Is anyone excited about Week 3 of the high school football season?
I think a lot of questions abound before action kicks off, already a fifth of the way into the regular season.
Our local teams went 4-1 last week with the lone team that lost taking a tough one in overtime.
Just two of the five are at home this week. One of the three on the road could be playing in what I think is matchup of the week perhaps in all of Northwest Ohio.
Who is who and who is where? Read on to find out!
Here's a look at the five Heart of Ohio Sports teams, starting with Columbian.
As we talked last week, the Tornadoes were in prime position to get a win and did, defeating Mansfield Senior 45-12 last week at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. The Tygers have fallen on hard times over the past few years after being one of the more solid teams in North Central Ohio and Columbian was able to take care of business. Logan Gooding was tremendous for the Tornadoes, completing 13 of 17 passes for 187 yards and four touchdowns against Mansfield Senior. Masen Seitz ran 20 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns. Dashawn Russell and Johnny Bremyer each caught two touchdown passes from Gooding with Russell finishing with six catches for 96 yards and Bremyer four receptions for 70 yards. That was Columbian's lone home game in the first four weeks of the season. The Tornadoes hit the road for four of the next five games before finishing the season with three straight home games. Things get a bit tougher this week for Columbian with a trip to Medina Buckeye to take on the Bucks, who are 2-0. They defeated Cloverleaf (41-0) and Amherst (21-13) in the first two weeks of the season. The Tornadoes aren't completely unfamiliar with Medina Buckeye, having defeated the Bucks 35-0 in a regional semifinal in 2023 at Bellevue High School. Columbian will have its hands full the next two weeks with Bishop Watterson and a high-powered Huron offense, so getting a win here would be massive for the Tornadoes.
This week: at Medina Buckeye (2-0)
Turn-around performance of the week has to go to the Senecas. I didn't write them off in the slightest bit, but watching them the opening night on the road against Mohawk had me really concerned for Mike Lento and Calvert. But, the Senecas answered the bell, controlling Monroeville from the get-go in a 35-21 win over the Eagles. Calvert led by a couple touchdowns at halftime only for Monroeville to get within one score early in the third quarter. The Senecas bounced back and dominated the rest of the game to improve to 1-1. Charlie Palm completed 16 of 23 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns against Monroeville while he and Nolan Lee each ran for a touchdown on the ground. Lee finished with 18 rushes for 79 yards as Calvert established the line of scrimmage and picked up a huge win that could pay major dividends later this season. It is hard to believe this is the same team that was roughed up by Mohawk, 39-6, but Lento, the ultimate motivator, had his squad ready to go. Calvert faces another team from the Firelands Conference this week when it hosts Norwalk St. Paul at Heidelberg University. It is the Senecas' first home game. St. Paul is 0-2, having lost to Port Clinton (37-30) and Edison (35-10). The two games were quite different as the Flyers were down 37-9 in the fourth quarter against PC before nearly rallying for the win. Against Edison, it was 14-10 four minutes into the third quarter before Edison pulled away with its ground game. Calvert has won the last two against St. Paul, including a rugged 10-6 win last year in Norwalk.
This week: vs. Norwalk St. Paul (0-2)
The Chieftains are pretty used to winning games comfortably, but had to grind one out against Marion Pleasant last week, 14-7. Hopewell-Loudon didn't play its best, but good teams find a way to win when that is the case. Kellen Frankart ran 20 times for 119 yards and a touchdown against Pleasant while Jaysin Cramer had nine attempts for 56 yards and a touchdown. The Chieftains never got the passing game going as Jacoby Ellis was 4 of 9 for 20 yards and an interception. That came one week after Ellis was 13 of 19 for 179 yards and five touchdowns against a usually tough Carey team. As I mentioned earlier, the Chieftains' contest at Edison screams game of the week in the area. Edison is 2-0 with wins over Firelands (42-6) and the aforementioned St. Paul (35-10). The Chargers are led by their ground game, which is topped by senior running back Bryson Wittmer. A bruiser that committed to play collegiate baseball at the University of Louisville before his freshman season of high school, Wittmer has racked up 39 carries for 297 yards and eight touchdowns this year. He scored all five of Edison's touchdowns last week against St. Paul. Hopewell-Loudon has won the Sandusky Bay Conference River Divisions five years in a row while Edison has won the last two SBC Bay Division championships. Hopewell-Loudon is 55-8 since the beginning of the 2020 season while Edison is 26-3 since the beginning of the 2023 season. Strap in for a good one at Freedom Field in Milan.
This week: at Edison (2-0)
The Warriors did what they needed to do in a 37-8 thumping of Cardington-Lincoln. Through two games, Mohawk has outscored its opponents 76-14. Andon Clouse continues to play well at quarterback for the Warriors. Through two games, he has completed 14 of 22 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns while running 29 times for 253 yards and three scores. Kaden Bish is also lethal on the ground with 23 rushes for 182 yards and three touchdowns. The Warriors have spread out the wealth at wide receiver with Brant Kirian having five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Levi Tiell has three catches for 90 yards. Mohawk should be favorited again this week when it hits the road to take on Defiance Ayersville. The Pilots are 0-2 after losses to Delta (42-8) and Patrick Henry (41-0). If the Warriors can take care of the ball, get out with a win and stay healthy, it's a good week for Mohawk. You never want to look ahead or past an opponent, but the Warriors open Northern 10 Athletic Conference play next week by hosting Colonel Crawford (2-0), the overwhelming favorite to win the league according to local media. I know Eric Daniel well enough to know they are focused on one thing and one thing only and that is beating Ayersville this week.
This week: at Ayersville (0-2)
The good news for the Tigers is they scored offensive points last week against Galion Northmor. The bad news is that it wasn't enough in a 27-21 overtime loss to the Golden Knights. It was an improvement from scrapping past Ashland Crestview 2-0 thanks to a fourth-quarter safety. Through two games, Nicholas Parks has completed 24 of 45 passes for 247 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. He has run 51 times for 227 and a touchdown. Jackson Gayheart has 31 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown for Seneca East. The Tigers host Monroeville this week, a team coming off the tough loss to Calvert. The Eagles were superb in Week 1, blasting McComb 46-20. Seneca East has made the playoffs the last 10 years and a win here would be a nice building block to another trip. Monroeville topped Seneca East last year, 36-13, and two years ago, 40-21. It is the Eagles' first road game of the season.
This week: vs. Monroeville (1-1)
This Friday, join us on the Adrenaline Stream as the 1-1 Seneca East Tigers host the 1-1 Monroeville Eagles in a non-conference clash LIVE from Tigers Field in Attica on Military Appreciation Night. Nate Mullins will be on the call with Tommy Hall alongside Greg ‘The Wizard’ Kinn, with Donnie Hannam on camera and Eric Hall on the sidelines bringing you every pulse-pounding moment LIVE on the pulse of the buckeye state!
Meanwhile, on the X Stream, Dominic Helmstetter, Jacob Ellis, Brendon Blott, and Emma Moeglin deliver another thrilling week 3 matchup as the (1-1) Tiffin Calvert Senecas host the (0-2) Norwalk St. Paul Flyers at Hoernemann Stadium on the beautiful campus of Heidelberg University!
To catch all the action, head over to HeartOfOhioSports.com, click on the ‘WATCH LIVE’ tab, and enjoy both games paywall-free from the comfort of your home on your smart TV. Of course, you can always take the games with you wherever you go on your smartphone or tablet. Your home for live sports in the Buckeye State is HeartOfOhioSports.com!
THE 10 BEST GAMES TO SEE IN OHIO - WEEK THREE
By Kyle Holsinger - TWITTER (X): @mcnewkleus
We’re already to week three of the season, and we’ve seen some great football so far. I wanted to let the reader know that over the last couple seasons that I’ve wrestled with how to properly rank out-of-state opponents for matchups. I’ve also wrestled with ranking them in the top five of the state or just keeping them as honorable mention.
The article is titled The 10 Best Games to See in Ohio for each week so I’ve made a decision to include games with out-of-state opponents in the top five rankings if I feel that the game is truly one of the five best games in the state. Anytime that I do this, one extra game between two Ohio opponents will be added to the honorable mention so that we will always have 10 or more Ohio teams listed in that section.
The Five Best Games in the Area
#5 Monroeville (1-1) @ Seneca East (1-1)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Monroeville lost to Calvert at home, 35-21; Seneca East lost at Northmor in overtime, 27-21.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 6, 2024; Monroeville beat Seneca East at home, 36-13.
Intrigue: After a convincing 26-point home victory over McComb, Monroeville lost by a couple scores to Calvert, 35-21, on the same field. Now, the Eagles take the show on the road for the first time this year to Attica to face the Tigers.
Monroeville coach Tylor Nester was quoted after last week’s game in Angela Hill’s article for The Advertiser-Tribune as saying that mental mistakes and discipline were factors in the Eagles’ loss to Calvert.
After a 2-0 home win in their season opener with Ashland Crestview, Seneca East lost in overtime at Northmor, 27-21 last week.
The Tigers threw for 159 yards and rushed for 235 yards for 394 total yards against Northmor. The Orange & Black defense gave up only 49 rushing yards, but 200 passing yards to the Golden Knights a week ago.
#4 Holland Springfield (2-0) @ Findlay (1-1)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Springfield won at Northview, 44-10; Findlay won at Lima Senior, 17-7.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 27, 2024; Findlay won at Springfield, 42-13.
Intrigue: Findlay’s Jacob Gebhardt had two interceptions last game. Trojan running back Lance Miller rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. Wideout Carter Imke had six receptions for 41 yards in the I-75 rivalry win.
The Blue & Gold defense gave up just 34 rushing yard and 172 passing yards last Friday.
Springfield won their first two games on the road: 42-14 at Maumee in week one, and then 44-10 at Northview.
Both of those teams currently sit at 0-2 on the season. So it’ll be interesting to see if the Blue Devils can beat a team that’s won a game so far this year.
#3 Ashland (2-0) @ Clyde (0-2)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Ashland beat Marion Harding at home, 42-7; Clyde lost at Toledo Start, 30-13;
Previous Meeting: Aug. 27, 2021; Clyde defeated Ashland at home, 34-0.
Intrigue: Ashland heads out on the road for the first time this season. The Arrows won their first game 43-10 against Bay, then beat Marion Harding, 42-7.
Clyde is looking to bounce back from back-to-back losses to Bellevue at home, 33-23, and then last week at Start, 30-13.
#2 Bellevue (2-0) @ Shelby (2-0)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Bellevue beat Wauseon at home, 42-14; Shelby defeated Lexington at home, 37-13.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 6, 2024; Shelby beat Bellevue at home, 34-0.
Intrigue: Bellevue’s Ike Brown has completed 9-of-16 passes for 93 yards and three TDs while also rushing for 97 yards and another TD on 10 carries. Brown also has punted four times for 162 yards—good enough for a 40.5 yard average. Evan Bova has 17 rushing attempts for 66 yards and 15 tackles, and a pick-six on defense.
Defensively, the Redmen’s leading tackler is Konner Dauch with 21 tackles so far in 2025; Caden Cramer has 15 tackles; and Nolan Hartman has 12 tackles and a defensive TD also.
Shelby’’s Brayden DeVito was 8-of-9 passing for 156 yards and two TDs while also rushing for 164 yards and two scores on 11 carries in their 37-13 win against Lexington.
The week before Shelby won at Mansfield Madison, 56-14.
#1 Hopewell-Loudon (2-0) @ Milan Edison (2-0)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Edison beat St. Paul, 35-10 at home; H-L defeated Pleasant, 14-7, at home.
Previous Meeting: They haven’t met this century, if at all.
Intrigue: Hopewell-Loudon is led offensively by Kellen Frankart, who has 232 yards and a TD on 36 rushing attempts. Frankart also is 2-of-4 passing for 14 yards, and he’s also caught four passes for 31 yards and a TD.
The passing game stars Jacoby Ellis at QB. Ellis has completed 17-of-28 passes for 199 yards, five TDs, and an interception. His top target is Brody Brickman, who has nine receptions for 141 yards and four TDs after two games.
Defensively, Mason Reinhart leads the squad with 18 tackles. Chase Rogier has 13 tackles and an interception, and Eli Benner has made 12 tackles, a forced fumble, and one sack.
Edison has had two consecutive home wins to start the season; the first was a 42-6 win against Firelands then a 35-10 victory over St. Paul.
Bryson Wittmer has 19 carries for 111 yards and five TDs. Quarterback Cole Leimeister threw 6-of-7 completions for 78 yards and a TD, and rushed for 38 yards as well.
Honorable Mention - St. Paul (0-2) @ Calvert (1-1); Mansfield Madison (1-1) @ Ontario (1-1); and Port Clinton (2-0) @ Oak Harbor (2-0).
The Five Best Games in the State
#5 Olentangy (2-0) @ Olentangy Orange (2-0)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Olentangy beat Perrysburg at home, 28-20; Orange defeated Westerville North at home, 42-0.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 1, 2024; Olentangy lost at Orange, 21-17, in the first round of the Region 3 playoffs.
Intrigue: Olentangy linebacker C.J. Sanna is committed to Ohio State. Defensive back Kaden Gebhardt is committed to play college ball at Clemson; and O-lineman Luke Grover is a Cincinnati commit.
Orange’s Cohen Weaver ran for 221 yards and four TDs on 25 carries. Quarterback Levi Davis rushed 19 times for 95 yards and a TD while also throwing three TD passes in their win against Weterville North.
#4 Detroit (MI) Catholic Central (1-0) @ Toledo Central Catholic (0-2)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: DCC beat Clinton Township (MI) Chippewa Valley, 41-7; TCC lost at Detroit (MI) Cass Tech, 28-27.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 6, 2024; DCC beat TCC at home, 21-7.
Intrigue: TCC racked up 323 total offensive yards in their nail-biting loss against Cass Tech last week. Prior to that, the Fighting Irish lost 17-14 at home to Walsh Jesuit.
DCC opened their season with an impressive home win against Chippewa Valley.
#3 Rabun Gap - Nacoochee (GA) (0-2) @ Massillon Washington (1-1)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Rabun Gap lost at Chattanooga (TN) Baylor, 35-34; Massillon defeated GlenOak at home, 44-10.
Previous Meeting: First meeting.
Intrigue: Rabun Gap has been on the road all season, losing to Grayson (GA) 24-19, and then at Baylor (TN), 35-34. Baylor is the top-ranked team in Tennessee.
Massillon’s Mandwel Patteron was 16-of-21 for 200 yards, and four TDs last week. After rushing for 131 yards the week before, Savior Owens had 57 yards on ten runs with a TD. Deontay Malone caught seven passes for 102 yards and a TD while Giorgio Jackson Jr. had seven receptions for 72 yards and two TDs.
#2 Glenville (2-0) @ Avon (1-1)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Glenville won at Olentangy Liberty, 13-7; Avon lost at Port Orange (FL) Spruce Creek, 25-22.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 6, 2024; Avon defeated Glenville at home, 13-12.
Intrigue: Glenville defensive lineman Dion’dre Taylor had three sacks and two forced fumbles in last week’s win against Liberty.
The Tarblooders have won both of their games on the road this year. Week one’s overtime victory at Massillon was followed up by another close one with Liberty.
Like Toledo Central Catholic, Avon ended last game with a missed field goal that could’ve changed the outcome of their game.
Prior to that, Avon beat St. Ignatius at home, 40-14.
Cam Wendell ran for 91 rushing yards, Caden Calpham had 68 receiving yards, and Grant Carr had 69 receiving yards.
#1 Louisville (KY) Trinity (2-0) @ Archbishop Moeller (1-1)
When: Fri. Sept 5, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Trinity beat Lexington (KY) Frederick Douglass at home, 37-0; Moeller lost to Chicago (IL) Mt. Carmel, 43-42, Tanks Memorial Stadium in Ironton.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 26, 2022; Moeller beat Trinity at home, 28-3.
Intrigue: Trinity goes on the road for the first time this season after two home wins against Louisville (KY) Pleasure Ridge Park and Frederick Douglass by a combined score of 99-0.
Moeller’s Matt Ponatoski was 19-for-30 passing for 287 yards and five TDs last week. Ponatoski also led the Crusaders in rushing with 54 yards. Carson Khayo caught nine passes for 191 yards and three TDs.
Honorable Mention - Union Local (1-1) @ Indian Creek (2-0); Pickerington Central (2-0) @ Pickerington North (1-1); Lehman Catholic (2-0) @ Fort Loramie (0-2); Elder (2-0) @ Springboro (2-0); and Perry (2-0) @ Kirtland (2-0).
