On Twitter (X): @joshuamorgret
The road to the most exciting 16 weeks of the year is under way.
High school football brings towns together, schools unite and rivals are booed.
It was a fun exciting Week 1, but there were definitely some surprises. It was 66 degrees and raining at kickoff of Calvert vs. Mohawk. We had a 2-0 game (no, not baseball). Hopewell-Loudon and Mohawk picked up where they left off last year
Here's a look at the five Heart of Ohio Sports teams, starting with Columbian.
The Tornadoes only mustered seven points of offense in a 13-9 loss at Fremont Ross. Columbian did secure a safety defensively and had a chance, but came up just short against the Little Giants. Logan Gooding made his first career start at quarterback, completing 13 of 21 passes for 165 yards and an interception. Masen Seitz ran 21 times for 56 yards and the lone Tornadoes touchdown. Dashawn Russell was Gooding's top target, catching seven passes for 69 yards. Fremont Ross now has a 3-2 edge over Columbian since the two schools resumed playing in 2021. The Tornadoes play their first home game of the season this week when they welcome in Mansfield Senior. The Tygers opened the season with a 38-7 home loss to Hillard Davidson. Mansfield Senior was Division III state runner-up in 2019, going 13-2. The Tygers were 9-3 in 2021, 10-3 in 2022 and 10-3 in 2023. Last year, Mansfield Senior was 1-9 and have a new coach this year in Antonio Fletcher. The Tygers will be athletic, no doubt.
This week: vs. Mansfield Senior (0-1)
On a rare night off, my son and I made the trip out to Sycamore to catch the Senecas face Mohawk. The Warriors controlled the line of scrimmage throughout as Calvert fell 39-6. Not a lot went right for the Senecas. Quarterback Charlie Palm was 10 of 21 for 96 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Calvert totaled just 40 yards rushing on 23 carries with Nolan Lee leading the way with 14 rushes for 28 yards. Things do not get the slightest bit easier for the Senecas this week with a trip to Marsh Field to take on Monroeville. The Eagles opened with a 46-20 win over perennial power McComb last week. Monroeville rushed for 410 yards in the win. Colt Clark had 16 carries for 201 yards and three touchdowns while Connor Bores tallied 13 attempts for 192 yards and two scores against McComb. The Eagles went 10-2 last year and that included a 23-9 win over Calvert at Frost-Kalnow Stadium.
This week: at Monroeville (1-0)
The Chieftains kept things rolling with a 30-7 win over Carey. The Blue Devils scored first and led 7-0 after one quarter. Hopewell-Loudon got a big touchdown just before the half to go ahead at the break before dominating the second half. Jacoby Ellis was 13 of 19 passing for 179 yards and five touchdowns. Brody Brickman was on the other end of a lot of that production, catching nine passes for 141 yards and four touchdowns. Kellen Frankart ran 16 times for 113 yards and caught the other touchdown pass from Ellis. Hopewell-Loudon is now 4-1 against Carey since they started playing in 2021. This game becomes a Northern 10 Athletic Conference contest next season with the Chieftains joining the league. Hopewell-Loudon stays at home this week to host Marion Pleasant, who opened the season with a 16-13 home win over North Union. The Chieftains defeated Pleasant last year, 36-15. The Spartans were a playoff team last year. Like I mentioned last week, watch out for that Week 3 game for Hopewell-Loudon at Edison. First, the Chieftains have to take care of business against Pleasant, but that H-L vs. Edison game should be an absolute dandy.
This week: vs. Marion Pleasant (1-0)
One of the most impressive performances in all of Northwest Ohio, the Warriors dominated every facet of the game in the 39-6 win over Calvert. Mohawk got a couple early scores, including a pick-6 interception return touchdown by Andon Clouse. Oh yeah, and Clouse wasn't too shabby offensively. Making his first career start at quarterback, Clouse completed 9 of 14 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown while running 16 times for 111 yards and a touchdown. Ben Bogner was the Northern 10 Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year last season for Mohawk at quarterback. The Warriors didn't look like they missed a beat as Clouse stepped into the quarterback position, doing a lot of the same things Bogner did last year. Also for Mohawk against Calvert, Kaden Bish had 11 rushes for 67 yards and two touchdowns. The win snapped a three-game losing streak to the Senecas. Now, the Warriors hit the road to take on Cardington-Lincoln, who topped N10 member Wynford, 32-27, in Week 1. Mohawk bludgeoned the Pirates last year, 54-6.
This week: at Cardington-Lincoln (1-0)
You've heard it before. It's better to win ugly than lose pretty. Or. Not every win will be pretty. Put whatever cliche you want on it, but the Tigers were on the right side of a 2-0 win over Ashland Crestview. That's about as defensive of a battle as you'll find, but imagine if that win gets Seneca East in the playoffs or even a home game in the first round of the playoffs? You probably aren't thrilled with being shut out offensively, but a win is a win. Nicholas Parks completed 12 of 23 passes for 72 yards and three interceptions. Turnovers hurt Parks last year, throwing 15 interceptions in 12 games. Against Crestview, Parks added 18 carries for 65 yards while Jackson Gayheart had 12 rushes for 23 yards. Gayheart was the top receiver with four catches for 45 yards. Seneca East makes the trip to Galion Northmor to take on the Golden Knights, who opened the season with a 16-0 win over Upper Sandusky. The two teams haven't played since 2021, a 27-23 win for Northmor.
This week: at Galion Northmor (1-0)
