KYLE HOLSINGER’S ‘WAY TOO EARLY’ PREP PIGSKIN PREVIEW
By Kyle Holsinger
Kickoff of the first games of the 2025 OHSAA high school football season are 50 days away from today. Locally, the first games will be Calvert visiting Mohawk, Colonel Crawford traveling to Milford Center to face Fairbanks, and River Valley at Elgin on Thursday evening, Aug. 21. All of those games are set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Currently, we are in the ‘summer period’ of the OHSAA football calendar—the period spans from May 15 to Jul. 31. Practice will begin on Aug. 1 with the season beginning the week of Aug. 18. The first Friday night being on Aug. 22.
The regular season ends on Saturday, Oct. 26, and playoff qualifiers announced the following day. On Halloween, Oct. 31, the first round of the OHSAA playoffs will commence. The regional quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals in consecutive weekends after.
The state semifinals are set for the Friday after Thanksgiving with the state championships being Dec. 4-6 in Canton.
Three weeks ago, the OHSAA Board of Directors approved reducing the number of playoff qualifiers from 16 teams per region to 12 teams—starting this season. The top four teams in each region will now earn a first round bye in the playoffs.
There are four regions in each of the seven divisions of competition, meaning that 48 teams will qualify per division, and 336 teams will participate in the OHSAA playoffs. Previously, it was 64 teams in a division and 448 in total.
Another change coming this season is that the higher-seeded team in a playoff matchup will play host for the first three rounds of the six-round tournament. It was only the first two rounds of the playoffs previously.
Ontario and Bucyrus are the only schools in our coverage area—roughly a one-hour drive from our studios in Tiffin—to change divisions between this year and last. In 2024, Ontario was in Division IV, Region 14. Now, the Warriors have moved up to Division III, Region 10. Bucyrus moved down from Division VI, Region 23 to Division VII, Region 26.
Findlay, Crestline, and Ridgedale are the only teams in our coverage area to switch regions while staying in the same division from last year. The Trojans were in Region 1 in Division I last year, and now they’ve moved to Region 2. Crestline shifted from Division VII’s Region 25 to Region 27. Meanwhile, Ridgedale moved from Region 27 to Region 26 in Division VII.
Northwood leaves the Toledo Area Athletic Conference (TAAC) to join the River division of the Sandusky Bay Conference this season also. The TAAC added North Central and three Michigan teams—Erie Mason, Summerfield, and Whiteford.
Crestline also left the Northwest Central Conference in football, and now they will play as an independent.
Although our coverage area is roughly an hour drive, this article will focus on teams local to Heart of Ohio Sports—Tiffin Columbian, Calvert, Hopewell-Loudon, Mohawk, Seneca East, Lakota, Carey, and Gibsonburg.
Here, I will feature these schools' returning players, highlight key games that will make-or-break their season, point out likely their toughest opponent, and leave my ‘way too early’ predictions for the Northern 10 Conference and the Sandusky Bay Conference’s Lake, Bay, and River divisions.
TIFFIN COLUMBIAN
HEAD COACH: Judd Lutz, 10th season; 59-43 (.578).
LAST SEASON: 4-7 overall, regional first round; 1-3 SBC Lake, fourth place.
CLASS OF 2026: 24-13 (.649).
KEY GAMES: Aug. 22 @ Fremont Ross; Aug. 29 vs. Mansfield; and Sept. 19 vs. Huron.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Sept. 12 @ Bishop Watterson.
TEAM PREVIEW: Offensively, the Tornadoes are lead by senior wide receiver Johnny Bremyer. The honorable mention all-district selection had 36 receptions for 644 yards and eights touchdowns last season. He also amassed 436 return yards in 2024. Junior running back Masen Seitz, a second team All-SBC Lake selection, returns after rushing for 1,054 yards with 10 TDs.
On the defensive side, the Navy & Vegas Gold are led by two senior defensive lineman: Neven Neuman and Luke Kerschner. Neuman was honorable mention all-district after making 72 tackles and three sacks last season. Kerschner amassed 22 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble during an honorable mention All-SBC Lake campaign his junior year.
Columbian has the opportunity to move into the top half of the SBC Lake division this year. With one of the winningest senior classes in that division, they should have the leadership to get there.
Starting the season off right with a win at Fremont Ross would go a long way for TC. The week two matchup with Mansfield pits two of the premier teams in Division III, Region 10 over the last several seasons against one another. The atmosphere should be electric at Frost-Kalnow Stadium for that one. The Tornadoes’ chance to avenge last year’s 38-20 loss at Huron at home in week five should make for some good football to watch as well.
CALVERT
HEAD COACH: Mike Lento, 2nd at Calvert, 7-5 (.583); 9th overall, 40-44 (.476).
LAST SEASON: 7-5 overall, regional quarterfinalists; 3-3 SBC River, fourth place.
CLASS OF 2026: 21-12 (.636).
KEY GAMES: Aug. 29 @ Monroeville; Sept. 5 vs. St. Paul; and Oct. 10 vs. Margaretta.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Sept. 12 @ Hopewell-Loudon.
TEAM PREVIEW: Seneca senior twins, Conner and Cameron Moyer, anchor the offensive line after each making honorable mention all-district in 2024. Defensively, Conner had 45 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, and Cameron was able to make 30 tackles in 2024.
Logan DeMoss, a first team All-SBC offensive and defensive pick, is the leader in offensive yards of all returning players with 498 receiving yards on 32 catches and three TDs.
DeMoss was a second team all-district defensive back also, getting 108 tackles, four interceptions, two sacks, a fumble recovery, and one defensive TD last season. He also returned punts and kicks for 680 yards, two TDs, with a punt and a kick block to boot a season ago.
Although not listed as a key game, the season opener at future N10 foe Mohawk will be a great indicator of how good the Royal Blue & White are going to be. The home matchup with Margaretta gives Calvert the chance to avenge a 10-0 loss in Castalia last season.
HOPEWELL-LOUDON
HEAD COACH: Brian Colatruglio, 16th at H-L, 140-41 (.773); 25th overall, 204-77 (.726).
LAST SEASON: 11-1 overall, regional semifinalists; 6-0 SBC River champions.
CLASS OF 2026: 32-5 (.865).
KEY GAMES: Aug. 22 vs. Carey; Sept. 5 @ Milan Edison; and Sept. 19 @ Gibsonburg.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Sept. 5 @ Milan Edison.
TEAM PREVIEW: Senior Aiden Ewald is a two-time All-Ohio selection as a defensive lineman and was also first team All-SBC River as an offensive lineman last season. Ewald garnered 57 tackles and five sacks last year for the Chieftains.
Helping Ewald on the offensive line will be senior Scott Turco, who made honorable mention all-district last season.
The junior backfield tandem of Jacoby Ellis and Kellen Frankart returns with the two combining for 1,811 passing yards last season. Ellis is the clear starter at quarterback, throwing for 1,458 yards and 11 TDs a season ago in a first team All-SBC River campaign. However, Frankart did throw six TDs for H-L last season while also rushing for 721 yards with nine TDs. Preparing for this duo will be a challenge for opposing defenses.
Senior receiver Jack Colatruglio, a 2024 second team all-district honoree, returns after catching 52 passes for 852 yards and five TDs. Frankart also caught nine passes for 119 yards and two TDs out of the backfield.
Linebacker Mason Reinhart leads the Scarlet & Gray defense. Reinhart gained second team all-district accolades after committing 93 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles with one recovery a season ago. Turco also had 38 tackles and three sacks on the defensive side of the ball.
Colatruglio was first team All-SBC River as a defensive back as well—turning in 35 tackles, five interceptions, two fumble recoveries, and a defensive TD last year. Luca SanGregory, a senior DB who was a 2024 second team All-SBC River selection, will be assisting in the defensive backfield. SanGregory made 42 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and an interception last year as a junior.
Frankart also averaged 38.1 yards per punt last year for Hopewell-Loudon on special teams.
After coming off a season where Hopewell-Loudon head coach Brian Colatruglio won his 200th career game and received all-district co-coach of the year honors, the Chieftains look to get back to the state final four after last seasons’ regional semifinals finish.
Opening the season against Carey always puts a spotlight on the area in week one. Football fans from around the state check the score between two of the best small-school programs in Ohio to see who comes out on top. Next season, the two will be leagues foes as H-L moves to the Northern 10 Conference.
Another key game opponent, Milan Edison, is a school that made the regional finals last year. The Chargers, who are back-to-back defending SBC Bay champions, are one division higher than the Chieftains as far as enrollment in the SBC and the OHSAA. We’re going to find out the size of the fight in the Chieftains in that game on Sept. 5.
MOHAWK
HEAD COACH: Eric Daniel, 10th season, 57-39 (.594)
LAST SEASON: 10-3 overall, regional semifinalists; 6-1 N10 champions.
CLASS OF 2026: 16-17 (.485).
KEY GAMES: Sept. 12 vs. Colonel Crawford; Oct. 17 @ Carey; and Oct. 24 vs. Seneca East.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Sept. 12 vs. Colonel Crawford.
TEAM PREVIEW: The Warriors’ offensive and defensive lines are anchored by seniors Brady Coffman and Logan Hemminger. Coffman was honorable mention all-district on the offensive side while earning second team All-Northern 10 Conference on defense (19 tackles and two sacks in 2024). Hemminger had 46 tackles, 8.5 tackles-for-loss, 5.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery on his way to an All-N10 honorable mention selection a year ago.
Mohawk junior Andon Clouse comes back after making the honorable mention All-N10 list last season. Clouse had two receiving TDs and a rushing TD last season to go with 70 tackles, six TFL, two sacks, and two fumble recoveries on defense a season ago. He also punted for a 34.4-yard average as a sophomore, and threw four passes last season—making him the leading returning passer for the Warriors also.
Owen Patrizi was an honorable mention All-Ohio linebacker last year, making a whopping 136 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, two INTs, and a fumble recovery to earn a leadership role on this year’s defense.
Head coach Eric Daniel is coming off a season where he was awarded all-district co-coach of the year as well as the N10 coach of the year. If Daniel and the Warriors want to repeat as N10 champions, they’ll have to run the table against all of their key game opponents—which they did last season. The season opener with Calvert will also be a good measure of how the 2025 campaign will shape out for Mohawk.
SENECA EAST
HEAD COACH: Ed Phillips, 17th season, 108-65 (.624).
LAST SEASON: 7-5 overall, regional quarterfinalists; 5-2 N10, tied for second place.
CLASS OF 2026: 19-15 (.559).
KEY GAMES: Sept. 5 vs. Monroeville; Sept. 26 @ Upper Sandusky; and Oct. 3 @ Colonel Crawford.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Aug. 29 @ Northmor.
TEAM PREVIEW: Returning for Seneca East is honorable mention All-Ohio offensive lineman Braden Drosky. The senior also had 14 tackles and two TFL on defense a year ago. Classmate Brett Martin returns to work with Drosky on the offensive and defensive lines. Martin made 58 tackles, 14 TFL, six sacks, and two forced fumbles in an honorable mention All-N10 performance last season.
The Tigers’ senior QB Nicholas Parks was second team all-district, completing 163-of-280 passes for 2,653 yards, 30 TDs, and 15 INTs a year ago. Parks also rushed for 568 yards and five TDs in his junior campaign. Jackson Gayheart returns after rushing for 502 yards and six TDs a year ago. Gayheart also caught three TD passes as well in 2024.
Defensively, Gayheart leads the Orange & Black this year after 111 tackles, 23 TFL, three sacks, and a forced fumble in a second team all-district effort a year ago.
Parks was also a second team All-N10 selection on defense in 2024—with 74 tackles, two INTs, two fumble recoveries, 1.5 TFL, and a forced fumble.
Helping on the defensive line is senior Hunter Rathburn, an honorable mention all-district pick last year. Rathburn totaled 84 tackles, 10 TFL, and 2.5 sacks in his junior season.
Senior linebacker, and an honorable mention All-N10 choice last year, Derek Cornwell had 70 tackles, 8.5 TFL, and 0.5 sack throughout last season.
Gayheart averaged 35 yards per punt, and Parks averaged 34.4 yards per punt a year ago on special teams.
Seneca East returns a lot of talent, and will need to be playing on all cylinders when facing returning state semifinalists, Northmor, in week two. If the Tigers win that one then they should be more than capable to beat their three key game opponents.
LAKOTA
HEAD COACH: Ryan Lozier, 2nd season, 2-8 (.200).
LAST SEASON: 2-8 overall; 1-5 SBC River, fifth place.
CLASS OF 2026: 9-22 (.290).
KEY GAMES: Aug. 22 @ Elmwood; Sept. 12 vs. Woodmore; and Oct. 24 @ Northwood.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Sept. 26 vs. Hopewell-Loudon.
TEAM PREVIEW: Lakota senior QB Jalen Wagner threw for 902 yards and ran for 129 last season. His top returning target is senior Avery Shilling, who had 35 catches, 475 yards, and three TDs a year ago.
Junior Max Nordhaus was honorable mention all-district last year as an offensive and defensive lineman. Nordhaus had 70 tackles, three sacks, and one fumble recovery for the Raider defense a year ago.
Assisting Nordhaus on the line will be senior Steven Hornyak. Horynak had 64 tackles and two forced fumbles, good enough for honorable mention All-SBC River honors last year.
Raider junior DB Nate Griggson comes back after an honorable mention All-SBC River billing in 2024. Griggson had 80 tackles, one INT, a forced fumble, and one defensive TD as a sophomore. Griggson also led the team in rushing last season with 345 yards.
The Navy Blue & White will have an uphill battle to get out of the basement of the SBC River. A win in the season opener at Elmwood would do wonders for the season to come. The Oct. 24 game against new SBC River foe, Northwood, should be a competitive game also.
CAREY
HEAD COACH: Jonathon Mershman, 9th season, 72-27 (.727)
LAST SEASON: 6-6 overall, regional quarterfinalists; 5-2 N10, tied for second place.
CLASS OF 2026: 27-10 (.730).
KEY GAMES: Sept. 19 @ Seneca East; Oct. 10 vs. Colonel Crawford; and Oct. 17 vs. Mohawk.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Aug. 22 @ Hopewell-Loudon.
TEAM PREVIEW: Blue Devil senior RB Eli Steen was a third team All-Ohio selection last year after rushing for 1,528 yards and 19 TDs. Defensively, Steen also picked up 19 tackles, four TFL, a sack, and a fumble recovery.
Classmate Garrett Boes and sophomore Caleb Putnam return upfront to block for Steen. Boes was second team last year, and Putnam was honorable mention all-district respectively.
Junior Tripp Phoenix returns after 443 receiving yards, 153 rushing yards, and six combined TDs on the offensive side of the ball. Defensively, Phoenix racked up honorable mention All-Ohio accolades after 22 tackles and five INTs as a sophomore.
Also, helping the Navy Blue & White on D is senior honorable mention All-Ohio lineman Carter Bame. Bame finished 2024 with 87 tackles, 20 TFL, two sacks, two INTs, and a fumble recovery. Louis Watkins’ 58 tackles, 18 TFL, three sacks, and one fumble recovery a year ago was good enough for honorable mention all-district honors.
Linebacking brothers Dash and Mace Puckett return after earning second team and honorable mention all-district recognition respectively. Dash made 112 tackles, 18 TFL, four sacks, three INTs, and a fumble recovery while Mace had 125 tackles, 21 TFL, two sacks, and a fumble recovery himself last season.
The Pucketts also combined for 92 carries for 588 yards and eight TDs on offense last year as well.
Junior DB Logan Summitt leads the defensive backfield after receiving an honorable mention all-district selection as a sophomore. Summit picked up 109 tackles, 14.5 TFL, four sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2024.
With three returning defenders who had over 100 tackles a season ago, the future looks good for a Carey team that considered last year’s regional quarterfinal finish a down year.
Aside from the tough opener with Hopewell-Loudon, Carey is going to need to bring their A-game every week in a top heavy N10 conference.
GIBSONBURG
HEAD COACH: Shane Dyer, 1st season.
LAST SEASON: 9-3 overall, regional quarterfinalists; 5-1 SBC River, second place.
CLASS OF 2026: 24-11 (.686).
KEY GAMES: Aug. 22 @ Ottawa Hills; Sept. 5 @ Delta; and Sept. 19 vs. Hopewell-Loudon.
TOUGHEST OPPONENT: Sept. 19 vs. Hopewell-Loudon.
TEAM PREVIEW: The Shane Dyer era of Golden Bears football begins on Aug. 22 @ Ottawa Hills. Lucky for Coach Dyer, he’s got quite the arsenal of returning athletes to help usher in this new era.
Hunter Wasserman, Dasch Sutter, Jeff Linton, and Hayden Brown all return to the offensive line after receiving some sort of postseason accolades for their efforts a year ago. Wasserman made second team all-district while also making second team All-SBC River on the defensive line too. Sutter was second team All-SBC River on offense while making honorable mention on the defensive side. Linton was first team, and Brown was honorable mention All-SBC River respectively.
First team All-Ohio RB Grant Smith comes back after carrying the ball 228 times for 1,571 yards and 16 TDs a year ago. Smith also picked up 40 tackles and forced a fumble on defense.
Junior Reese Walby was a first team All-Ohio selection on defense last year, but passed for 235 yards and two TDs while rushing for 841 yards and 13 TDs on offense. Walby’s defensive output in 2024 was 89 tackles, nine INTs, two forced fumbles, a sack, one fumble recovery, and a defensive TD to boot.
Senior wideout Aidan Morant received second team All-SBC River honors last year. Morant accounted for 359 yards and three TDs of total offense in 2024.
Golden Bear senior LB Luke Foster earned honorable mention All-Ohio last season while also making second team All-SBC River as a tight end on offense. Foster had 75 tackles, three sacks, two fumble recoveries, an INT, a forced fumble, and a defensive TD a year ago.
Chuy Rodriguez, a senior DB, had 39 tackles, four INTs, and a fumble recovery a year ago to earn a honorable mention all-district nod.
The Orange & Black’s key games are all early in their schedule. If they can survive that early gauntlet then there’s a chance Gibsonburg is hoisting the SBC River trophy at the end of the season.
SBC LAKE PREDICTIONS
SBC BAY PREDICTIONS
SBC RIVER PREDICTIONS
NORTHERN 10 CONFERENCE PREDICTIONS
Please feel free to use these predictions as 'poster board' material in your locker rooms. As noted in the title of the article, it is 'way too early'. Have a great rest of your summer, I look forward to getting back to football in the fall.
