THE TOP PREP TEAMS TO WATCH IN OHIO IN 2026
By Kyle Holsinger
As we dive into the third installment of the Heart of Ohio Sports Prep Pigskin Preview, one thing that I want to point out is how many great coaches that we have in the Buckeye State. When researching these teams, I've found that there's a lot of ways to come into a head coaching position, and every community finds the right coach for them in different ways, but when the right coach meets the right community some real magic can happen.
We'll see who feels magical in December hoisting a state championship trophy.
Also, I correctly picked Bishop Watterson and Toledo Central Catholic to win their regions while missing the other two in D-III a year ago. I picked TCC a year ago to win it all. The Fighting Irish ended as state runner-ups to Watterson.
County: Lake.
Enrollment: 278.
Nickname/Mascot: Cougars.
Colors: Forest Green & Grey.
Conference: North Coast Conference.
Head Coach: Marty Gibbons (8th at Lake Catholic, 47-32).
Last Season: 9-3; Region 9 semifinalists; and NCC runner-ups.
Class of 2027: 31-7 (.816); three regional semifinals appearances; and two conference runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 25 at Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy.
Key Games: Aug. 21 at Youngstown Cardinal Mooney; Sept. 12 vs. Gates Mills Gilmour Academy; and Sept. 18 vs. Cleveland Benedictine.
2025 Region 9 Final: CVCA defeated Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 42-7, at Twinsburg High School Tiger Stadium.
Team Preview: Senior RB Danny Zmorowski was third team All-Ohio last season after rushing for 1,058 yards and 10 TDs on 208 attempts last season.
Junior QB Max Pisano returns after going 64-for-117 passing for 810 yards, 10 TDs, and six INTs. Pisano also had 77 carries for 426 rushing yards with six TDs. Guy Dominick is Pisano’s top returning target with 15 catches for 286 yards and a couple TDs a year ago.
Linebacker Brady Moran, an honorable mention all-district, is the Cougars’ leading returner tackler after making 87 tackles, nine TFL, a sack, and a fumble recovery.
Defensive end Mikey Barnes led the D in sacks a year ago with 10. He also made 53 tackles, 18 TFL, and a fumble recovery—good enough for honorable mention all-district accolades. In the defensive backfield, Joey Nagy, returns after making 34 tackles, one TFL, two interceptions, a fumble recovery, and a blocked punt as a junior.
County: Auglaize.
Enrollment: 334.
Nickname/Mascot: Redskins.
Colors: Red & White.
Conference: Western Buckeye League.
Head Coach: Travis Moyer (13th at Wapak, 115-26; 26th overall, 133-54).
Last Season: 11-1; Region 10 semifinalists; and WBL champions.
Class of 2027: 33-5 (.868); three WBL titles; and three playoff appearances.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 18 at St. Marys Memorial.
Key Games: Aug. 21 at Oregon Clay; Sept. 4 vs. Defiance; and Oct. 23 vs. Lima Bath.
2025 Region 10 Final: Toledo Central Catholic beat Rocky River, 57-28, at Clyde High School Robert J. Bishop Jr. Stadium.
Team Preview: Senior linebacker Daron Houser was honorable mention All-Ohio as a junior. Junior linebacker Gauge Vaughn made honorable mention All-WBL as a sophomore. As a center on offense, Houser was second team All-WBL last year. Also on the O-line, Ethan Becher, an offensive guard, made honorable mention All-WBL a season ago.
Head coach Travis Moyer was district coach of the year in 2025.
The WBL is a gauntlet so we shall see if Wapak can get through the league schedule unscathed. The opener against Clay is going to be a great one to watch. Kudos for scheduling a tough opener.
County: Jefferson.
Enrollment: 257.
Nickname/Mascot: Big Red.
Colors: Crimson & Black.
Conference: Independent.
Head Coach: Reno Saccoccia (44th at Steubenville, 448-89).
Last Season: 9-3; Region 11 runner-ups.
Class of 2027: 34-6 (.850); one state semifinals appearance; and two regional runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 18 at Gnadenhutten Indian Valley;
Key Games: Sept. 11 at Youngstown Cardinal Mooney; Sept. 25 vs. Wheelersburg; and Oct. 16 vs. Columbus St. Francis DeSales.
2025 Region 11 Final: Columbus Bishop Watterson defeated Steubenville, 43-0, at Newark High School White Field.
Team Preview: Big Red QB Santino Haney, WR Zaire Scurry, and OL Angelo Mertello were honorable mention All-Ohio last season.
Defensively, LB Landon Crosier made honorable mention All-Ohio a year ago. Defensive lineman James Turner made first team all-district last year as a sophomore.
County: Miami.
Enrollment: 311.
Nickname/Mascot: Red Devils.
Colors: Red & White.
Conference: Miami Valley League - Miami Division.
Head Coach: Matt Burgbacher (8th at Tippecanoe, 68-18; 18th overall, 149-46).
Last Season: 13-1; D-3 state semifinalists, Region 12 champions, and MVL Miami champions.
Class of 2027: 34-5 (.872); one state semifinals appearance; and three MVL Miami titles.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 16 at Troy.
Key Games: Aug. 21 vs. Bellbrook; Sept. 18 vs. Vandalia Butler; and Oct. 2 vs. Xenia.
2025 Region 12 Final: Tippecanoe beat London, 33-16, at Fairborn High School Skyhawk Stadium.
Team Preview: Quarterback Larkin Thomas was first team All-Ohio a season ago after completing 173-of-259 passes for 2,429 yards with 27 TDs and six picks. Thomas also rushed for 645 yards and an additional eight TDs.
Thomas’ top target coming back is Grant Titley—who caught 28 passes for 407 yards and four TDs. On the O-line, Cal Connors made third team All-Ohio in 2025.
On defense, DL Ryan Kolb was honorable mention All-Ohio last season. Kolb made 78 tackles 14.5 TFL, seven sacks, three forced fumbles, and a pass deflection. Linebacker Raiden Nichols made 86 tackles, 7.5 TFL, one sack, a fumble recovery, an interception, and a deflection last year. Junior DE Toby Hoover made 40 tackles, five fumble recoveries, four TFL, two forced fumbles, and a sack as a sophomore.
HEART OF OHIO SPORTS PREP PIGSKIN PREVIEW
DIVISION I - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-i-2026/
DIVISION II - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-ii-2026/
DIVISION IV - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-iv-2026/
DIVISION V - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-v-2026/
DIVISION VI - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-vi-2026/
DIVISION VII - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-viI-2026/
