THE 10 BEST GAMES TO SEE IN OHIO - WEEK 8
By Kyle Holsinger
So, I dialed back competitiveness to 33.3% with rankings, combined wins, and top recruits to 22.2% each. We’ll see how this week turns out. My sources for the data and information used to compile the game list is JoeEitel.com, fantastic50.net, 247sports.com, and maxpreps.com along with individual school or league websites. Also, the honorable mention for the state games will now be one game per district to try to feature at least one game from each district in the state.
The Top Five Games to See in the Area
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Vikings won at McComb, 32-14; and the Eagles won at Pandora-Gilboa, 42-9.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 11, 2024; L-B won at Leipsic, 38-0.
Intrigue: Blanchard Valley Conference showdown between the two schools tied for first in the league. Four teams currently sit two games back from them in the conference standings.
Their leading rusher is Marquise Williams. Williams has 81 carries for 482 rushing yards with nine TDs as well as 14 catches for 307 yards and three receiving TDs. Aaron Hazelton also has 396 receiving yards with four TDs with 363 rushing yards and four TDs.
Defensively, the Vikings leading tackler is Preston Schroeder with 63 tackles and two TFL this season. John Dewar has 55 tackles, three INTs, and two TFL while Hazelton has 47 tackles with four TFL and two INTs.
Liberty-Benton’s Connor Barbara has completed 73-of-98 passes for 1,248 yards, 18 TDs, and three picks to go with 272 rushing yards and seven TDs on the year. Barbara’s top receivers are Seth Elchert with 35 receptions, 698 yards, and 12 TDs; and Reid Irwin with 11 catches, 175 yards and a TD. Zach Elchert is their leading rusher with 334 yards and nine TDs on 45 attempts.
The Eagles’ defense is led by Austin Collert—who has 43 tackles and 11 TFL. C.J. Barbara has 42 tackles and 22 TFL while Will Granger had 38 tackles and 15 TFL. Conor Barbara has four INTs with three pick-sixes. Irwin also has two INTs. Karson Griffin has two INTs as well.
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Bellevue defeated Huron at home, 28-14; and the Tornadoes won at Norwalk, 21-16.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 11, 2024; Columbian won at Bellevue, 28-14.
Intrigue: Non-conference game between two members of different divisions within the Sandusky Bay Conference.
Bellevue’s Ike Brown is 68-for-143 passing for 700 yards, six TDs, and three INTs as well as rushing for 235 yards and three TDs. Brown’s top target is Caden Cramer. Cramer has 27 receptions for 300 yards and three TDs. Their leading rusher is Evan Bova—who has 325 yards and five TDs on 66 rushing attempts in 2025.
Cramer also leads the Bellevue defense with 65 tackles along with one INT, and one forced fumble and recovery. Tatum Gore has 35 tackles and four sacks. Konner Dauch has 63 tackles and an interception.
Columbian QB Logan Gooding has completed 99-of-162 passes for 1,345 yards, 13 TDs, and one INT on the year. Gooding’s favorite receiver is Johnny Bremyer—who has caught 35 balls for 526 receiving yards and six TDs. Mason Seitz and Brock Siesel are the team’s running attack with Seitz having 235 yards and three TDs while Siesel has 232 yards and four TDs.
Defensively, Jace Arias personifies a Tornado with 54 tackles, two sacks, and a pick this season. Neven Neuman has 50 tackles and four sacks, and Luke Kerschner has 17 tackles, a team-leading 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble and recovery.
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Whippets beat Clear Fork at home, 52-14; and the Warriors won at Marion Harding, 28-14.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 15, 2024; Ontario defeated Shelby in the Region 14 semifinals, 49-48, at Mansfield Arlin Field.
Intrigue: The MOAC leader heads to rival territory for a rematch of an epic playoff game last season.
Shelby’s Brayden DeVito was 9-for-14 passing for 256 yards, two TDs, and an INT in last week’s win. DeVito also had 130 rushing yards and two TDs on eight attempts. Brady Bowman was his top receiver with six receptions for 209 yards and 2 TDs.
The Whippet defense was led by Bowman with an interception and a fumble recovery. They held Clear Fork to 45 passing yards, but gave up 247 on the ground for 292 total yards given up a week ago.
Ontario has not beat a team with a winning record yet this season. The Warriors have won their last two games though after a 7-0 loss to a solid Galion team.
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Eagles defeated Oak Harbor at home, 42-6; and the Comets won at Rossford, 42-14.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 25, 2024; Eastwood beat Genoa at home, 42-27.
Intrigue: The two remaining undefeated teams in the Northern Buckeye Conference duke it out with Maumee sitting one game back.
Eastwood sophomore Brayden Luidhardt is 83-of-116 passing for 1,085 yards in 2024. His top targets are Edmund Opfer and Cam Schumaker. Opfer has 35 catches for 493 yards and five TDs while Schumaker has 33 receptions for 372 yards and six TDs. Brayden Brown has 118 rushes for 524 yards and 11 TDs to lead the team.
Defensively, the Eagles’ defense is led by Landen Simon—who has 38 tackles on the year. Hunter Lauer has 11 tackles, three TFL, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. Liudhardt has 17 tackles and five interceptions, and Opfer has 32 tackles and an interception.
Genoa QB Myles Mollenhauer threw three TD passes in last week’s win. Logan Routson caught one of those TDs, a seven-yarder, while also running for a two-yard score. The other two passing TDs were caught by Zayden Dunn and Jaxon Magnone. Alex Materni ran in a four-yard TD, and Gavin Grigson scored on a run from three yards out.
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Eagles beat Seneca East at home, 31-0; and Carey won at Buckeye Central, 56-0.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 11, 2024; Carey won at CC, 19-10.
Intrigue: Winner takes sole possession of first place in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference as Mohawk sits a game behind them.
Colonel Crawford’s Connor McMichael has 106 attempts for 901 rushing yards and 12 TDs this season. Peyton Baker and Brayden Holt split quarterbacking duties with Baker going 33-for-50 passing for 702 yards, six TDs, and three picks; and Holt passing 27-of-36 for 368 yards, five TDs, and one INT. Baker also has 242 rushing yards and a TD. Their favorite target is Parker Weithman—who has 25 catches for 560 yards and seven TDs on the year.
Gabe Stratton leads the Eagle defense with 46 tackles with four TFL, 1.5 sack, and a forced fumble. Payne DeGray has 32 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 6.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Weithman has 13 tackles, four INTs, a fumble recovery, and 0.5 TFL.
Carey brothers Mace and Dash Puckett and cousin Tripp Phoenix lead the offense as a trio that accounts for over 60% of Carey’s all-purpose yards this year. Phoenix is 28-for-57 passing for 457 yards, six TDs, and two INTs as well as 127 rushing yards and three TDs. Mace has 647 rushing yards and four TDs while Dash has 463 yards, four rushing TDs, and one receiving TD. Bostyn Ritter is Phoenix’s favorite target with eight catches, 212 yards, and three TDs.
Defensively, Mace and Dash are the team’s leading tacklers. Mace has made 69 tackles, 12.5 TFL, and a forced fumble. Dash has 62 tackles, 15.5 TFL, four sacks, and an interception. Phoenix leads the team in interceptions with two to go with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery.
HONORABLE MENTION: Vermilion (4-3) @ Huron (3-4); Conotton Valley (5-2) @ Crestline (5-2); and Margaretta (6-1) @ Calvert (3-4).
The Top Five Games to See in the State
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Pioneers defeated Dublin Coffman at home, 45-7; and the Golden Bears lost at Olentangy Liberty, 16-6.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 8, 2024; Upper Arlington won at Orange in the Region 3 quarterfinals, 24-20.
Intrigue: Ohio Capital Conference Central Division showdown. Orange is tied for first with Olentangy Liberty at 2-0 while Upper Arlington and Hilliard Bradley are tied for third with a 1-1 divisional record.
Orange has outscored their seven opponents, 279-56. Those opponents have a combined record of 23-26. Only two opponents have scored more than seven points on them: Olentangy (42-14) and Gahanna Lincoln (35-21).
Upper Arlington’s lone loss was a ten-point loss to the defending Division I state champion, Olentangy Liberty last week. The Golden Bears have outscored their opponents, 232-53.
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Bluebirds beat rival Park Hills [KY] Covington Catholic at home, 31-28; and the Panthers defeated Moeller at home, 24-16.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 24, 2014; Elder won at Highlands, 49-25.
Intrigue: The 23-time Kentucky state champions come into The Pit.
Highland senior QB Rio Litmer is 95-of-143 passing for 1,171 yards, 11 TDs, and four picks to go with 109 rushing yards and another TD in 2025. Tayden Lorenzen and Gabe Williams are key factors in Highlands’ offensive attack this year. Lorenzen has gained 328 rushing yards and 12 TDs along with 21 receptions for 234 receiving yards. Williams has racked up 254 rushing yards and one TD as well as catching 15 balls for 163 yards and two more TDs. Eleven different players have caught a TD pass for Bluebirds this season.
Defensively, Ryan Dunn leads the Bluebirds with 38 tackles so far this season along with a TFL, and a fumble recovery. Junior defensive end Griffin Benke has 22 tackles, seven TFL, a and a sack, and Isaac Niemann has made 35 tackles, four TFL, one sack, and an interception. Williams also has 31 tackles, three TFL, two interceptions, a pass deflection, and fumble recovery.
Elder junior QB Kaden Estep has completed 112-of-151 passes for 1,354 yards, 10 TDs, and two INTs this year. Estep also leads the team in rushing with 493 yards with four TDs. Tommy Becker has 452 rushing yards and five TDs and 11 catches for 89 receiving yards. Wideout Jackson Ruth leads the team with 38 catches for 566 yards and four TDs.
The Panther defense’s leading tackler is Derek Uran with 52 tackles, 12 TFL, 4.5 sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble. Jared Lammers has 33 tackles, a team-leading two INTs, and two pass deflections. Linebacker Pete Fortkamp has 42 tackles, two TFL, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Bulldogs won at Niles McKinley, 42-6; and Girard won at South Range, 56-35.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 11, 2024; Poland beat Girard at home, 24-6.
Intrigue: The remaining undefeated Northeast 8 Athletic Conference schools meet to see who controls their own destiny in the conference title race. Hubbard is one game back currently in the NE8 standings.
Poland sophomore QB David Xipolitas is 37-for-62 passing for 765 yards, 11 TDs, and zero INTs on the year. Xipolitas favorite receiver is Vito Komara—who has 19 catches for 514 yards and seven TDs. Komara has also rushed for 103 yards and another TD. Junior Chase Jones has 45 rushes for 348 yards, four rushing TDs, and seven receptions for 90 yards and a TD.
Defensively, Panormitis Xipolitas leads the Bulldogs with 59 tackles, seven TFL, three sacks, two forced fumbles with one recovery.
Girard sophomore QB A.J. Pearson leads the team in passing and rushing—throwing 80-of-103 complete passes for 1,753 yards, 19 TDs, and three INTs this season. He’s ran the ball 87 times for 768 yards and 16 TDs. Sam Scott has 506 rushing yards and seven TDs with 154 receiving yards and two TDs. Mario Lipinski has 18 receptions for 483 yards and seven TDs.
Defensively, GHS’ Allen Hess-Cardona has a team-leading 71 tackles, 13 TFL, five sacks, and a forced fumble. Pearson also has 49 tackles, 10 TFL, four pass deflections, two sacks, and an INT. Joey Alejars has made 50 tackles, nine PBUs, two TFL, two INTs, and one sack, and Braxton Sloan has 39 tackles, 17 PDs, and two INTs.
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Chargers won at Lanham [MD] Mt. Zion Prep, 38-6; and the Eagles defeated St. Ignatius at home, 45-31.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 12, 2024; St. Edward beat Football North at home, 22-12.
Intrigue: A worthy Canuck team coming south again to play an Ohio powerhouse.
The Chargers lost to Walsh Jesuit 30-6 in week three, and then beat Massillon Washington 34-2 in week six. Their other two losses are to two undefeated teams—Novi [MI] Detroit Catholic Central and Springfield [VA] St. James Academy.
St. Ed’s Jonny Evanchick is 63-for-94 for 963 yards, 16 TDs, and two INTs this year. His top target is Zach Hackleman with 33 receptions, 576 yards, and 12 TDs. Brandon White has 116 carries for 938 yards and 13 TDs to go with 112 receiving yards and two TDs.
The Eagles are led defensively by Aidan Peterson—who has 104 tackles, 10 TFLs, three sacks, one pick, one PBU, and one forced fumble and recovery. Brayden Thomas has 58 tackles, a team-leading 11 TFL, three deflections, and a sack. Collin Crocker has 74 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. Makhi Boone leads the team with three INTs to go with 25 tackles, three PBUs, 1.5 TFL, and one sack.
When: Friday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Tarblooders game against East Tech was cancelled, but they won at John Marshall the week before, 47-0. Hoban had a scheduled bye last week, but they beat Walsh Jesuit at home, 19-14.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 11, 2024; Hoban defeated Glenville at home, 20-0.
Intrigue: Two perennial powers in the Buckeye State slugging it out. These are the types of games that make and solidify legacies.
Glenville’s only losses are to Avon and St. Edwards—two prestigious programs. They have beaten the likes of Massillon Washington and Olentangy Liberty as well as Senate League foes John Adams and John Marshall.
Hoban’s lone loss was to Severn [MD] Archbishop Spalding, 58-28. Aside from that, the Knights have beat Harvest Prep, Detroit [MI] King, Akron East, Lyndhurst Brush, and Walsh Jesuit.
HONORABLE MENTION (By district):
CENTRAL: Mechanicsburg (6-1) @ West Jefferson (7-0)
EAST: Ridgewood (7-0) @ Indian Valley (6-0)
NORTHEAST INLAND: Uniontown Lake (6-1) @ Canton McKinley (6-1)
NORTHEAST LAKE: North Ridgeville (6-1) @ Avon Lake (3-4)
NORTHWEST: Patrick Henry (6-1) @ Archbold (6-1)
SOUTHEAST: Beaver Eastern (7-0) @ Portsmouth Notre Dame (7-0)
SOUTHWEST: La Salle (5-2) @ St. Xavier (5-2)
BONUS (because of out-of-state opponents): Jonathon Alder (7-0) @ London (7-0); Fairfield (4-3) @ Hamilton (1-6); St. Ignatius (1-6) @ Archbishop Moeller (5-2); and Findlay (5-2) @ Whitmer (6-1).
Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you next week.
