The 10 Best Games to See in Ohio: Week 2
By Kyle Holsinger
Here we go heading into week two. Five of the ten games picked last week were decided by a touchdown or less—including each of the number one games.
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Carey lost at Hopewell-Loudon, 30-7; Galion beat St. Marys Memorial at home, 35-6.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 30, 2024; Galion beat Carey at home, 14-8.
Intrigue: Carey’s All-Ohio running back Eli Steen will be out with a knee injury, and I pray that he gets well soon.
Blue Devil senior defensive lineman Carter Bame and junior defensive back Tripp Phoenix were honorable mention All-Ohio a year ago.
The season doesn’t get any easier for the Blue Devils after facing Hopewell-Loudon last week.
Galion has All-Ohio D-lineman Zach Sallee and wide receiver Logan Chambers.
#4 Mansfield Senior (0-1) @ Tiffin Columbian (0-1)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Mansfield lost to Hilliard Davidson at home, 38-7; Columbian lost at Fremont Ross, 13-9.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 17, 2021; Columbian beat Mansfield at home, 40-27.
Intrigue: The Tygers were dominated by Central Ohio powerhouse, Hilliard Davidson. Mansfield picked up only 139 total yards of offense, but they didn’t commit any turnovers.
Columbian fumbled three times in the red zone in a very close game with rival, Fremont Ross.
Someone has to win their first game of the season.
#3 Pleasant (1-0) @ Hopewell-Loudon (1-0)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Pleasant beat North Union at home, 16-13; H-L beat Carey at home, 30-7.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 30, 2024; Hopewell-Loudon won at Pleasant, 36-15.
Intrigue: Pleasant coach Russell Norton got the win in his first game as head coach of the Spartans.
Quarterbacking duties were split between Abram Norton and Weston Shaffer last week against rival North Union. The duo completed 7-of-15 passes for 108 yards. Norton also picked up 100 yards on the ground to boot. Shaffer and Ryan Conway rushed for 57 and 50 yards respectively.
The Chieftains are led by two-time All-Ohioan Aiden Ewald on the defensive line.
Jacoby Ellis threw five touchdown passes—four of those to Brody Brickman in Hopewell’s win against Carey last week.
#2 Fremont Ross (1-0) @ Sandusky (0-1)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Ross beat Tiffin Columbian at home, 13-9; Sandusky lost at Amherst Steele, 48-6.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 30, 2024; Ross beat Sandusky, 21-14.
Intrigue: Fremont Ross is led by DL Marquez Williams, a third team All-Ohioan. The Little Giants are coming off a close one with rival Tiffin Columbian.
Sandusky couldn’t get much going offensively last week while giving up 488 total yards to Amherst Steele—405 of those on the ground.
#1 Lexington (1-0) @ Shelby (1-0)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Lexington beat Ontario at home, 36-16; Shelby won at Mansfield Madison, 56-14.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 30, 2024; Shelby won at Lexington, 21-10.
Intrigue: Lexington tight end Brayden Fogle, a two-time All-Ohio pick, caught two passes for 27 yards last week. Seven Allen had five catches, 115 yards, and a TD for the Minutemen. Allen also had an interception on defense.
Minutemen QB Joe Caudill threw for 208 yards and two TDs while running for 82 yards and two additional TDs.
Shelby are led by two-time All-Ohioan QB Brayden DeVito and junior wideout Brady Bowman, a first team All-Ohio pick last season.
The Whippets whipped up 472 offensive yards last week, as DeVito, an Air Force commit, accounted for 189 yards passing, 77 rushing, and four total TDs.
Honorable Mention - Fairfield Union @ Colonel Crawford and Calvert @ Monroeville.
The Five Best Games to See in the State.
#5 Walsh Jesuit (1-0) @ Springfield (0-1)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Walsh won at Toledo Central Catholic, 17-14; Springfield lost at Winton Woods, 21-14.
Previous Meeting: None.
Intrigue: Walsh Jesuit put up 362 yards of offense against a solid Toledo Central Catholic team.
All-Ohio linebacker Caden Carter had three interceptions in the game vs. TCC.
Wideout Milan Parris and O-lineman Colten Crossley were second team All-Ohioans a year ago.
Springfield are led by DL Royce Rogers, who was a third team All-Ohio selection in 2024.
The Wildcats gave up five turnovers against Winton Wood last week. Despite that, they still racked up 259 total yards—171 passing and 88 rushing.
#4 Indian Valley (1-0) @ Steubenville (0-1)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Indian Valley won at Uniontown Green, 28-21; Steubenville lost to Ursuline at home, 37-7.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 3, 2023; Steubenville defeated Indian Valley, 42-35, at St. Clairsville High School Red Devil Stadium.
Intrigue: Indian Valley’s two-time All-Ohio running back and last year’s D-IV co-offensive player of the year, Grady Kinsey, had 34 rushes for 334 yards, three TDs in the Braves victory over Green.
Junior QB Ryker Williams was second team All-Ohio a year ago.
IVHS coach Matt Lancaster was D-IV co-coach of the year last year.
Steubenville’s junior LB Landon Crosier made first team All-Ohio while DL Ephy Kelley and kicker Cole Bowers were third team and honorable mention All-Ohio respectively.
#3 Hudson (1-0) @ Medina Highland (1-0)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Hudson beat Austintown-Fitch at home, 28-14; Highland won at Erie (PA) McDowell, 49-10.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 23, 2024; Highland won at Hudson, 31-24.
Intrigue: Hudson QB Hayden Lipinski was 11-for-15 for 117 yards and a TD. Reno Ferri rushed for 133 yards and one TD.
Highland gained a school-record 672 yards last week. Casey Myser is a two-time All-Ohio pick that ran for 153 yards and two TDs on 11 carries in the win against McDowell. Myser also had two catches for 42 yards.
Hornet QB Grady Gibb was a perfect 7-of-7 for 226 yards and a TD while running for 39 yards and another TD.
The Hornets defense held their week one opponent to just 104 rushing, 132 passing for 236 total yards.
#2 Winton Woods (1-0) @ Kings (1-0)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Winton Woods beat Springfield at home, 21-14; Kings won at Sycamore, 44-7.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 30, 2024; Winton Woods beat Kings at home, 19-5.
Intrigue: The Warriors’ Bryshawn Brown was 13-of-24 for 213 yards last week. Jon’ir Travis caught five passes for 94 yards, and Terrel Burton had three catches for 75 yards for Winton Woods.
The Winton Woods running attack only garnered 92 yards on 31 carries.
Kings QB Grant Nurre went 10-for-11 with 206 passing yards and two TDs. Nurre also rushed for a couple TDs. Andrew Lyman had five receptions for 50 yards, and Jaxon Frisk caught two balls for 90 yards and two TDs.
The Knights defense held Sycamore to 10 first downs, 35 passing yards, and 97 rushing yards.
#1 Glenville (1-0) @ Olentangy Liberty (0-1)
When: Fri. Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Glenville won at Massillon Washington in overtime, 33-27; Olentangy Liberty lost to Olentangy at home, 26-6.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 30, 2024; Olentangy Liberty beat Glenville at home, 24-13.
Intrigue: Glenville WR Joseph Saffold, an honorable mention All-Ohio transfer from St. Edward, caught the winning TD in overtime against Massillon last week.
Tarblooder QB Arvell Nelson was 8-of-13 for 125 yards and three TDs in the win.
The Tarblooders have first-team All-Ohio guard Marquis Whipple to bang in the trenches, leading the way for third team All-Ohio RB C.J. Newell.
Pauly Sadler III, a BGSU commit, was honorable mention all-district a year ago at wideout.
Defensively, linebacker Cincere Johnson was Division IV co-defensive player of the year last season. On the defensive front, DL Dion’dre Taylor transfers from St. Edward.
In the defensive backfield, Aaron Scales was a second team All-Ohio pick, and Jordin Johnson was honorable mention all-district a year ago.
Olentangy Liberty was held to 90 yards and only four first downs a week ago. The Patriots have a dual-QB system this season with Alex Leonard and Mason Miller each getting reps.
Honorable Mention - Centerville @ St. Xavier; Clinton-Massie @ Coldwater; and Pickerington North @ St. Ignatius.
