THE 10 BEST GAMES TO SEE IN OHIO - REGIONAL QUARTERFINALS
By Kyle Holsinger
Welcome to Week 12 of the season, and we are now heading into a second week of playoff matchups. There are so many great games across the state that it was like splitting hairs in order to differentiate which games deserved recognition.
Division VI, Region 22
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Panthers won at Seneca East, 35-0 in the Region 22 first round; and the Wildcats beat Gibsonburg at home two weeks ago, 45-14.
Previous Meeting: First meeting.
Intrigue: Delta’s Marcus Nagle scored on touchdown runs of 11 and 27 yards last week. Vincent Martinez and Jensyn Gillen each rushed for a two-yard score. Emeric Friess threw a 39-yard TD pass to Gunner Taylor.
Woodmore’s Lucas Caldwell carried the ball 16 times for 207 rushing yards and two TDs last game. Calvin Lipstraw went 5-of-7 passing for 92 yards and two TDs. Lipstraw’s top target was Wesley Kayser caught four balls for 90 yards and two TDs.
Division IV, Region 14
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: Bellevue defeated Marengo Highland at home, 48-0, in the Region 14 first round; and the Pirates beat Tiffin Columbian at home two weeks ago, 10-7,
Previous Meeting: Sept. 18, 2026; Perkins won at Bellevue , 10-3.
Intrigue: Bellevue’s Ike Brown was 13-for-16 passing for 153 yards and an INT while also rushing for 97 yards and three TDs on 10 carries last week. Evan Bova rushed for 100 yards and two TDs on 10 touches. Caden Cramer caught six passes for 87 yards, and Konner Dauch made three receptions for 41 yards.
Two weeks ago, Perkins’ Grant Kuhnle threw 14-of-20 passes for 163 yards with 35 rushing yards and a TD on 10 attempts. Kaden Legando caught six passes for 97 yards. Connor Smith rushed for 56 yards on 13 carries.
Division VII, Region 26
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Warriors defeated Haviland Wayne Trace at home, 42-13, in the Region 26 first round; and the Tigers won at McGuffey Upper Scioto Valley two weeks ago, 50-42.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 27, 2013; Mohawk won at North Baltimore, 73-15.
Intrigue: Mohawk’s Andon Clouse completed 6-of-12 passes for 204 yards and four TDs. Clouse’s primary receivers were Jagger Ekleberry and Levi Tiell. Ekleberry caught three balls for 117 yards and a TD while Tiell made three receptions for 87 yards and three TDs. Kaden Bish rushed for 173 yards and two TDs on 23 touches.
North Baltimore’s Luke Long threw 13-of-17 passes for 206 yards and two TDs while also rushing for 172 yards and four TDs on 10 carries two weeks ago. Zander South made 10 catches for 179 yards and two TDs. Trevor Walter ran for 101 yards and a TD on 21 attempts.
Division III, Region 10
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Tornadoes beat Grafton Midview at home, 35-12, in the Region 10 first round; and the Warriors won at Caledonia River Valley two weeks ago, 47-14.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 4, 2026; Ontario won at TC, 49-28.
Intrigue: Columbian’s Masen Seitz rushed for 242 yards and five TDs last week. Logan Gooding was 11-for-14 passing for 141 yards. DaZarius Russell made five receptions for 43 yards.
Ontario’s Sean Tanner has completed 73-of-120 passes for 1,347 yards, 15 TDs, and two picks this year. Max Ciroli has rushed for 1,027 yards and 10 TDs on 133 attempts.
Division VII, Region 26
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Bombers defeated Delphos Jefferson at home, 41-14, in the Region 26 first round; and the Panthers beat Van Buren at home two weeks ago, 21-14.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 1, 2024; McComb won at Edon, 28-14, in the first round of the Region 26 playoffs.
Intrigue: The Bombers have been one of the most improved teams in Division VII this year. They haven’t lost to an Ohio team this year—their one loss coming to Michigan’s Whiteford, 50-29. THIS will be their toughest test to date.
McComb’s Ashtin Gallagher has thrown 127-199 passes for 1,738 yards, 23 TDs, and six picks on the year. Carter Frater caught 59 passes for 771 yards and eight TDs; Luke Kern has made 38 receptions for 554 yards and 13 TDs while rushing for 270 yards and six TDs on 47 attempts. Kahle Drown caught 25 balls for 325 receiving yards and two TDs plus 324 rushing yards and eight TDs on 70 touches.
Port Clinton (9-2) @ Eastwood (9-1), Gibsonburg (6-5) @ Hopewell-Loudon (10-0), and Firelands (7-4) @ Shelby (10-0).
Division IV, Region 16
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Spartans defeated Dayton Dunbar at home, 55-28, in the Region 16 first round; and the Red Raiders won at Springfield Kenton Ridge two weeks ago, 35-0.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 13, 1993; Valley View beat London, 24-13, in the Region 12 semifinals at Dayton Welcome Stadium.
Intrigue: Valley View has won seven of their last eight games this year. They have given up 28 or more points in back-to-back contests. London will be their toughest opponent this season.
London’s Bristol Toronto carried the ball 24 times for 197 yards and three TDs two weeks ago. Colt Hughes threw 1-of-5 passes for 30 yards—with Parker Clawson catching the lone ball.
Division I, Region 3
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Bears defeated Westerville Central, 17-10, in the Region 3 first round; and the Patriots won at Olentangy Orange two weeks ago, 21-15.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 11, 2026; Liberty won at Berlin, 17-7.
Intrigue: Berlin is on a seven-game winning streak since losing to Liberty in Week 4. They’ve held opponents to 10 or less points in five straight contests. The Bears are looking for their first win against Liberty since Sept. 13, 2024.
Liberty’s Alex Leonard completed 19-of-24 passes for 199 yards, two TDs, and a pick while also rushing for 49 yards and a TD on seven touches two weeks ago. Grayson Davis rushed for 108 yards on 27 carries while also catching three passes for 48 yards and a TD. Carter Nelson made seven catches for 82 yards and a TD.
Division I, Region 3
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: Sept. 11, 2026; Lincoln beat Orange at home, 34-9.
Previous Meeting: The Pioneers won at Columbus St. Charles, 29-26, in the Region 3 first round; and the Lions won at Pickerington North two weeks ago, 20-19.
Intrigue: Orange plays one of the toughest schedules in the state. The Pioneers have only beat two teams with a winning record—Hilliard Bradley and Columbus St. Charles. Lincoln is the toughest opponent they’ve faced this season.
Lincoln’s Grey Kegley went 10-for-17 passing for 98 yards, two TDs, and a pick two weeks ago. Kellen Rachal rushed for 97 yards on 24 carries. Marki Wallace (68 yards) and John Quartey (21 yards) each caught three passes and a TD.
Division I, Region 4
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Bombers defeated Fairfield at home, 42-0, in the Region 4 first round; and the Firebirds won at Cincinnati Oak Hills two weeks ago, 42-14.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 21, 2026; LW defeated St. X at home, 20-7.
Intrigue: St. X’s Thomas George completed 10-of-11 passes for 127 yards and two TDs last week. Aiden Graham rushed for 125 yards and two TDs on 12 carries. Logan Von Holle made five receptions for 73 yards and two TDs.
Lakota West’s Kenyon Norman rushed for 126 yards and four TDs on 14 attempts two weeks ago. Jackson Smith went 8-for-12 passing for 83 yards and a TD. Labron Lumpkins and Karmelo Jordan were Smith’s top targets with Lumpkins making four catches for 51 yards and Jordan catching three passes for 32 yards and a score.
Division II, Region 5
When: Fri. Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Last Game: The Knights won at Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 38-7, in the Region 5 first round; and the Warriors won at Trotwood-Madison two weeks ago, 35-8.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 25, 2026; Hoban won at Walsh, 30-0.
Intrigue: Hoban’s 30-0 victory over Walsh earlier in the year may be the best performance of any team this season in the state. They’ve continued playing strong with a 31-point win against VASJ last week. Their only loss to an Ohio team was a 17-14 defeat to Lakewood St. Edward.
Walsh’s only loss this season were to Hoban and Columbus Bishop Watterson—two of the top teams in the state. As a coach myself, I can personally testify that it’s tough to beat a team twice so I anticipate this game being closer than the matchup earlier in the year.
CENTRAL - Pickerington North (8-3) @ Worthington Kilbourne (9-1).
EAST - Martins Ferry (10-1) @ Barnesville (10-0).
NORTHEAST INLAND - Eastlake North (10-1) @ Macedonia Nordonia (9-1).
NORTHEAST LAKE - Hanoverton United (9-1) @ Columbia Station Columbia (9-1).
NORTHWEST - Edon (10-1) @ McComb (9-1); Tontogany Otsego (8-3) @ Bellville Clear Fork (8-2).
SOUTHEAST - Shadyside (9-2) @ Reedsville Eastern (8-2).
SOUTHWEST - Cincinnati Winton Woods (9-2) @ Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller (7-3).
Let’s hope everyone has a healthy, competitive, and sportsmanlike weekend!
