THE 10 BEST GAMES TO SEE IN WEEK 8
By Kyle Holsinger
Get ready for a thrilling Week 8 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…
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Carey beat Buckeye Central at home, 56-7; Colonel Crawford won at Seneca East, 21-20.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Carey beat Colonel Crawford at home, 27-7.
Intrigue: Carey is led offensively by RB Eli Steen, who has 138 carries for 897 rushing yards and 13 total TDs in 2024. Kyler Boes has passed for 420 yards and four TDs, and he’s rushed for an additional 228 and two TDs. Tripp Phoenix leads the team with 12 receptions for 284 yards and three TDs along with 92 rushing yards and two TDs.
The Blue Devils are led defensively by Mace Puckett, who has 70 tackles with 12 TFL. Logan Summit has made 68 tackles, 13 TFL, four sacks, and two forced fumbles. Dash Puckett has 62 tackles, 9.5 TFL, three sacks, and a fumble recovery. Carter Bame has 49 tackles, 12.5 TFL, one sack, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery. Phoenix also has 15 tackles and four interceptions.
Colonel Crawford’s offense runs through RB Conner McMichael, 937 yards rushing with 14 TDs and 258 receiving yards with three TDs on the year. Peyton Baker is 33-of-56 for 602 yards with six TDs and two INTs. Brayden Holt is 27-of-52 for 512 yards with four TDs and three INTs while also rushing for 186 yards and four TDs. Dominic Dean has 368 rushing yards and seven TDs and 106 receiving yards.
The Eagles defense is led by Kaden Bruner and Payne DeGray. Brune has 35 tackles, 5.5 TFL, two sacks, and a forced fumble on the season. DeGray has 34 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Genoa Area lost at Maumee, 33-13; Oak Harbor won at Otsego, 31-0.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 6, 2023; Oak Harbor won at Genoa, 21-0.
Intrigue: Genoa and Oak Harbor control their own destiny in the Northern Buckeye Conference title hunt. The only other team currently in the hunt is Eastwood, and both Genoa and Oak Harbor face them in the final two weeks. Either team better not look ahead though or they’re destiny will be controlled by somebody else.
Genoa’s Myles Mollenhauer was 14-for-25 passing for 213 yards and a TD last week. Alex Spencer had five receptions for 90 yards and a TD.
The Comets appeared to be a lock for postseason play, but if they’d like a shot at a home game then they’re going to need a win this week.
Oak Harbor gained 422 total yards last week on offense. Quarterback Michael LaLonde threw for 197 yards, and top target Tyler Thompson had seven receptions for 127 yards.
Defensively, the Rockets held Otsego to 111 offensive yards. Eighty of those yards were on the ground, and they only gave up 31 yards passing in the game.
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Pleasant lost at home to Ontario, 45-14; Galion lost at Marengo Highland, 24-21.
Previous Meeting: Pleasant won at home, 14-13.
Intrigue: Pleasant’s Drew Niederhouser had 22 attempts for 139 yards and two TDs in last week’s loss. Owen Lowry completed 9-of-22 passes for 159 yards while adding 39 yards rushing to his total as well. Jackson Kitts had two receptions for 71 yards, and Dillon Burns garnered 51 receiving yards on three catches.
Although Galion has won their first four games and lost their last three, I wouldn’t call them a streaky team. They’ve faced some stiff competition all season long. That being said, the Tigers are going to have to go on a three-game win streak themselves if a home playoff game is in their forecast.
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Perrysburg lost at home to Whitmer, 27-13; Findlay lost at Anthony Wayne, 34-25.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 6, 2023; Findlay won at Perrysburg, 42-35.
Intrigue: Despite the loss to Whitmer, Perrysburg still controls their own destiny in their hunt for a Northern Lakes League - Buckeye Division title.
Josh Takats threw 15-of-28 completions for 157 yards and a TD and also rushed for 84 yards and a TD for the Yellow Jackets
Perrysburg gave up 306 yards defensively. Whitmer was able to rush for 202 and 104 yards were through the air.
Findlay’s Landon Echelberry was 24-of-30 for 313 yards and two TDs as well as 78 rushing yards. His main targets were Jacob Ragland, who had seven receptions for 165 yards and a TD; Israel Moore, who had nine catches for 81 yards and a TD; and Carter Imke, who grabbed seven balls for 54 yards.
The Trojans defense gave up 213 rushing yards and 215 passing yards to Anthony Wayne last week for 428 yards given up.
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Clyde defeated Tiffin Columbian at home, 33-14; Sandusky beat Norwalk at home, 42-0.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 6, 2023; Huron won at Clyde, 28-6.
Intrigue: Clyde’s Jonathan Lantz was 10-of-11 passing for 120 yards and a TD. Zander Burroughs had three catches for 60 yards and a TD. Brayden Olson snagged six receptions for 88 yards.
The Fliers defense held Columbian to 46 rushing yards and 107 yards passing for 153 yards given up in total defensively.
Sandusky’s offensive attack is led by Jason Henlon and Maky’Veon Lately. Henlon is 46-for-65 for 745 passing yards, seven TDs, four INTs, and two rushing TDs also. Lately has 407 rushing yards with five TDs and 155 receiving yards and a TD.
The Blue Streaks’ Dennarius Walk has 67 tackles and a fumble recovery; Aa’Zoryion Bonner has 45 tackles, two INTs, a force fumble and recovery; and Rocco D’Amico has 46 tackles.
Honorable Mention - Upper Sandusky (6-1) @ Mohawk (6-1) and Woodmore (4-2) @ Calvert (4-3)
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: St. Xavier lost at Louisville [KY] Trinity, 7-3; La Salle won at Indianapolis [IN] Roncalli, 28-17.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 6, 2023; St. Xavier beat La Salle at home, 24-13.
Intrigue: St. Xavier’s Chase Herbstreit leads the offense, going 76-of-147 for 871 yards, eight TDs, three INTs, and 438 rushing yards with six TDs. Jake Britt has 322 yards rushing with two TDs and 221 yards receiving and a TD. Daniel Vollmer has 296 rushing yards and 189 receiving yards for 9 TDs plus a nine-yard passing TD to boot. Matthew Haerst has 13 catches for 145 yards and a TD.
The Bombers are led by Kobe Clapper on defense. Clapper has 55 tackles, six TFL, a forced fumble, and half-a-sack. Aden Reeder has 35 tackles, eight TFL, one sack, and a forced fumble. Lucas Bishop has 30 tackles, three INTs, three TFL, and a sack. Brayden Reilly has 36 tackles, four pass deflections, two INTs, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, and half-a-sack.
LaSalle’s only loss is to arguably the best team in the entire state, Archbishop Moeller. Other than that, La Salle has not given up more than 19 points all year with four of their seven opponents being held to seven points or less.
The Lancers play one of the toughest schedules in the state, and appeared to have already clinched a home playoff game, but if they want to guarantee two home games and the second place position in the Greater Catholic League - South Division then they’ll need a win on Friday.
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Brookville beat Oakwood at home, 28-14; Eaton beat Monroe at home, 31-21.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 6, 2023; Brookville won at home, 37-17.
Intrigue: Brookville’s Jake Lenser rushed for 118 yards and two TDs while DJ Moore had 107 rushing yards and two TDs last week. Jayden Resor had 85 rushing yards and 40 receiving yards as well.
Lenser also led the Blue Devils on defense with eight tackles. Sam Corby had four tackles with two TFL. D.J. Moore had six tackles, an INT, and a pass deflection.
Eaton QB Aaron Rogers was 13-of-20 for 182 passing yards and two TDs, and had 83 rushing yards with a TD as well last week. Conner Bach had six receptions for 94 yards and a TD. Cordis Berard ran for 89 yards and had a 22-yard reception.
The Eagles defense soared with Brandon Couch having nine tackles, one INT, one TFL, and a pass deflection in last week’s win. Gavin Winings contributed seven tackles and two pass deflections. Berard had a sack in the game as well.
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Glenville won at Rhodes, 35-14; Hoban lost at Walsh Jesuit, 19-14.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 6, 2023; Hoban beat Glenville at home, 28-16.
Intrigue: Glenville amassed 374 yards of offense in last Friday’s win. They ran for 122 yards and threw for 252 yards.
The Tarblooders held Rhodes to 186 yards of total offense with just 11 of those being on the ground. The defense was also able to pick off a couple balls in the game as well.
Hoban QB Trent Hayden was 11-of-17 for 162 passing yards and two TDs. Brayton Feister had four catches for 56 yards and a TD. Elbert Hill had four catch for 56 yards and blocked an extra point on special teams.
The Knights face some of the stiffest competition around, and will need every win they can get to earn two home postseason games.
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Upper Arlington defeated Olentangy Liberty at home, 31-28; Olentangy Orange won at Coffman, 27-20.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 6, 2023; Upper Arlington defeated Orange at home, 10-0.
Intrigue: Upper Arlington WR Trent Wolpert had eight receptions for 138 yards last week.
The Golden Bears have been absolutely electric defensively all season, giving up only 61 points after seven games while pitching three shutouts in a row at one point.
Orange’s Levi Davis had 160 yards rushing with a couple TDs and threw for 119 yards and a TD also last week.
The winner of this game controls their own destiny in the Ohio Capital Conference - Central Division title hunt.
When: Friday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Ursuline beat St. Vincent-St. Mary at home, 37-7; VASJ’s home game with Dohn Community was cancelled. The Vikings lost at McDowell [PA] in Week 6, 38-35.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 10, 2023 at Alliance Marlington High School Stadium; Ursuline defeated VASJ, 27-20 in the Region 9 semifinals.
Intrigue: Ursuline QB D.C. Ferrell is 58-for-81 for 904 yards passing with 11 TDs and one pick this season. Ferrell also has 256 rushing yards and two TDs. Joe Balog 432 yards rushing with three total TDs on the year. Junior Devonte Taylor has 19 catches for 330 yards and a couple TDs.
The Fighting Irish defense is led by junior Kevin Boudrey, who has 52 tackles, nine TFL, and two sacks on the year. John Frangos has 49 tackles, eight TFL, and two sacks. Sophomore Amire Brown has 44 tackles and 4 TFL. Drake Campbell has made 37 tackles, five TFL, three sacks, and two fumble recoveries. Da’Shaun Will has 17 tackles, five interceptions, four pass deflections, one TFL, and one sack.
VASJ was able to pass for 330 yards and rush for 144 for a total of 474 yards of offense last week.
Defensively, they gave up 500 yards with 307 of that through the air and 193 on the ground. The Vikings did snag an interception in the game though.
Honorable Mention - Football North Inc. via Clarkson SS [Ontario, Canada] (4-2) @ St. Edward (4-3) and Riverside Baptist [MD] (3-0) @ Elder (4-3)
