With five weeks behind us now, the local football playoff picture is beginning to sharpen.
Hopewell-Loudon remains perfect after another convincing win over an N10 opponent. Mohawk has won four straight and shares the Northern 10 lead with the Chieftains and Carey. Seneca East is only one game behind that trio, while Tiffin Columbian enters the first Northern Ohio Conference weekend at 3-2 overall after dispatching Huron last week on the road.
Friday also marks the start of conference play in the new-look NOC and the six-team Sandusky Bay Conference. That creates a clean slate for every team in those two leagues and no shortage of meaningful football in Week 6.
Columbian improved to 3-2 with a 35-14 road win over Huron on Friday, Sept. 18. The Tornadoes now turn toward their first conference game in the newly minted NOC Lake Division, a home date with Sandusky.
Logan Gooding leads the NOC with 1,025 passing yards and is second in touchdown passes with eight through five games. Masen Seitz has rushed for 753 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Blake Miller leads the Tornadoes with 374 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.
Record: 3-2 overall, 0-0 NOC Lake
Next game: Sandusky at Columbian, Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin
Calvert fell 34-14 to Lucas and enters Week 6 at 0-5. The Senecas have endured a difficult opening stretch, and Friday doesn't get much easier as they welcome the Carey Blue Devils to Hoernemann Stadium, one of the N10's three unbeaten conference teams.
Senior Bryceson Ward leads the Senecas in tackles (29), and Freshman Niko Marinis, who leads the team in rushing and receiving yards, took over at Quarterback last week for the Senecas, throwing for a season high 168 yards in the loss at Lucas. Calvert will need its best all-around performance against a Carey defense that posted a shutout vs Colonel Crawford last week.
Record: 0-5 overall, 0-3 N10
Next game: Carey at Calvert, Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., Hoernemann Stadium at Heidelberg University in Tiffin
Hopewell-Loudon stayed perfect by rolling past Wynford, 48-14. The Chieftains are 5-0 overall and tied atop the N10 at 3-0, with another road test waiting at Upper Sandusky.
Quarterback Jacoby Ellis has completed 59 of 82 passes for 817 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Chase Rogier has 304 receiving yards, while Brody Brickman has 271 receiving yards and a team-high 62 points in the official N10 report.
Record: 5-0 overall, 3-0 N10
Next game: Hopewell-Loudon at Upper Sandusky, Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., Upper Sandusky High School
Mohawk controlled Upper Sandusky from start to finish 41-7 for its fourth consecutive victory. The Warriors have climbed to 4-1 overall and 3-0 in the N10, matching Hopewell-Loudon and Carey at the top.
Andon Clouse has thrown for 983 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Levi Tiell has 457 receiving yards and leads the conference with a 45.7-yard kickoff-return average.
Record: 4-1 overall, 3-0 N10
Next game: Mohawk at Wynford, Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., Wynford High School in Bucyrus
Seneca East bounced back with a 29-14 win over Willard, improving to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in N10 play. Friday's trip to Bucyrus carries real weight: the Tigers and Redmen enter with matching 2-1 conference records.
Branson Robinson has passed for 1,022 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Jaron Depinet has 352 receiving yards, while Jackson Gayheart has contributed 477 rushing yards and a conference-leading 53 tackles.
Record: 4-1 overall, 2-1 N10
Next game: Seneca East at Bucyrus, Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., Bucyrus High School
This Friday, join us on the Adrenaline Stream as the 3-2 Tiffin Columbian Tornadoes host the 0-5 Sandusky Blue Streaks in a NOC matchup LIVE from Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin. Dominic Helmstetter will be on the call with Coach Steve Gilbert alongside Jacob Studebaker-Ellis on production, with Brock Arebaugh Jr. on camera bringing you every pulse-pounding moment LIVE on the pulse of the buckeye state!
Meanwhile, on the X Stream, Nate Mullins is on the call with Eric Hall alongside producer Cooper Snyder, Travis Salyer on camera, and Donnie Hannam reporting from the sidelines to deliver another thrilling week 6 Northern 10 conference matchup as the 0-5 Calvert Senecas host the 3-2 Carey Blue Devils LIVE from Hoernemann Stadium on the campus of Heidelberg University in Tiffin!
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!
Hopewell-Loudon at Upper Sandusky: The 5-0 Chieftains take an explosive, balanced offense on the road against a Rams team led by the N10's passing-yardage leader.
Mohawk at Wynford: Mohawk has won four straight and cannot afford a slip with three teams tied atop the N10. Wynford's Braylon Wells enters as the conference's second-leading rusher.
Seneca East at Bucyrus: Both teams are 2-1 in league play. The winner stays directly behind the N10 leaders; the loser faces a two-game conference deficit.
Perkins at Clyde: The unbeaten Pirates open NOC Lake play against a Clyde club looking to reset after a 1-4 nonconference schedule.
Margaretta at Lakota: Two of the top teams in the conference meet as the six-team SBC football race begins.
Records through games of Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. Conference record is listed first.
Hopewell-Loudon — 3-0 N10, 5-0 overall
Mohawk — 3-0 N10, 4-1 overall
Carey — 3-0 N10, 3-2 overall
Seneca East — 2-1 N10, 4-1 overall
Bucyrus — 2-1 N10, 3-2 overall
Lucas — 2-1 N10, 3-2 overall
Colonel Crawford — 1-2 N10, 2-3 overall
Upper Sandusky — 1-2 N10, 2-3 overall
Wynford — 1-2 N10, 2-3 overall
Willard — 0-3 N10, 2-3 overall
Buckeye Central — 0-3 N10, 1-4 overall
Calvert — 0-3 N10, 0-5 overall
Perkins — 0-0 NOC, 5-0 overall
Columbian — 0-0 NOC, 3-2 overall
Clyde — 0-0 NOC, 1-4 overall
Norwalk — 0-0 NOC, 0-5 overall
Sandusky — 0-0 NOC, 0-5 overall
Port Clinton — 0-0 NOC, 5-0 overall
Vermilion — 0-0 NOC, 4-1 overall
Bellevue — 0-0 NOC, 3-2 overall
Edison — 0-0 NOC, 2-3 overall
Huron — 0-0 NOC, 0-5 overall
Woodmore — 0-0 SBC, 5-0 overall
Northwood — 0-0 SBC, 4-1 overall
Margaretta — 0-0 SBC, 4-1 overall
Ottawa Hills — 0-0 SBC, 3-2 overall
Lakota — 0-0 SBC, 3-2 overall
Gibsonburg — 0-0 SBC, 1-4 overall
Record: 0-5 overall. Latest: Lost to Eastwood, 55-7. Next: At Lake on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Fostoria will try to break into the win column after facing three straight opponents that scored at least 35 points.
Record: 3-2 overall, 3-0 N10. Latest: Defeated Colonel Crawford, 16-0. Next: At Calvert on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m., at Hoernemann Stadium. The Blue Devils are tied for first in the N10 and are coming off their first shutout of the season.
Record: 3-2 overall. Latest: Defeated Findlay, 37-28. Next: Home against Liberty-Benton on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. The Little Giants halted a two-game slide by handing Findlay its first loss.
Record: 4-1 overall. Latest: Lost to Fremont Ross, 37-28. Next: At Clay on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. The Trojans open conference play after their first setback of the season.
Record: 2-3 overall, 1-2 N10. Latest: Lost to Mohawk, 41-7. Next: Home against Hopewell-Loudon on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Quarterback Keegan Dunn leads the N10 with 1,129 passing yards.
Record: 3-2 overall, 0-0 NOC Bay. Latest: Lost to Perkins, 10-3. Next: Home against Edison on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Bellevue's defense held unbeaten Perkins to 10 points before the NOC Bay opener.
Record: 1-4 overall, 0-0 NOC Lake. Latest: Lost to Port Clinton, 24-10. Next: Home against Perkins on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. The Fliers begin league play against a 5-0 opponent.
Record: 0-5 overall, 0-0 NOC Lake. Latest: Lost to Vermilion, 39-26. Next: At Columbian on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. The 26 points against Vermilion were Sandusky's highest output of the season.
Record: 0-5 overall, 0-0 NOC Lake. Latest: Lost to Edison, 42-0. Next: At Vermilion on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Norwalk starts NOC play on the road against a 4-1 opponent.
Record: 3-2 overall, 2-1 N10. Latest: Defeated Buckeye Central, 41-14. Next: Home against Seneca East on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Isaac Makeever is fifth in the N10 with 528 rushing yards.
Record: 1-4 overall, 0-3 N10. Latest: Lost to Bucyrus, 41-14. Next: Home against Willard on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Madden Alt ranks second in the N10 with a 39.3-yard kickoff-return average.
Record: 2-3 overall, 1-2 N10. Latest: Lost to Carey, 16-0. Next: Home against Lucas on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Roen Thew is fourth in the conference with 833 passing yards.
Record: 2-3 overall, 0-3 N10. Latest: Lost to Seneca East, 29-14. Next: At Buckeye Central on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Roger Whetstone is second in the N10 with 59 tackles.
Record: 2-3 overall, 1-2 N10. Latest: Lost to Hopewell-Loudon, 48-14. Next: Home against Mohawk on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. Braylon Wells is second in the N10 with 673 rushing yards.
Record: 3-2 overall, 0-0 SBC. Latest: Defeated Crestline, 37-0, on Saturday. Next: Home against Margaretta on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. The Raiders rushed for 247 yards in the shutout win.
Record: 4-1 overall, 0-0 SBC. Latest: Defeated Aquinas, 41-6. Next: At Lakota on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. The Polar Bears enter conference play on a four-game winning streak.
Record: 1-4 overall, 0-0 SBC. Latest: Defeated North Oakland, 42-7. Next: At Ottawa Hills on Friday, Sept. 25, 7 p.m. The Golden Bears earned their first victory with their best scoring output of the season.
