The 10 Best Games to See in Ohio - Week 6
By Kyle Holsinger
I want to thank ohiohshelmets.com for the work that they do over there. Without their hard work, these articles wouldn’t have the great graphics that I make every week for these matchups. So thank you.
Another great week of tough matchups to choose from.
The Five Best Games to See in the Area
#5 Gibsonburg (3-2) @ Calvert (2-3)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Gibsonburg lost to Hopewell-Loudon at home, 25-0; Calvert beat Lakota at home, 34-7.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Gibsonburg defeated Calvert at home, 10-0.
Intrigue: Sandusky Bay Conference - River Division matchup. Both teams are 1-1 in SBC - River play—ranking them tied for fourth in the division standings. They sit behind Hopewell-Loudon, Margaretta, and Woodmore. All three are 2-0 in divisional play this season.
Gibsonburg running back Grant Smith has 682 rushing yards and nine touchdowns on 97 carries this year. Reece Walby is 13-of-31 for 234 yards, three TDs, and two interceptions while also rushing for 222 yards and five TDs. Walby’s favorite target is Aiden Morant—who has four receptions for 112 yards and two TDs.
Defensively, Smith and Walby lead the Golden Bears with Smith having 51 tackles and Walby making 40.5 tackles as well as two INTs.
Calvert quarterback Charlie Palm has thrown 51-of-93 completions for 623 yards and four TDs and six picks. Logan DeMoss is Palm’s top target with 15 receptions, 326 receiving yards, and three TDs in 2025. Running back Nolan Lee leads with 308 rushing yards and five TDs on 80 attempts.
On the defensive side, the Senecas’ DeMoss leads the team with 52 tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble. Anderson Hart has 30 tackles, one sack, and a forced fumble.
#4 Arlington (4-1) @ Liberty-Benton (5-0)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Pandora-Gilboa won at Arlington, 24-14; L-B won at Elmwood, 56-0.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 27, 2024; L-B won at Arlington, 28-0.
Intrigue: Blanchard Valley Conference matchup. Liberty-Benton is tied for first with Leipsic in the league standings with both of those teams being undefeated in BVC play. Arlington sits tied for third with McComb and Pandora-Gilboa with one league loss.
Arlington’s Trenton Heacock has completed 38-for-69 passes for 672 yards, 10 TDs, and three INTs. Their leading rusher is Ayden Cavinee. Cavinee has 447 yards and five TDs on 69 rushes. Cavinee is the team’s top receiver with 14 catches for 320 yards and four TDs.
The Red Devils’ Dawson Weihrauch leads the team with 33 tackles and one TFL.
Liberty-Benton QB Connor Barbara is 47-of-64 passing for 789 yards with 12 TDs and one pick. Barbara’s top target is Seth Elchert—who has 26 receptions for 557 yards and nine TDs. Zach Elchert is the leading rusher on the year with 221 yards and seven TDs on 29 touches.
The Eagles are led defensively by Austin Collert, C.J. Barbara, and Will Granger. Collert has made 30 tackles and nine TFL; C.J. has 28 tackles and 13 TLF; and Granger has 27 tackles and nine TFL.
#3 Clay (3-2) @ Findlay (4-1)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Clay defeated Bowsher at home, 49-6; Findlay won at Fremont Ross, 42-0.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 13, 2024; Clay beat Findlay at home, 54-40.
Intrigue: Northern Lakes League - Buckeye Division opener.
Findlay QB Miles Bailey was 12-of-15 for 131 yards and two TDs while rushing for 39 yards and three more TDs last week. Receivers Carter Imke and Greyson Geiser each snagged four catches—Imke for 38 yards and a TD, and Geiser for 25 yards. Ramier Williams ran for 66 yards and a TD on six attempts.
Clay has not beat a team with a winning record yet this season—beating those three teams though by a combined score of 111-9. Their losses were against 5-0 Wapakoneta and a 3-2 Napoleon squad. This the beginning of a tough stretch of games starting with Findlay then at Anthony Wayne (4-1) before hosting Perrysburg (4-1) and Whitmer (4-1).
#2 Margaretta (4-1) @ Woodmore (5-0)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Margaretta beat Northwood at home, 49-14; Woodmore won at Willard, 62-20.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Margaretta defeated Woodmore, at home 26-7.
Intrigue: As stated previously, Margaretta and Woodmore are tied for first in the SBC - River with Hopewell-Loudon. None of those teams have faced each other—until now. The winner still controls their own destiny in the division.
Margaretta RB Judah Keller has rushed for 512 yards and eight TDs on 55 touches. Jake Bouy is 15-for-28 passing for 380 yards, three TDs, one pick as well as having 280 rushing yards and seven TDs. His main target is Kale Bailey—who has 11 catches for 278 yards and two TDs so far this year.
Defensively, the Polar Bears’ leading tackler is Keller with 48 tackles and two INTs. Brett Miller has made 47 tackles and three sacks, and Bailey leads the team with three picks to go with 16 tackles.
Woodmore’s Landon Rich has 99 rushes for 935 yards and 19 TDs already this season. Quarterback Calvin Lipstraw has completed 35-of-51 passes for 675 yards, nine TDs, and two INTs. Lipstraw’s top target is Wesley Kayser. Kayser has 15 receptions for 340 yards and four TDs.
On the other side of the ball, the Wildcats’ Bradley Allgier leads the team with 19 tackles and five sacks. Kayser leads the team with three picks and 10 tackles also.
#1 Oak Harbor (4-1) @ Genoa Area (5-0)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Oak Harbor defeated Otsego at home, 36-14; Genoa beat Maumee at home, 28-23.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 11, 2024; Oak Harbor defeated Genoa at home, 38-7.
Intrigue: Northern Buckeye Conference matchup with Oak Harbor and Genoa tied for first in the league with Eastwood—each sitting at 2-0 in conference play.
Last week, Oak Harbor’s Travis Bouyer ran for three touchdowns of 33, 2, and 1 yards respectively. Blake Nickel also had a couple rushing touchdowns of nine and four yards. Quarterback Breydan Porath threw a two-point conversion to Garret Perkins in the win.
Genoa’s Alex Materni scored twice last game—first on a six-yard rush then on a 33-yard scoring strike from Myles Mollenhauser. Luke Clement also had a six-yard TD run.
Honorable Mention - Bellevue (3-2) @ Edison (4-1); Tiffin Columbian (2-3) @ Sandusky (1-4); Shelby (5-0) @ River Valley (2-3); and Clyde (1-4) @ Perkins (2-3).
The Five Best Games to See in Ohio
#5 Middletown (5-0) @ Lakota West (2-3)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Middletown won at Sycamore, 62-0; Lakota West lost at Fairfield, 10-7.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Lakota West won at Middletown, 51-7.
Intrigue: Greater Miami Conference matchup with Middletown currently tied for first with Princeton—each at 4-0 in the GMC play. Lakota West is tied for fifth in the conference with Lakota East at 2-2, and would really love to play spoiler in this one.
Middletown QB Joseph Ward was 5-for-7 passing for 129 yards and two TDs in last week’s dominating win. His top targets were Ace Cooper (two receptions, 96 yards, and two TDs) and Zymir Reed (two catches for 46 yards). Running back Demetrian James had 88 rushing yards and two TDs on seven attempts.
On defense, the Middies’ C.J. Bryant made seven tackles and two TFL last week. Wyman Carr and Laaren Cornwall each returned interceptions for touchdowns last week. Carr’s was a 100-yard interception return.
Lakota West QB Jackson Smith was 13-of-20 with 136 passing yards and one INT in last week’s close loss. Smith’s main target was Jayden Brogden for four catches for 43 yards. Running back Kenyon Norman rushed for 16 carries, 56 yards, and a TD. Norman also had three receptions for 32 yards.
Defensively, the Firebirds were led last week by Derrick Edwards—who had 10 tackles. Junior defensive linemen Reilly Newman and Elijah Hodge each had five tackles and one sack a piece with Newman having two TFL to Hidge’s one.
#4 La Salle (4-1) @ Archbishop Moeller (4-1)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: La Salle defeated Withrow at home, 35-26; Moeller beat St. Xavier at home, 30-13.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 27, 2024; Moeller won at La Salle, 38-0.
Intrigue: Greater Catholic League - South Division matchup. Moeller is tied with Elder for first at 1-0 in the GCL - South. La Salle is tied for third in the conference with St. Xavier—both being 0-1 in GCL - South competition.
La Salle QB Avier Carter was 11-for 18 passing for 150 yards, two TDs, and two INTs in last week’s win versus Withrow. Carter also rushed for 69 yards on 11 attempts. His top targets last week were Hunter Ogdan, who had three catches for 59 yards; and Naseer Salaam with three receptions for 19 yards.
On the defensive side, Colin Wooldridge made 13 tackles to lead the Lancers last week. Senior linebacker Rodney Portis had 10 tackles, 3 TFL, a pass breakup, and half a sack.
La Salle kicker Grayson Bedacht was 2-of-3 on field goals in the win with 39 yards being his longest.
Moeller QB Matt Ponatoski completed 16-of-26 passes for 136 yards, one TD, and one pick in last week’s win over St. X. Ponatoski’s top target was Reggie Watson with eight receptions for 89 yards and a TD. Tyler Josleyn led the team with 93 rushing yards and a TD on 16 touches.
The Crusader defense was led by Cuozzo Conner with eight tackles, 3.5 TFL, two sacks, a forced fumble, and a pass deflection. Sophomore DB Paxton Dodsworth had seven tackles, an interception, and a deflection last game.
Moeller kicker Jack Mallabar was 3-for-3 on field goals a week ago with the longest being from 47 yards out.
#3 Mississauga [ON] Football North (1-3) @ Massillon Washington (3-2)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Football North lost at Springfield [VA] St. James Academy, 76-42; Massillon defeated St. Edward at home, 21-14.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 4, 2024; Massillon beat Football North at home, 45-6.
Intrigue: The Tigers of Massillon hosting one of the best teams from Canada.
Massillon QB Mandwell Patterson completed 17-of-25 passes for 157 yards, one TD, one INT, and also rushed for 39 yards in last week’s win against St. Edward. Running back Savior Owens rushed for 162 yards and two TDs on 32 attempts while also catching four passes for 60 yards.
The Tigers defense was led by Ja’Dyn Williams with nine tackles, a fumble recovery, interception, and half a TFL in the win last week. Samuel Dossous made six tackles, 1.5 TFL, a sack, and pass breakup.
Football North plays an incredibly tough schedule—which is how this game was considered with the Chargers having just a 1-3 record. They opened their season with a win against Harrisburg [PA] Bishop McDevitt by a score of 27-7. After that, they’ve lost three straight to the likes of Walsh Jesuit, 30-6; Detroit Catholic Central, 41-28; and last week to St. James Academy in a shootout with a basketball score. Football North faces St. Edward and St. Ignatius later in the season.
#2 Walsh Jesuit (5-0) @ Archbishop Hoban (4-1)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Walsh beat Buffalo [NY] Canisius at home, 38-0; Archbishop Hoban defeated Brush at home, 45-7.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 22, 2024; Hoban defeated Walsh, 21-7, at Twinsburg High School Tiger Stadium in the Region 5 finals.
Intrigue: Two of the top teams in the state, Division II, and Region 5. This may be a preview of the Region 5 final. Where these teams last met.
Walsh has not only outscored their five opponents, 146-26, but have done it against some stiff competition: Toledo Central Catholic, Springfield, Football North [ON], St. Ignatius, and Canisius [NY].
Hoban faced three tough opponents to start 2025: beating Harvest Prep, 31-12; losing to Archbishop Spalding [MD], 58-28; and Detroit [MI] King, 23-21. The last two weeks have been easier with Hoban beating Akron East and Brush by a combined score of 97-7.
#1 Elder (5-0) @ St. Xavier (4-1)
When: Friday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Elder won at Louisville [KY] St. Xavier, 26-24; St. Xavier lost at Archbishop Moeller, 30-13.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 27, 2024; St. X won at Elder, 22-17.
Intrigue: The other GCL - South matchup.
I almost feel like it appears that I have a GCL - South or Cincinnati bias. That being said, if you question why I pick their games often then I suggest you have your local high school add them to their schedule and see how well they fare. It’s just some of the best football around. You have to be top tier to beat them, and a lot of top talent is on the field.
Elder QB Kaden Estep was 20-of-28 for 225 passing yard, one TD, and one INT with 128 rushing yards and another TD on 15 carries in last week’s victory over Louisville St. Xavier. Receivers Chase Walpole and Jackson Ruth each had six receptions—Walpole with 79 receiving yards and a TD while Ruth had 62 yards.
Defensively, the Panthers Andrew Paff and Aidan Sullivan had seven tackles a piece in the win. Paff also had an interception and one TFL in the contest. Senior DL Jayven Hutchinson had six tackles, 2.5 TFL, and one sack.
Panther senior K Adam Re was 2-of-2 on field goals with the longest being from 31 yards last week.
St. Xavier’s Jackson Frey was 18-for-30 passing for 150 yards, two TDs, and one pick in the loss to Moeller a week ago. Frey was also St. X’s leading rusher with 26 yards on 11 attempts. Cam Taylor and Alex McClatchey each had five catches with Taylor earning 66 receiving yards and McClatchey 28 yards.
Senior DB Brayden Reilly led the Bombers last week with 11 tackles and two TFL. Kobe Clapper made 10 tackles with one pass deflection. McClatchey also snagged an interception on defense.
Honorable Mention - Taft (5-0) @ Withrow (4-1); Bluffton (5-0) @ Lima Central Catholic (5-0); Forestville [MD] Bishop McNamara (2-2) @ St. Edward (4-1); and Northeastern (5-0) @ West Jefferson (5-0).
