THE TOP PREP TEAMS TO WATCH IN OHIO IN 2026
By Kyle Holsinger
Thanks for coming back for our fifth installment in the series. Thanks for all of the feedback and input.
I only corrected guessed Liberty Center to win in Region 18 last season, but did pick them to win it all (which they did).
County: Lake.
Enrollment: 188.
Nickname/Mascot: Pirates.
Colors: Scarlet Red & White.
Conference: Chagrin Valley Conference - Chagrin Division.
Head Coach: Bob Gecewich (6th at Perry, 59-11; 12th overall, 98-34).
Last Season: 10-3; Region 13 runner-ups; and CVC Chagrin champions.
Class of 2027: 38-5 (.884); one state title; one state semifinals appearance; two regional runner-ups; and three CVC Chagrin titles.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 4 vs. Kirtland.
Key Games: Aug. 28 at Chagrin Falls Kenston; Sept. 25 at Geneva; and Oct. 9 vs. Chardon.
2025 Region 17 Final: Youngstown Cardinal Mooney defeated Girard, 48-14, at Canfield South Range High School Rominger Athletic Complex.
Team Preview: The Pirates’ OL Nick Gustin earned second team All-Ohio accolades last year. Gustin will be protecting returning second team all-district QB Nate Trefzger. Wideout Greg Mechenbier is back after making the second team all-district himself.
Defensively, LBs Michal Niedzwiecki and Carter Crofoot were second team and honorable mention All-Ohio a year ago, respectively. Carter Hopkins, also a linebacker, made second team all-district.Junior defensive back Traxton Richards was named third team All-Ohio.
County: Mercer.
Enrollment: 165.
Nickname/Mascot: Cavaliers.
Colors: Orange & Black.
Conference: Midwest Athletic Conference.
Head Coach: Chip Otten (17th at Coldwater, 192-36; 23rd overall, 218-70).
Last Season: 10-5; D-6 state semifinalists; and Region 24 champions.
Class of 2027: 37-8 (.822); one state title; two state semifinals appearances; one regional runner-ups; and two MAC runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 23 vs. Maria Stein Marion Local.
Key Games: Aug. 21 vs. Germantown Valley View; Aug. 28 at Clarksville Clinton-Massie; and Oct. 16 at St. Henry.
2025 Region 18 Final: Liberty Center beat Genoa Area, 38-0, at Fostoria High School Memorial Stadium.
Team Preview: Linebacker Derek Dues made first team All-Ohio last season. Dues ended with 91 tackles, 11 TFL, eight sacks, an INT, and a fumble recovery. Collin Westgerde, an honorable mention all-district DE, made 73 tackles, five TFL, four sacks, a forced fumble and recovery. Safety Karter Freed was honorable mention All-MAC.
Offensively, Dues was second team All-MAC as a running back as well after running for 801 yards and 14 TDs while also grabbing 128 receiving yards and two TDs.
Junior Hugh Hemmelgarn appears to be the next man up at QB—going 8-for-10 passing for 134 yards and two TDs a season ago. John Pohlman is the returning receiver with the most yardage a year ago—making 16 catches for 269 yards and two TDs.
County: Lawrence.
Enrollment: 192.
Nickname/Mascot: Fighting Tigers.
Colors: Orange & Black.
Conference: Independent
Head Coach: Trevon Pendleton (9th at Ironton, 90-16).
Last Season: 8-2; postseason ban in 2025 due to OHSAA violations.
Class of 2027: 34-5 (.872); one state title; one state semifinals appearance; and a regional semifinals appearance.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 25 vs. Sunbury Big Walnut
Key Games: Sept. 11 at Somerset (KY); Sept. 18 at Jackson; and Oct. 3 vs. Bloomington (IN) South.
2025 Region 19 Final: Wheelersburg defeated Nelsonville-York, 41-0, at Hamilton Township High School Alumni Stadium.
Team Preview: Kayden Edwards, a three-star prospect who earned second team All-Ohio honors last season, completed 74-of-113 passes for 1,167 yards, 15 TDs and five INTs while rushing for an additional 762 yards and 10 TDs. Brycen Mullins returns as Edwards’ premier target with 24 receptions for 367 yards and five TDs a year ago.
On defense, Mullinsearned honorable mention All-Ohio as a DB for last year’s 36 tackles, four TFL, three PBUs, and one INT. Ashton Layne made 18 tackles, three INTs, three PBUs, two TFL, and a fumble recovery—good enough for honorable mention all-district.
Ethan Sutton had 47 tackles, 10 TFL, and a pass deflection while junior linebacker Jacob Hughes made 34 tackles, 12 TFL, two INTs, two forced fumbles, and a sack.
County: Warren.
Enrollment: 196.
Nickname/Mascot: Spartans.
Colors: Orange, Black, & White.
Conference: Southwestern Buckeye League - Buckeye Division.
Head Coach: Ben Johnson (6th at Waynesville, 32-27; 13th overall, 70-63).
Last Season: 4-6; fifth in the SWBL Buckeye.
Class of 2027: 24-13 (.649); one regional runner-ups; two regional semifinals appearance; a SWBL co-title, and SWBL runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 23 at Germantown Valley View.
Key Games: Aug. 21 vs. Clarksville Clinton-Massie; Aug. 28 at Jamestown Greeneview; and Sept. 11 vs. Brookville.
2025 Region 20 Final: Lewistown Indian Lake beat Richwood North Union, 35-21, at Marysville High School IMPACT Stadium.
Team Preview: Junior wideout Tyce Rutledge received honorable mention All-Ohio honors a season ago after catching 43 passes for 792 yards and five TDs. His classmate, Gregory Marlow, went 110-for-194 passing for 1,534 yards, 11 TDs, and seven picks—good enough for honorable mention all-district. Marlow also rushed for 290 yards and eight TDs.
Defensively, junior LB Hudson Back returns after being the team’s top tackler and honorable mention All-SWBL Buckeye last season. Back made 82 tackles, 4.5 TFL, two INTs, two deflections, one forced fumble, and a sack. Fellow LB Mac Sullivan made 34 tackles, three deflections, two INTs, 1.5 TFL, and a defensive TD—earning honorable mention All-SWBL Buckeye along the way. Sophomore DE Daltan Taylor made 35 tackles, six sacks, six TFL, and a forced fumble as a freshman. Junior DB Brenden Linder made 25 tackles, five PBUs, and one TFL while junior DL Noah Lanier garnered 34 tackles, two sacks, and a TFL. Lanier was made second team All-SWBL Buckeye.
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 III - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-iII-2026/
DIVISION IV - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-iv-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/
