The 10 Best Games to See - Week 6

Published on
September 23, 2024

THE 10 BEST GAMES TO SEE IN WEEK SIX

By Kyle Holsinger

Get ready for a thrilling Week 6 in Ohio high school football! 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 come 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.

We’ll start with the local games first…

The Five Best Games to See in the Area

#5 Napoleon (3-2) @ Fremont Ross (1-4)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Napoleon beat Holland Springfield at home, 47-26; Fremont Ross lost at Findlay, 21-7.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Napoleon defeated Fremont Ross at home, 41-21.

Intrigue: Napoleon rushed for 299 yards and gained 376 total last week. Their defense was able to force a fumble and interception, but did give up 329 yards and gave up 9-of-12 third down conversions.

The Wildcats are working towards a home playoff game, and if they can run the table then potentially two of them.

Fremont Ross QB Karson Kayden completed 20-of-40 passes for 175 yards in last week’s defeat. They could only muster 63 rushing yards in the game.

The Little Giants are a good team with a tough schedule, and they need every win that they can get if they want to make the postseason.

#4 Otsego (4-1) @ Genoa Area (4-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Otsego defeated Fostoria at home, 34-7; Genoa beat Millbury Lake at home, 55-28.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Genoa Area won at Otsego, 48-19.

Intrigue: The winner will continue to control their destiny in the Northern Buckeye Conference title race.

Both teams will need this win if they’d like a home game in the postseason.

Otsego started off the season with a couple blowout wins, a couple close games, and one blowout loss to the defending Division V runner-ups, Liberty Center.

Since their loss in Week 1 to Archbold, Genoa has performed at a high level against their competition, outscoring opponents 157-50. This includes a 17-7 win over a really good Huron team.

#3 Sandusky (2-3) @ Tiffin Columbian (2-3)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Sandusky beat Vermilion at home, 36-20; Tiffin Columbian lost at Huron, 38-20.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Tiffin Columbian won at Sandusky, 42-35.

Intrigue: Sandusky is led offensively by Mary’Veon Lately, who has 48 rushes for 234 yards with five catches for 108 yards and a TD this season.

The Blue Streak defense is packed with playmakers. Dennarius Walk has 53 tackles and a fumble recovery. Rocco D’Amico has 43 tackles, and Aa’ Zoryion Bonner has 35 tackles with two INTs, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Dante Shipp Jr. has 29 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and a defensive TD.

On special teams, Amir Aaron has returned two of the five kickoff returns that he’s had for a TD as well as one punt return for a TD this year also.

Tiffin Columbian QB Zach Shawberry has passed for 604 yards with six TDs while rushing for an additional 43 yards through five weeks. Shawberry gets some assistance from Masen Seitz, who has 363 rushing yards with three TDs; and Brady Bonnell, who has rushed for 212 yards and four TDs.

The Tornado defense is anchored by Neven Newman. Neuman has 30 tackles and two sacks on the year.

#2 Clyde (4-1) @ Perkins (5-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Clyde defeated Port Clinton at home, 56-21; Perkins won at Bellevue, 43-0.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Perkins beat Tiffin Columbian on the road, 31-7.

Intrigue: Clyde QB Brennan Wilson has completed 44-of-64 passes for 730 yards, nine passing TDs, two picks, 123 yards rushing, a rushing TD, and two receptions on the season. Adam Young has 254 yards rushing with four TDs to help with the offensive workload.

Defensively, the Fliers are led by Hector Garza, who has 30.5 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

Wilson also leads the SBC Lake with a 48.7 yard punting average.

Perkins was dominant last week. Sam Schweinfurth was near perfect, completing 12-of-13 passes for 249 yards with four TDs. Braylon Collier caught eight passes for 177 yards with three TDs. Isaac Bunts rushed for 166 yards on 22 attempts and two TDs.

The Pirates play one of the toughest schedules in Division IV and still are favorites in all of their remaining games. They truly control their own destiny.

#1 Ontario (5-0) @ Galion (4-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Ontario defeated Clear Fork at home, 31-14; Galion lost at home to Shelby, 35-6.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Ontario beat Galion at home, 59-35.

Intrigue: Ontario racked up 319 rushing yards in last week’s win. Quarterback Bodpegn Miller, an Ohio State commit, had 10 rushes for 155 yards and two TDs. Mason Vantilburg had 16 rushes for 127 yards and two TDs.

Galion’s Braxton Prosser threw 12-of-22 completed passes for 126 yards and a TD in last week’s defeat. Galion is a lock to make the playoffs, but if they want to guarantee a home game in Week 11 then they’re going to need to win Friday.

Honorable Mention - Milan Edison (5-0) @ Bellevue (2-3) and Lucas (3-2) @ Calvert (3-2).

The Five Best Games to See in the State

#5 Glenville (3-2) @ St. Edward (3-2)

When: Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Glenville beat East Technical at home, 48-0; St. Edward lost at home to Massillon Washington, 31-21.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 2, 2017; St. Edward defeated Glenville at home, 41-6.

Intrigue: Don’t be fooled by these teams 3-2 records. Only the best of the best have beaten these teams, and these two teams are defending state champions.

Glenville has struggled to score against their toughest competition, but have outscored their Senate League opponents over the last two weeks, 82-0.

The Tarblooders are a lock for the playoffs and have a good shot at playing a home playoff in the first round of the postseason. If they want to guarantee two home games (top four in a region) in the Region 13 playoffs, they’re going to have to win at least four of their remaining five.

St. Edward’s Thomas Csanyi was 18-of-30 for 252 yards with three TDs last week. Zach Hackleman caught nine of those passes for 161 yards and a TD. The Eagles couldn’t get the run game going with 51 rushing yards.

St. Edward play the toughest schedule in Division I so they’re a similar boat as Glenville as far as playoff scenarios go in Region 1. 

#4 Archbishop Moeller (4-1) @ La Salle (5-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Moeller won at St. Xavier, 45-37; La Salle won at Withrow, 43-19.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Moeller defeated La Salle at home, 28-20.

Intrigue: Moeller QB Matt Ponatoski completed 18-of-25 passes for 321 yards, six TDs, and 17 yards rushing last week. Matthew Folger caught three passes for 99 yards and two TDs; and Jovan Love had six receptions for 74 yards and a couple TDs.

The Crusaders got a lift from DL Will Adkins, who had four tackles, 2.5 TFLs, and 0.5 sacks. Linebacker Jonah Hayes had six tackles, a fumble recovery, and 0.5 sack last week.

La Salle had 317 total offensive yards last week. Most of those yards, 289, to be exact, were on the ground.

The Lancers’s defense forced two fumbles and an INT last week while holding Withrow to just 23 rushing yards.

#3 Davidson (4-1) @ Olentangy Orange (4-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Davidson won at Marysville, 43-0; Olentangy Orange defeated Olentangy Berlin at home, 35-7.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Olentangy Orange beat Davidson on the road, 17-14. 

Intrigue: Since losing their opening game, Davidson has outscored their opponents 167-36. The Wildcat defense held Marysville to just 101 yards last week. 

They appear to be a lock for the postseason. However, their schedule is brutal throughout and they’ll have to take their wins where they can get them in the Ohio Capital Conference.

Orange was able to gain 346 yards of offense last week with 208 of it on the ground, and 138 through the air.
The Pioneer defense had three INTs and a fumble recovery while holding their crosstown rival to only 166 total yards (87 passing, 79 rushing).

#2 Austintown-Fitch (5-0) @ Ursuline (4-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Austintown-Fitch won at Buchtel, 44-7; Ursuline won at Warren Harding, 35-0.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Ursuline beat Austintown-Fitch on the road, 32-14.

Intrigue: Austintown-Fitch threw for 91 yards last week. Deon’Dray Richard rushed for 110 yards on 10 carries with two TDs.

The Falcon defense is led by Rocco DiFlorio, who had eight tackles, two TFLs, a pass breakup, and 0.5 sack.

Ursuline senior Joe Balog rushed for 117 yards on 18 attempts. The Irish defense had five turnovers last week.

#1 St. Xavier (3-2) @ Elder (4-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: St. Xavier lost at home to Archbishop Moeller, 45-37; Elder won at home against Louisville [KY] St. Xavier, 17-15.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Elder defeated St. Xavier on the road in overtime, 32-31.

Intrigue: St. Xavier QB Chase Herbstreit threw 11-of-29 completed passes for 165 yards and a TD to go along with 171 rushing yards and a TD. Jake Britt caught 5 catches for 73 yards. Daniel Vollmer had 15 yards rushing with two TDs and four receptions for 38 yards in last week’s loss.

The Bomber defense was led by CaRon Seymore last week. Seymore had 10 tackles with 0.5 TFL. Kobe Clapper had 9 tackles, a forced fumble, and a TFL. Aden Reeder had three tackles and two TFLs in last week’s game.

Elder QB Kaden Estep completed 11-of-16 passes for 161 yards and a TD last week. Joey Thamann had 22 carries for 100 yards. Christopher Paff had five receptions for 101 yards 

The Panther defense was led by Cooper Sanders, who had 10 tackles and one TFL. Derek Uran had seven tackles, three TFLs, and two sacks. 

Honorable Mention - DeMatha Catholic [Hyattsville, MD] (2-1) @ Massillon Washington (4-1) and Whitmer (4-1) @ Anthony Wayne (5-0).

Thank you for reading, and we’ll see you next week.

About the Author

Kyle Holsinger is a sports writer and analyst covering high school and college sports in Ohio. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, Kyle delivers in-depth previews, analysis, and insights on the Buckeye State's top teams and matchups. Follow him for expert coverage of Ohio high school and college sports and stay up-to-date on the latest news and predictions.

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