THE TOP PREP TEAMS TO WATCH IN OHIO IN 2026
By Kyle Holsinger
Thank you all for reading this year's series of Heart of Ohio Sports Prep Pigskin Preview. Please check in on Mondays during the season when we release our weekly The 10 Best Games to See in Ohio. The article features my picks for the five best local and five best games around the state of Ohio to watch that weekend.
I only correctly picked Columbus Grove to win a region last year in Division VII. Here we go...
County: Wayne.
Enrollment: 105.
Nickname/Mascot: Bulldogs.
Colors: Orange & Black.
Conference: Wayne County Athletic League.
Head Coach: Reid Geibel (2nd at Dalton, 9-4).
Last Season: 9-4; Region 21 semifinalists.
Class of 2027: 32-10 (.762); one state runner-ups; one state semifinals appearance; one regional runner-ups; and one WCAL title.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 11 at Jeromesville Hillsdale.
Key Games: Aug. 21 at Danville; Aug. 28 vs. Sugarcreek Garaway; and Oct. 2 vs. Creston Norwayne.
2025 Region 25 Final: McDonald defeated Mogadore, 42-21, at Macedonia Nordonia High School Boliantz Stadium.
Team Preview: The Bulldogs return third-team All-Ohioan QB Carter Hignight.
Defensively, DL Jackson Oswald was third-team All-Ohio a year ago. Also, on the defensive line is second team all-district senior Andy Galdamez. Classmate Gage Stitt made second team all-district.
Max Steiner and Caden Trivette were each honorable mention all-district in 2025.
County: Seneca.
Enrollment: 105.
Nickname/Mascot: Chieftains.
Colors: Scarlet & Gray.
Conference: Northern 10 Athletic Conference - Tier 1.
Head Coach: Brian Colatruglio (17th at H-L, 153-43; 26th overall, 217-79).
Last Season: 13-2; D-6 state runner-ups; Region 22 champions, and SBC River runner-ups.
Class of 2027: 36-4 (.900); one state runner-ups; one state semifinals appearance; three playoff appearances; two SBC River titles; and one SBC River runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 4 at North Robinson Colonel Crawford.
Key Games: Sept. 11 vs. Attica Seneca East; Oct. 2 at Tiffin Calvert; and Oct. 9 vs. Carey.
2025 Region 26 Final: Columbus Grove beat Leipsic, 31-6, at Lima Shawnee High School Shawnee Stadium.
Team Preview: Hopewell-Loudon Jacoby Ellis went 144-for-216 passing for 1,817 yards with 25 TDs and eight INTs as a junior. That performance was good enough for third team All-Ohio, second team all-district, and first team All-SBC River. As a sophomore, Ellis was all-district honorable mention as well as first team All-SBC River.
Brody Brickman is an all-around athlete who excelled on offense, defense, and special teams for Hopewell-Loudon last season.
Accounting for 125 rushing attempts for 845 yards and 15 TDs; and 53 receptions for 701 yards and 13 TDs on offense.
Brickman is also the leading returning player in interceptions with four a season ago. Add to that 65 tackles and a forced fumble and recovery.
As a return man, Brody had 10 KRs for 170 yards to go with 8 PRs for 178 yards and two TDs.
As a defensive back, he earned first team All-Ohio, all-district, and All-SBC River. As a wideout, he received second team All-SBC River accolades.
Kellen Frankart carried the ball 150 times for 886 yards and 12 TDs to go with 13 receptions for 118 yards and two TDs. Defensively, Frankart made 43 tackles, two sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery one season ago.
Hopewell’s Joe Ewald had 45 tackles and a forced fumble last season. He is the leading returning player for the Chieftains in sacks with seven.
County: Knox.
Enrollment: 73.
Nickname/Mascot: Blue Devils.
Colors: Blue & White.
Conference: Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference.
Head Coach: Matt Blum (5th at Danville, 44-13).
Last Season: 8-6; Region 27 runner-ups.
Class of 2027: 33-10 (.767); one state semifinals appearance; two regional runner-ups; one KMAC title, and one KMAC runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Aug. 21 vs. Dalton.
Key Games: Sept. 4 at Monroeville; Sept. 18 at Galion Northmor; and Oct. 9 vs. Centerburg.
2025 Region 27 Final: Jeromesville Hillsdale defeated Danville, 25-20, at West Lafayette Ridgewood High School Generals Stadium.
Team Preview: Running back Cyren Wallace returns after earning first team All-Ohio accolades. Wallace ran the ball 169 times for 1,439 yards and eight TDs while also making 23 receptions for 246 yards and three receiving TDs.
Handing the ball off to Wallace will be sophomore Parker Proper—who was 91-for-144 passing for 1,238 yards, 14 TDs, and nine picks. Parker also rushed for 483 yards and three TDs. Proper’s top returning target would be classmate Briggs Wallace. Wallace made 28 catches for 416 yards and three TDs in 2025.
Blocking upfront will be third team All-Ohio pick Owen Gronberg.
Blue Devil punter Nolan Ridgway was first team All-Ohio a year ago after punting the ball 34 times for a 42.1-yard average with five of those punts being downed inside the 20-yard line.
Defensively, Jacob Byers, Aidan Mickley, Silas Mizer, and Tyson Payne all were 2025 honorable mention all-district selections.
Byers made 173 tackles, 6.5 TFL, two fumble recoveries, 1.5 sacks, and a pass deflection. Mizer made 135 tackles, 13 TFL, 3.5 sacks, and a pass deflection. Mickley collected 64 tackles, 10 PBUs, three TFL, and three INTs. Payne garnered 45 tackles, two TFL, and two sacks.
Gronberg also had 126 tackles, 12 TFL, six sacks, and three fumble recoveries.
County: Mercer.
Enrollment: 85.
Nickname/Mascot: Flyers.
Colors: Royal Blue & Green Bay Yellow.
Conference: Midwest Athletic Conference.
Head Coach: Tim Goodwin (28th at ML, 337-49).
Last Season: 12-1; Region 28 runner-ups; and MAC champions.
Class of 2027: 44-1 (.978); two state titles; two state semifinals appearances; regional runner-ups; and three MAC titles.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 23 at Coldwater.
Key Games: Aug. 28 at Canal Winchester Harvest Prep; Sept. 25 at St. Henry; and Oct. 16 vs. Minster.
2025 Region 28 Final: St. Henry beat Maria Stein Marion Local, 24-7, at Wapakoneta High School Mercy Health VFW Post 8445 Field.
Team Preview: Quarterback Brennan Hess returns after an honorable mention All-Ohio performance last season as sophomore. Junior Jalen Rose was honorable mention all-district last year.
On D, Jacob Muhlenkamp made first team All-Ohio a year ago. Linebacker Seth Heitkamp was an honorable All-Ohio pick.
Andrew Schmacker also returns after an honorable mention All-MAC selection last season.
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 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 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/
