THE 10 BEST GAMES TO SEE IN OHIO - WEEK 5

By Kyle Holsinger

Welcome back for week five of the season. We’ve had some great games so far, and it’s been really tough again to put these lists together with so many quality matchups to choose from.

The Five Best Games in the Area

#5 Huron (2-2) @ Tiffin Columbian (1-3)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Huron beat Ridgedale at home, 56-7; Tiffin Columbian lost at Bishop Watterson, 81-7.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Huron defeated Columbian at home, 38-20.

Intrigue: Huron’s Landon Hohler has completed 81-of-108 passes for 1,180 yards, 12 touchdowns, and two interceptions. Hohler has also rushed for 154 yards and seven TDs this season. 

Hohler’s favorite target is Caleb Staley, who has 23 receptions for 452 yards and five TDs. Hayden Wilson leads the Tigers in rushing with 155 yards and four TDs on 27 carries.

The Tigers defense is led by Owen Ryan—who has 40 tackles so far this year. Landon Enderle has 33 tackles and an interception while Jack Raglow has 18 tackles and a team-leading two interceptions.

Columbian quarterback Logan Gooding is 57-for-91 with 745 passing yards, nine TDs, and a pick. His leading targets are Johnny Bremyer and Dashawn Russell. Bremyer has 20 receptions for 249 yards and three TDs, and Russell has 19 catches for 216 yards and four TDs.

Mason Seitz leads Columbian in rushing with 53 carries for 235 yards and three TDs in 2025.

The Tornadoes are led defensively this year by Neven Nueman—who has made 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks. 

Jace Arias has made 22 tackles, a sack, and the team’s lone interception. Brock Siesel also has 22 tackles but 0.5 sack. Luke Kerschner leads the team in sacks with 3.5 to go with eight tackles.

#4 Pandora-Gilboa (2-2) @ Arlington (4-0)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: P-G lost to Leipsic at home, 12-7; Arlington defeated Van Buren at home, 28-10.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Pandora beat Arlington at home, 49-28.

Intrigue: Pandora-Gilboa’s Cory Gerten is 59-for-95 passing for 609 yards, six TDs, and five INTs. Gerten’s favorite target has been Chase Meyer—who has caught 26 balls for 307 yards and a TD. Ben Burkholder leads the team in rushing with 400 yards and five TDs on 81 attempts.

Defensively, the Rockets are led by Landen Moore. Moore has 30 tackles with two TFL. Andrew Webster has a team-leading two interceptions.

Arlington’s passing game is led by QB Trenton Heacock—completing 26-of-47 passes for 485 yards, nine TDs, and one pick. Heacock has also ran for 201 yards and four more TDs.

The Red Devils’ leading rusher and receiver is Ayden Cavinee. Cavinee has 388 rushing yards with four TDs to go with 185 receiving yards and three TDs.

The Devil defense is led by Dawson Weihrauch, who has 27 tackles and a TFL on the year. Lukas McIlroy leads the team with two interceptions.

#3 Galion (3-1) @ Ontario (2-2)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Galion lost at Shelby, 45-34; Ontario lost at Clear Fork, 14-10.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 27, 2024; Ontario won at Galion, 49-0.

Intrigue: Galion’s Ayden Schmidt was 7-of-16 for 193 passing yards, four TDs, and one INT in last week’s loss to Shelby. Schmidt also rushed for 34 yards in the game. His top target was Jacob Chambers, who had three catches for 130 yards and three TDs.

Ontario’s Trey Remy was 8-for-23 for 125 yards and four INTs in last week’s loss to Clear Fork. Cardae Brown had three catches for 75 yards in the contest. Kooper Kilgore was the rushing leader with 35 yards on 15 carries.

#2 Hopewell-Loudon (4-0) @ Gibsonburg (3-1)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: H-L beat Calvert at home, 54-0; Gibsonburg won at Northwood, 45-8.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 13, 2024; Hopewell defeated Gibsonburg at home, 27-14.

Intrigue: Hopewell’s Jacoby Ellis has completed 38-of-59 passes for 462 yards, nine TDs, and two INTs. Ellis’ top target this year has been Brody Brickman. Brickman has 16 receptions for 229 yards, and four TDs.

Kellen Frankart is a jack of all trades with a team-leading 353 rushing yards and three TDs to go with 57 yards passing and 42 yards receiving with another TD.

The Chieftains leading tackler is Mason Reinhart. Reinhart has 29 tackles and a fumble recovery this season. Three players are tied for the team lead with three sacks—Aiden Ewald, Joe Ewald, and Isaiah Hook. Brickman also leads the team with two interceptions.

Gibsonburg is led by running back Grant Smith—who has ran for 601 yards and nine TDs on 76 carries.

Golden Bear QB Reece Walby is 11-of-25 for 236 yards, three TDs, and two picks. Walby has also rushed for 184 yards and five TDs. 

Walby’s top target so far this year has been Aiden Morant. Morant has four catches for 112 yards and two TDs. Chuy Rodriguez has made three catches for 46 yards but has scored on two of those catches.

#1 Findlay (3-1) @ Fremont Ross (2-2)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Findlay won at Southview, 41-14; Fremont lost to Whitmer at home, 27-6.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Findlay beat Ross at home, 21-7.

Intrigue: Findlay’s Miles Bailey was 10-for-15 passing for 156 yards, one TD, and a pick last week. Bailey also rushed for 107 yards and a TD too. Carter Imke caught four passes for 26 yards and a TD. Greyson Geiser had two catches for 58 yards.

After starting out with wins against Tiffin Columbian and Sandusky, the Little Giants has lost to two Toledo-area teams: Perrysburg and Whitmer.

Ross is going to need to get the offense going—which have only scored six points in their last two games.

Honorable Mention - Bellevue (3-1) @ Perkins (1-3); Lakota (3-1) @ Calvert (1-3); and Otsego (2-2) @ Oak Harbor (4-0).

The Five Best Games in the State

#5 Withrow (4-0) @ La Salle (3-1)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Withrow won at Dunbar, 49-12; La Salle lost to Elder at home, 16-8.

Previous Meeting: La Salle won at Withrow, 43-19.

Intrigue: Withrow has outscored their opponents 162-19 so far this season. Although, to be fair, they haven’t faced a team as tough as La Salle yet this year.

La Salle’s leading passer is Avier Carter—who is 45-for-79 passing for 519 yards six TDs, and four INTs. Carter also leads the team in rushing with 281 yards and three TDs. 

Carter’s top targets are Hunter Ogdan, Drew Dipzinski, and Taron Lester. Ogdan has 12 receptions for 80 yards and three TDs; Dipzinski has nine catches for 136 yards; and Lester for nine receptions for 90 yards.

Defensively, the Lancers are led by Collin Wooldridge. Wooldridge has 44 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and two sacks this season. 

#4 Anderson (4-0) @ Kings (4-0)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Anderson defeated Lebanon at home, 36-10; Kings won at West Clermont, 31-0.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Anderson defeated Kings, 41-0.

Intrigue: The winner is takes sole possession of first place in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference.

Anderson’s Owen Scalf has completed 108-of-143 passes for 1,309 yards, 11 TDs, and three INTs. Scalf’s top targets are Tysin Weaver and Tegan Jallick. Weaver has caught 24 receptions for 277 yards and six TDs while Jallick has 23 catches for 276 yards and three TDs. Jordan Davis has 49 rushes for 316 yards and seven TDs to lead the team.

The Raptor defense is led by Brady Kuhn—who has 35 tackles, 11 TFL, four pass deflections, and 3.5 sacks.

Kings’ Grant Nurre is 52-for 76 passing for 707 yards and four TDs. Nathan Tucker is his top receiver with 16 catches and 219 yards. Max Lockwood has 50 catches for 263 yards and five TDs.

On defense, Josh Cassio and Jack Pearson lead the way for the Knights. Cassio has 22 tackles and 5 TFL, and Pearson has made 18 tackles with six TFL, two sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery.

#3 St. Edward (4-0) @ Massillon Washington (2-2)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: St. Edward beat Glenville at home, 28-14; Massillon defeated Buffalo [NY] Bennett. 35-0.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Massillon won at St. Edward, 31-21.

Intrigue: St. Edward’s Brandon White had 27 rushes for 171 yards last week. The Eagles have yet to find an opponent who can stay within a score of them.

Massillon’s Savior Owens had 10 carries for 103 yards and two TDs last week. The Tigers have yet to beat a team with a winning record.

#2 Greenwood [IN] Center Grove (4-0) @ Trotwood-Madison (4-0)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: CG beat Indianapolis [IN] Ben Davis, 63-35; Trotwood won at Archbishop Alter, 20-7.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; CG beat T-M at home, 28-25.

Intrigue: Center Grove have outscored their opponents, 177-65. 

Center Grove sophomore QB Oscar Sloan is 40-of-49 passing for 574 yards, six TDs, and one INT. Dominick Barry is Sloan’s top target with 11 receptions, 115 yards, and two TDs. Drake McClurg has ten catches for 112 yards, and freshman Roman Youngs has five catches for 108 yards and two TDs.

Nolan Rees and Hudson Winkler are the team’s rushing leaders. Rees has rushed for 367 yards and six TDs, and Winkler has 312 yards and five TDs.

The defense is led by Trew Paxson—who has 43 tackles, five TFL, and a sack. Franky Hayes has 39 tackles, seven TFL, three sacks.

After Trotwood-Madison’s 42-7 week one home victory over Cleveland Heights, the Rams have had close competition from the likes of Fairmont, Springfield, and Archbishop Alter.

#1 St. Xavier (4-0) @ Archbishop Moeller (3-1)

When: Sept. 19 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: St. Xavier defeated Westerville North at home, 28-0; Moeller won at Nashville [TN] Christ Presbyterian Academy, 49-28.

Previous Meeting: Nov. 22, 2024, in the Region 4 finals; Moeller defeated St. X, 28-23, at Mason High School Tri-Health/Beacon Stadium.

Intrigue: St. Xavier’s Jackson Frey is 45-of-78 passing for 619 yards, eight TDs, and two picks. Frey’s top receivers are Cam Taylor and Aidan Newdigate. The pair have 12 catches respectively while Taylor has 220 yards and four TDs to Newdigate’s 168 yards and two TDs. Aiden Graham leads St. X in rushing with 167 yards on 36 carries.

The Bombers are led defensively by Aden Reeder—who has 25 tackles, five TFL, 3.5 sacks, and a pass breakup. Kobe Clapper has 23 tackles, three TFL, two forced fumbles, and a sack. Brayden Reilly has 19 tackles, six PBUs, two INTs, a TFL, and a forced fumble.

Moeller’s Matt Ponatoski has completed 76-of-110 passes for 864 yards, and 12 TDs. Ponatoski’s main targets are Reggie Watson and Carson Khayo. Watson has caught 29 balls for 274 yards and three TDs. Khayo has 16 catches for 244 yards and three TDs.

Tyler Josleyn leads the team in rushing with 49 carries for 256 yards and three TDs.

Defensively, the Crusaders are led by Cuozzo Conner. Conner has 26 tackles, two TFL, and an INT on the year. Christian Harris has 13 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and two sacks. Caleb Coe has 17 tackles, two INTs, a forced fumble, and a PBU.

Honorable Mention - Hoover (4-0) @ Louisville (4-0); Wayne (2-2) @ Fairmont (1-3); and Garaway (4-0) @ Girard (4-0).