The Best Ohio High School Football Games to Watch in Week 5
By Kyle Holsinger
Listed below are the best Ohio high school football games to watch in Week 5. This weekend, powerhouse teams go head-to-head in competition that will leave you on the edge of your seat. From rivalry bragging rights to top-ranked battles, we've got the inside scoop on the games you won't want to miss.
The following are the five best high school football games played by schools within the Heart of Ohio Sports coverage area and the five best games throughout the state. This will be a weekly article that comes out on Mondays.
The games are picked through a combination of analysis, rankings, competitiveness, and statistics. If you’d like us to cover your region, please contact us at heartofohiosports.com. Any recruiting rankings are from 247sports.com.
Here is last week's article: https://heartofohiosports.com/ohio-high-school-football-week-4-preview/
We’ll start with the local games first…
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Port Clinton lost at Ottawa Hills, 37-30; Clyde lost to Toledo St. Francis at home, 30-13.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Clyde won at Port Clinton, 34-13.
Intrigue: Port Clinton’s Wyatt Yarbrough threw for 187 yards, two TDs, and 2 INTs last week. Gabe Koskela and Brian Rohrer were his main targets as Koskela had two receptions for 64 yards and a TD, and Rohrer had three receptions for 83 yards.
Defensively, Port Clinton was led last week by Rohrer, Koskela, and Gavin Cornell. Rohrer had 8.5 tackles, 2 TFLs, and a sack; Koskela had 4.5 tackles and a TFL; and Cornell had 7.5 tackles in the defeat to Ottawa Hills.
Clyde QB Brennan Wilson is 38-of-57 passing for 533 yards, seven TDs, and two INTS this season.
Wilson has several weapons to whom he likes to throw: Brayden Olsen (12 receptions, 225 yards, three TDs), Kam Shortridge (14 receptions, 149 yards, two TDs), Price Carter (five receptions, 121 yards, two TDs), Jackson Dashner (eight receptions for 107 yards), and Cole Sengstock (eight receptions, 68 yards, and three TDs).
Adam Young leads the team in rushing with 43 attempts, 222 yards, and three TDs.
The Flier defense is led by Hector Garza, who has 30.5 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery after four weeks. Cedric Messer has 25 tackles and a forced fumble; and Sengstock has 23 tackles and a fumble recovery this year.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Fremont Ross lost Whitmer at home, 38-14; Findlay lost at Oregon Clay, 54-40.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Findlay won at Fremont Ross, 49-29.
Intrigue: Longtime rivalry.
Fremont Ross has dropped two straight since their Week 2 win against Sandusky. Although they’re 1-3, the Little Giants have a shot at the playoffs if they can win three or more of their remaining regular season games. That’ll be easier said than done against the Trojans this week.
Findlay was able to move the ball well last week, gaining 585 yards in total offense. 569 of that was through the air, and only 16 of it was on the ground. It didn’t help that Blue and Gold threw three picks last week.
The Trojan defense also gave up a lot of yards in Week 4. They were scorched for 419 yards passing and 143 rushing for 562 yards given up.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Vermilion beat Elyria Catholic at home, 25-9; Sandusky beat Padua Franciscan at home 28-0.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Sandusky won at Vermilion, 62-28.
Intrigue: Vermilion had 190 yards rushing to go with 22 yards passing last week. They were only 1-of-10 on third down conversions.
Their saving grace was a Sailors defense that forced two INTs and a fumble.
Sandusky was 8-of-11 on their third down conversions last week. Despite throwing a couple picks, Sandusky was able to put up 28 points.
The Blue Streak defense forced four turnovers in Week 4, with three INTs, and one fumble recovery.
Sandusky is going to need every victory they can get if they want to make it to the postseason.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Tiffin Columbian lost to Bishop Watterson at home, 51-7; Huron beat Dunbar at home, 49-14.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Tiffin Columbian beat Huron at home, 35-17.
Intrigue: Columbian’s Zach Shawberry is 37-of-74 for 432 passing yards, six TDs, and three INTs. Johnny Bremyer is Shawberry’s top target with 11 catches, 139 yards, and three TDs. Daelan Brandeberry has 11 catches for 77 yards, and Jack Newlove has five catches, 76 yards, and one TD.
The rushing attack is led by Brady Bonnell (46 rushes, 212 yards, four TDs) and Masen Seitz (38 rushes, 160 yards).
Huron’s Landon Hohler threw 13-of-16 completed passes for 146 yards with four TDs in last week’s win.
The Tiger defense held Dunbar to just 57 yards rushing on 27 attempts in Week 4.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Shelby beat Marion Harding at home, 33-14; Galion won at Clear Fork, 41-21.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Shelby beat Galion at home, 62-26.
Intrigue: Shelby had 392 offensive yards and rushed for 284 yards in their win last week. Brayden DeVito was 6-of-17 passing for 108 yards, one TD, and one INT while also rushing 20 times for 132 yards and two TDs. Marcus Gumbert rushed for 127 yards and two TDs in the Week 4 win.
The Whippets gave up a mere 36 rushing yards against Marion Harding. Karsen Homan had four sacks in the first half.
Galion QB Braxton Prosser had 200 of his team’s 208 offensive yards as he threw for 52 yards and two TDs and rushed for 148 yards and two TDs on six attempts.
The Tiger’s defense was helped by a pick-six by Kurt Hay and two blocked punts by Zach Sallee. One of the blocks was returned 84-yards for a TD by Cam Kuehlman.
Honorable Mention - Perkins (4-0) @ Bellevue (2-2) and Calvert (3-1) @ Gibsonburg (2-2)
We're halfway through the best Ohio high school football games to watch in Week 5.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Danville beat Mt. Gilead at home, 20-8; Northmor won at Centerburg, 34-26.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Danville beat Northmor at home, 32-21.
Intrigue: Danville QB Jacob Hackman is 19-of-37 for 295 passing yards for two TDs and one INT with 156 rushing yards and four TDs on the season also. Aidan Burke leads the team in rushing 442 yards and four TDs in the first four games of 2024. Caleb Lucas has four catches for 92 yards and a TD.
The Blue Devil defense is anchored by MLB Joshua Byers, who has 72 total tackles and four TFLs after just four games. Fellow MLB Blake Colopy has 45 tackles and three TFLs. Lucas also has 42 tackles and seven TFLs to help on both sides of the ball.
Northmor racked up 441 offensive yards last week. Cowin Becker had 22 rushes for 186 yards and two TDs. Becker also had nine catches for 145 yards and two additional TDs. A.J. Bower completed 14-of-24 passes for 216 yards, three TDs, and an INT.
Defensively, the Golden Knights did give up 319 yards in Week 4. They were able to hold their opponent to just 4-of-11 conversions on third down as well as 1-of-7 on fourth downs.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Moeller lost to Mallard Creek [Charlotte, NC] at home, 21-14, in overtime; St. Xavier beat Withrow at home, 31-7.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 3, 2023; Moeller won at St. Xavier, 10-7, in the Region 4 quarterfinals.
Intrigue: This is a storied rivalry.
Moeller was held to 193 total yards, gave up five sacks, and threw two INTs on offense last week (one for a pick-six) in last week’s overtime loss.
St. Xavier’s Daniel Vollmer had 14 rushes, 69 yards, two TDs, and two receptions for 48 yards in last week’s win. Chase Herbstreit was 6-of-9 for 124 yards, two TDs, and a pick.
The Bombers held Withrow to 73 yards of offense.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: North Ridgeville beat Olmsted Falls at home, 43-17; Avon beat Elyria at home, 58-0.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Avon won at North Ridgeville, 38-7.
Intrigue: North Ridgeville had 420 yards of offense last week with 292 rushing. Junior RB Zack Barnhart rushed 16 times for 83 yards and a couple TDs in the win. Charlie Steinmetz had 112 rushing yards and 161 all-purpose yards. Cole Miller was 11-of-16 passing for 128 yards.
The Rangers defense gave up just 81 yards defensively last week.
Avon amassed 430 offensive yards with 263 yards passing and 167 yards rushing.
Defensively, they held Elyria to just 139 yards, 73 of those passing, and 66 rushing yards. The Eagles had two interceptions and held their opponent to 1-of-9 on third down conversions.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Watterson won at Tiffin Columbian, 51-7; Chardon had a bye week, but won at Avon Lake in Week 3 by a score of 28-7.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Watterson beat Chardon at home, 14-10.
Intrigue: Watterson’s Zack Weber had five carries for 182 yards and two TDs at halftime in last week’s win.
Chardon has outscored opponents 99-14 after three games. Even though they have a tougher schedule, they will likely be seeded high enough to earn two home postseason games.
This will be the toughest opponent either team faces in the regular season.
When: Friday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Massillon beat Canisius [Buffalo, NY] at home, 41-7; St. Edward beat Elder at home, 24-17.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 15, 2023; Massillon beat St. Edward at home, 15-13.
Intrigue: Massillon scored in the passing game, rushing game, special teams, and defense last week.
Jalen Slaughter completed 10-of-12 throws for 150 yards and a TD. Jacques Carter was his primary target with four receptions for 91 yards and a TD. Ja’Meir Gamble ran for 63 yards on 10 attempts with one TD.
Defensively, the Tigers were led by Mylen Lenix and Logan Allman, who each had five tackles in Week 4.
St. Edward’s Thomas Csanyi was 10-of-15 for 100 yards and two INTs in last week’s win. B.P. Paulozzi had 29 rushes for 146 yards and two TDs. Zach Hackelman was the leading receiver with three catches for 47 yards.
The Eagles defense held Elder to -21 rushing yards and only 105 total yards. They picked off two passes and held their Week 4 opponent to just 1-of-8 third down efficiency.
Honorable Mention - Springfield (2-2) @ Centerville (2-2) and Louisville [KY] St. Xavier (2-1) @ Elder (3-1)
These were the best Ohio high school football games to watch in Week 5. Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you next week.
