquis Whipple to bang in the trenches, leading the way for third team All-Ohio RB C.J. Newell. Receiver Joseph Saffold, an honorable mention All-Ohio pick last year, transfers from St. Edward after catching 52 balls for 723 yards and five TDs in 2024. Pauly Sadler III, a BGSU commit, was honorable mention all-district a year ago at wideout.
Defensively, linebacker Cincere Johnson was Division IV co-defensive player of the year last season. On the defensive front, DL Dion’dre Taylor transfers from St. Edward after committing 53 tackles, nine TFL, five sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery last season. Taylor is committed to play for Kent State.
In the defensive backfield, Aaron Scales was a second team All-Ohio pick, and Jordin Johnson was honorable mention all-district a year ago.
REGION 14: Perkins
County: Erie.
Enrollment: 248.
Nickname/Mascot: Pirates.
Colors: Black & White.
Head Coach: Jalen Santoro (6th at Perkins, 48-15).
Conference: Sandusky Bay Conference - Lake Division.
Last Season: 14-2; D-4 runner-ups; Region 14 champions; SBC - Lake champions.
Class of 2026: 36-5 (.878); state runner-ups; state semifinal appearance; three SBC - Lake titles.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 12 @ Harvest Prep.
Key Games: Sept. 26 vs. Clyde; Oct. 3 @ Sandusky; and Oct. 24 @ Tiffin Columbian.
2024 Region 14 Final: Perkins beat Ontario, 28-21, at Tiffin Columbian’s Frost-Kalnow Stadium.
Team Preview: The Pirates have reached the Region 14 finals the previous two seasons.
Sam Schweinfurth, Perkins’ honorable mention All-Ohio QB, completed 65-percent of his passes for 3,002 yards, 40 TDs, and six INTs in a successful junior campaign.
Blocking for Schweinfurth, Eli Sanchez returns after first team all-district and All-SBC Lake accolades in 2024.
Defensively for the Pirates, senior linebacker Braxden Martin—a second team all-district and first team All-SBC Lake honoree—made 158 tackles, three INTs, two defensive TDs, and half a sack last year.
Sophomore kicker Danny Buga was honorable mention all-district and second team All-SBC Lake a season ago.
REGION 15: Indian Valley
County: Tuscarawas.
Enrollment: 250.
Nickname/Mascot: Braves.
Colors: Red, White, & Blue.
Head Coach: Matt Lancaster (19th at Indian Valley, 135-68).
Conference: Inter-Valley Conference - South Division.
Last Season: 16-0; D-4 state champions; Region 15 champions, IVC - South champions.
Class of 2026: 35-8 (.814); state title; Region 15 title; IVC - South title.
Toughest Opponent: Aug. 29 @ Steubenville.
Key Games: Aug. 22 @ Uniontown Green; Oct. 3 vs. Garaway; and Oct. 10 vs. Ridgewood.
2024 Region 15 Final: Indian Valley defeated St. Clairsville, 48-7, at Zanesville’s Sulsberger Stadium.
Team Preview: Last year’s Division IV co-offensive player of the year, Grady Kinsey, ran for 3,278 and 50 TDs in last year’s state title run. Kinsey is a two-time All-Ohioan who likely will make it a three-time All-Ohioan.
Brave junior dual-threat QB Ryker Williams completed 60.4-percent of his passes for 1,008 yards, 11 TDs, and four INTs. Williams also rushed for 1,435 yards and 14 TDs in a second-team All-Ohio campaign a season ago.
Indian Valley tight end Colt James is Williams’ top returning target. James caught nine passes for 172 yards and two TDs in 2024.
Defensively, the Red, White, & Blue’s led by Rowan Piccin who had 93 tackles a year ago, eight PBU, four INTs, three sacks, and a fumble recovery. Williams also had 72 tackles, 17 TFL, 12 sacks, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and an INT.
Senior strong safety Kyler Vosick recorded 71 tackles, four picks, and four deflections in his junior season..
Matt Lancaster was Division IV co-coach of the year last year as he led the Braves on a perfect 16-0 run. Coach Lancaster will have a lot of pressure to repeat last year’s feat, but with the senior leadership Indian Valley have this season the odds of repeating aren’t bad at all.
REGION 16: Valley View
County: Montgomery.
Enrollment: 215.
Nickname/Mascot: Spartans.
Colors: Navy Blue & White.
Head Coach: Matt King (4th @ VV, 35-7).
Conference: Southwestern Buckeye League - Buckeye Division.
Last Season: 9-3; SWBL - Buckeye champions; Region 16 quarterfinalists.
Class of 2026: 35-7 (.833); two state semifinals appearances.
Toughest Opponent: Aug. 22 vs. Coldwater.
Key Games: Sept. 5 vs. Bellbrook; Oct. 17 vs. Brookville; and Oct. 24 @ Waynesville.
2024 Region 16 Final: Taft beat Alter, 26-12, at Monroe’s Hornet Stadium.
Team Preview: The Spartans’ return their one-two-three rushing combo in Anthony Valenti, Tristan Smith, and Brodie Hopkins.
Valenti was an All-Ohio third team member a year ago after rushing for 689 yards and seven TDs; throwing for 242 yards and four TDs, and making 11 catches for 138 yards and a couple TDs. Smith ran for 758 yards and seven TDs as well as catching a couple TDs last season.
Hopkins, a second team all-district pick, rushed for 820 yards and 10 TDs in 2024, and is the team’s leading returning receiver with 29 catches, 466 yards, and three TDs. Hopkins is also has the most experience punting for Valley View with 27.6 average last year.
Junior QB Brody Gibbs returns to take snaps this season after completing 51.5-percent of his passes for 740 yards, seven TDs, and 11 INTs as a sophomore. Gibbs also rushed for 317 yards and five TDs to make that a four-punch rushing combo.
Upfront on the O-line will be 2024 second team All-SWBL - Buckeye selection Landyn West.
Defensively, Caesar Berryman anchors the squad coming off a second team All-Ohio campaign where he had 92 tackles, 29 TFL, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. Berryman was SWBL - Buckeye defensive player of the year last season also.
Valenti was also a first team All-SWBL - Buckeye defensive selection as well as on the offensive side. He made 55 tackles, five PBUs, two TFL, a forced fumble and recovery as a DB last year.
Valley View coach Matt King was SWBL - Buckeye coach of the year last year.
PREDICTED DIVISION IV CHAMPION: Glenville.
OTHER CONTENDERS: Perry, Wyoming, West Branch, Clinton-Massie, Taft, and Lake Catholic.
DARK HORSE: West Holmes.
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/
