By Kyle Holsinger
Welcome back, everyone! There was substantially fewer games to select from this week. I pick games that have a spread of 8 points or fewer on Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic 50 website. I have some new teams featured, but also ran into numerous teams for whom I couldn’t find stats.
Last week, we had five games decided by 10 points or less.
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Wildcats won at Columbiana, 34-7; and the Rangers defeated Toledo Bowsher, 35-13.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 10, 2025; Woodmore won at Northwood, 61-34.
Intrigue: The first week of Sandusky Bay Conference play with two of its top teams going head-to-head.
Woodmore senior Calvin Lipstraw was 4-for-10 passing for 82 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for 27 yards in last week’s win. Lipstraw’s primary receivers were Wesley Kayser (53 yards, one TD) and Collin Perkins (29 yards) with two catches each.
Sophomore Lucas Caldwell ran for 131 yards and three TDs on 12 carries.
Defensively, Caldwell had eight tackles to lead the way in their last game. Adley Anstead and Kayser had six tackles each with Anstead also making a pass deflection. Auden Hemminger made four tackles, a tackle-for-loss, and a fumble recovery. Cole Potridge made two tackles, one TFL, and a sack.
On special teams the Wildcats’ Gavin Donley returned a punt 75 yards for a TD.
Northwood senior Tyler Osley threw 5-of-8 passes for 162 yards and a TD while rushing for 63 yards and a TD last week. Osley’s top targets were Jaymin Cannon (78 yards) and Deandre Curry (45 yards) with two receptions a piece.
Curry also had 10 rushes for 82 yards and a TD, and John Sawyer ran the ball 11 times for 83 yards and a TD.
Defensively, the Rangers’ Cannon made 14 tackles a week ago. Kevin O’Donnell wrapped up 10 tackles and a TFL. Carter Rita made six tackles, three TFL, and two sacks; and Anthony Villolovos had five tackles, a pass breakup, and an interception.
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Blue Devils beat Mount Gilead at home, 43-13; and the Golden Knights lost at Centerburg, 48-28.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 19, 2025; Northmor won at Danville, 37-12.
Intrigue: Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference contest.
Danville sophomore QB Parker Proper completed 10-of-13 passes for 118 yards, two TDs, and a pick while also rushing for 82 yards and a TD on six attempts. Proper’s primary targets were Brycen Burke (three catches, 24 yards), Aiden Mickley (two catches, 33 yards, one TD), and Briggs Wallace (two catches, 17 yards).
Junior RB Cyren Wallace toted the rock five times for 121 yards and a TD against Mount Gilead.
Blue Devils senior safety Christopher Mosher had 25 tackles a week ago. Five other Devils made ten or more tackles in the game: Sylas Mizer (15), Jacob Byers (13), Cyren Wallace (12), Burke (11, two TFL), and Owen Gronberg (11, two TFL, and two sacks). Mickley had six tackles and a pick.
Northmor senior QB Tanner Miley went 13-for-29 passing for 189 yards, three TDs, and three picks along with 30 rushing yards in their loss to Centerburg. Miley’s top receivers were juniors Jackson Welch (six receptions, 72 yards) and Brad Bowlin (four receptions for 109 yards). Brody Beck was the leading rusher with 55 yards on 14 attempts as well as two catches for five yards and a TD.
The Golden Knights’ Beck had 18 tackles and 2.5 TFL to lead the way last week. Rodney Acord made 10 tackles, 2.5 TFL, and a sack. Welch had six tackles, 2.5 TFL, and two sacks.Sophomore Jackson Wright made three tackles and a pick.
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Knights beat Oak Harbor at home, 60-0; and the Eagles defeated Fostoria at home, 55-7.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 26, 2025; Otsego defeated Eastwood at home, 34-21.
Intrigue: The winner gets the top spot in the Northern Buckeye Conference all to themselves.
Otsego’s Dane Leiter ran for 120 yards and a score on four touches, Owen Heyman had two rushes for 93 yards and two TDs, Grady Frank had 89 yards and three TDs on 11 carries, Mason Kramer had five rushes for 50 yards and a TD, and Zaden Ziviski had 48 yards on 11 attempts in last week’s win.
Eastwood junior QB Brayden Luidhardt threw 12-of-13 completed passes for 274 yards and five TDs last week. Luidhardt’s primary receivers were Edmund Opfer (six catches, 141 yards, two TDs) and Cam Schumaker (three catches, 95 yards, two TDs).
Senior RB Brayden Brown ran for 127 yards and two TDs on 12 rushes.
On the Eagle defense, Schumaker had five tackles and a PBU. Senior Landen Simon made four tackles, three sacks, and three TFL, and sophomore Levi Strayer made four tackles and an INT.
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Roughriders beat Norwalk St. Paul at home, 53-14; and the Eagles won at New London, 35-6.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 26, 2025; Monroeville won at WR, 27-20.
Intrigue: Winner takes first place in the Firelands Conference.
The Roughriders have dominated opponents this season—outscoring them 218-61. This will likely be the toughest test remaining in the regular season for both teams.
After losing the first three games to teams with a current combined record of 13-2, Monroeville has dominated their last two opponents by a score of 97-14. There’s a good chance that both of these teams will be playing in the postseason.
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Comets won at Maumee, 56-17; and Oak Harbor lost at Otsego, 60-0.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 26, 2025; Genoa beat Oak Harbor at home, 34-19.
Intrigue: Genoa Area junior RB Hunter Bickel scored on a two-yard run, and Myles Mollenhaur connected with Jaxon Magnone for a 13-yard TD pass last week.
Oak Harbor puts their 29-game home winning streak on the line in the game—the third-longest active streak in the state.
Ashland Mapleton (1-3) @ South Central (2-3); Perkins (5-0) @ Clyde (1-4); and Sandusky (0-5) @ Tiffin Columbian (3-2).
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Greenmen defeated Twinsburg at home, 28-7; and the Minutemen lost at Copley, 35-10.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 19, 2025; Aurora defeated Revere at home, 14-0.
Intrigue: Battle between two of the top teams in the American Conference of the Suburban League.
Aurora is coming off of its best performance of the season with the 21-point victory over Twinsburg. Prior to that, the Greenmen had lost three straight by a combined score of 27-104.
Revere seems to be having the opposite season after having their worst performance of the season last week after winning three straight games. If either of these teams wants a postseason berth then this one matters.
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Crimson Tornadoes beat Ashland at home, 39-21; and the Knights won at Mansfield Madison, 42-7.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 5, 2025; West Holmes won at Dover, 28-7.
Intrigue: Dover’s losses were to Steubenville (44-14) and Louisville (15-14) in weeks two and three respectively. According to Drew Pasteur’s Fantastic 50 site, Dover is one of the most improved teams this year. West Holmes is likely one of the Crimson Tornadoes toughest remaining opponents.
West Holmes has won four straight games after their week one loss to Wooster Triway. They’ve outscored those last four opponents, 188-53. Dover is likely the Knights toughest opponent of the season. They’ve scored 40 or more points in their last four games.
When: Sat. Sept. 26 at 6 p.m.
Last Week: The Mustangs lost at Warren JFK, 42-14; and the Heralds defeated Andover Pymatuning Valley at home, 26-14.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 27, 2025; St. John School won at Grand Valley, 28-25.
Intrigue: Grand Valley won their first two games by a score of 75-28, won a game by forfeit in week three, and then lost their last two games by a score of 35-75. They’ll have to win this and their four other remaining games in order to punch their ticket into the playoffs.
These schools are likely the toughest remaining opponents for each other this season.
St. John School is one of the most improved teams in Division VII this year. After losing their opener to Ashtabula Edgewood, they’ve rattled off four straight wins by a score of 106-14.
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Panthers beat Tallmadge at home, 38-7; and the Bulldogs won at Ravenna, 49-0.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 10, 2025; Norton defeated Woodridge at home, 48-7.
Intrigue: Norton has been dominant in their four wins—outscoring opponents 163-31. Both teams will likely be each other’s toughest remaining opponent.
Woodridge is on a seven-game winning streak. The Bulldogs are one of the most improved teams in Division IV and in all of Ohio. Their week three victory over Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy has been one of the biggest upsets of the season. Woodridge has outscored their opponents, 211-55.
When: Fri. Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: The Jets beat Wheeling (WV) Wheeling Central Catholic at home, 24-13; and the Purple Riders won at Harrison Central, 49-0.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 2, 2022; Union Local won at Martins Ferry, 60-14.
Intrigue: Union Local finds themselves needing to run the table this season to likely make the playoffs. They have been dominant though—outscoring their opponents, 194-48.
Martins Ferry has outscored their five opponents by a score of 238-40. They’re currently on a six-game winning streak. The Purple Riders have scored 30-plus points in all of those six games, while holding all of those opponents under 20 points. They’ve shutout their last two opponents, and won their last four games by 30-plus points.
CENTRAL - Groveport-Madison (4-1) @ Ashville Teays Valley (1-4).
EAST - Wintersville Indian Creek (3-2) @ Bellaire (3-2).
NORTHEAST INLAND - Lisbon David Anderson (2-3) @ Youngstown Valley Christian School (1-4).
NORTHEAST LAKE - Mayfield (5-0) @ Broadview Heights Brecksville-Broadview Heights (3-2).
NORTHWEST - Ottawa Ottawa-Glandorf (5-0) @ St. Marys Memorial (3-2).
SOUTHEAST - Portsmouth Notre Dame (3-2) @ Crown City South Gallia (3-2).
SOUTHWEST - Cincinnati Madeira (4-1) @ Cincinnati Deer Park (5-0).
Let’s hope this weekend is healthy, competitive, and sportsmanlike!
