Below are the top ten Ohio high school football games between OHSAA opponents for week one of the 2024 season. We will post the remaining five games (part two) two days from now (Thursday, one week from the season's start). Any reference to recruit rankings is referring to 247sports.com.
When: Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: First meeting.
2023 Records: Avon 14-1, St. Ignatius 3-9.
Head Coaches: Avon - Mike Elder (18th season at Avon, 186-31 | 25th overall, 216-52); St. Ignatius - Ryan Franzinger (2nd, 3-9).
Intrigue: Two solid NE Ohio programs butting heads for the first time ever. Oh, and the game is being played at Cleveland Browns Stadium with St. Ignatius hosting the Eagles.
Players to watch: Avon senior QB Nolan Good, a three-star recruit committed to Kent State, leads the offense. Good will be protected by three-star Cincinnati commit and senior IOL Jeremiah Kelly. Senior WR Matt Maxey returns to catch Good’s passes after a second team All-Ohio performance a year ago.
Defensively, junior DB Jakob Weatherspoon is a three-star Ohio State commit.
Saint Ignatius is led by four-star Ohio State commit senior athlete Cody Haddad. Haddad has played as wideout, defensive back, and as returner on special teams for the Wildcats.
Offensively, senior RB Grant Washington is a three-star recruit committed to Minnesota. Junior IOL Will Conroy, a three-star recruit who was second team All-Ohio last year, will help create holes for Washington to run through.
When: Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: First meeting since Springfield reunited in 2008.
2023 Records: Winton Woods 8-4, Springfield 10-6.
Head Coaches: Winton Woods - Chad Murphy (4th at Winton Woods, 33-8 | 13th, 64-68); Springfield - Maurice Douglass (11th at Springfield, 83-40 | 25th, 187-102).
Intrigue: Quoting Springfield athletic director Mike Dellapina from a Springfield News-Sun article from June 15 (written by Michael Cooper), “it will be a great opening game matchup against two really strong public school programs in southwest Ohio.”
Players to watch: Winton Woods’ offense returns three-star Toledo commit senior OT Raphael Greene.
The defensive line boasts first team All-Ohio picks senior Delan Massey-Wright and senior edge rusher Justin Hill. Massey-Wright is a two-time All-Ohio first teamer, and Hill is a four-star recruit committed to Alabama, and is currently rated as the seventh-best edge rusher in the nation.
The Warrior defensive backfield includes three-star recruits, Seonta Stewart and Donmiel Rogers. Stewart has committed to play at Indiana, and Rogers was first team All-Ohio last year.
Springfield returns a couple of three-star seniors offensively in WR Jamil Miller and TE Zy’Aire Fletcher. Fletcher has committed to Kent State.
Senior edge rusher Jackson Heims is a two-star recruit who was second team All-Ohio a year ago.
When: Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 18, 2023, Central Catholic won at Findlay, 47-14.
2023 Records: Findlay 8-3, Toledo Central Catholic 16-0.
Head Coaches: Findlay - Stefan Adams (4th, 22-13); Toledo Central Catholic - Greg Dempsey (25th, 254-52).
Intrigue: Toledo Central Catholic is on a 31-game winning streak and looking to make a run at a third consecutive state title. Plus, the Georgia QB vs. Ohio State CB commit matchup could be a glimpse into future College Football Playoff foes.
Players to watch: Findlay senior QB Ryan Montgomery, committed to Georgia, is the ninth-rated QB in the nation. The four-star recruit is a two-time All-Ohio selection and was Division I NW Ohio offensive player of the year last year.
Montgomery has classmate and honorable mention All-NW Ohio WR Jacob Ragland as a familiar target in 2024. He’ll also be protected by first team All-NW Ohio senior OT Ben Mueller and three-star Indiana commit senior OG Baylor Wilkins.
Defensively, senior DL Ashton Yeager returns after a first team All-NW Ohio performance for the Trojans last year.
The Toledo Central Catholic offense returns junior TE Preston Fryzel, a three-star recruit with 12 Division I offers.
On the defensive line, senior Curtis Strode, Jr. comes back after an honorable mention All-NW Ohio and a Catholic High School League All-League worthy performance last year.
TCC junior Victor Singleton, Jr. is a four-star recruit committed to Ohio State. Singleton was honorable mention All-NW Ohio as a sophomore last year, and will share the defensive backfield with senior Kevin Arnold III. Singleton and Arnold also shared CHSL All-League honors last year.
When: Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: First meeting.
2023 Records: Harvest Prep 12-2, Pickerington Central 8-4.
Head Coaches: Harvest Prep - Milan Smith (11th; 101-22); Pickerington Central - Jeff Lomonico (2nd, 8-4).
Intrigue: Harvest Prep, a Division V independent, looking to play David to Pickerington Central’s, a Division I powerhouse, Goliath.
Players to watch: Offensively, Harvest Prep returns senior OL Ezecheil Teshome, who was third team All-Ohio as a junior. The Warriors are led defensively by first team All-Ohio junior LB Dezmond Porter.
Pickerington Central is led by junior three-star QB Rocco Williams on offense. Williams will be throwing to three-star Marshall commit WR Sherone White, and be protected by three-star senior OT Parker Harden. Harden is committed to Tennessee State.
On defense, the Tigers return a couple three-star recruits: senior edge rusher Myles Harrison, who is committed to Buffalo; and junior S Andre Holland.
When: Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: First meeting.
2023 Records: St. Edward 15-1, Pickerington North 11-2.
Head Coaches: St. Edward - Tom Lombardo (10th at St. Edward’s, 106-16 | 18th, 167-45); Pickerington North - Nate Hillerich (8th at Pickerington North, 55-25 | 15th, 52-23).
Intrigue: This is a potential preview of a 2024 State Final Four matchup.
Players to watch: St. Edward junior RB Brandon White returns to the backfield after a second team All-Ohio performance. Senior K Kellen Moyer earned honorable mention All-Ohio honors as a junior.
Two All-Ohio seniors come back on defense for the Eagles: LB Nate Gregory, a three-star recruit committed to Coastal Carolina, was on the first team last year and third team as a sophomore; and DB Bradley Eaton made the second team last year.
Pickerington North returns several three-star recruits on the offensive side. Junior QB Jarin Mock, a Wisconsin commit; Ohio-commit senior RB Michael Taylor; senior WR Preston Bowman, a Kentucky commit; and senior IOL Ayden Annarino, a Miami (OH) commit, all return after strong performances last season. Bowman even earned honorable mention All-Ohio for his efforts.
Defensively, the Panthers are led by three three-star recruits: junior edge rusher Elijah Durham-Smith, senior CB Tyson Long, and junior S A’mare Miller.
When: Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 25, 1998, Elder defeated Withrow at home, 43-6.
2023 Records: Elder 7-5, Withrow 12-2.
Head Coaches: Elder - Doug Ramsey (28th, 217-102); Withrow - Anthony Berry (1st).
Intrigue: Withrow is a program on the rise in Cincinnati, and a win Thursday would announce their arrival at the top tier of one of the best prep football regions in the nation.
Players to watch: Elder will be looking to senior TE Brayden Boeing, a three-star Miami (OH) commit, to be an offensive weapon. Senior three-star LB Maddox Arnold returns after an honorable mention All-Ohio performance in 2023. Arnold has committed to play for Toledo next season.
Withrow returns an offensive weapon themselves in Kentucky commit and senior WR Quintin Simmons, Jr. Simmons is the 16th-ranked WR in the nation.
Senior edge rusher Erik Gayle, a three-star Illinois commit, is back to disrupt opponent’s blocking schemes for the Tigers in 2024.
When: Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: First meeting.
2023 Records: Glenville 13-3, Upper Arlington 10-4.
Head Coaches: Glenville - Ted Ginn, Sr. (28th, 253-62); Upper Arlington - Justin Buttermore (5th at Upper Arlington, 37-13 | 21st, 188-68).
Intrigue: Glenville, participating in Division IV in 2024, open their run for a third consecutive state title on the road against a Columbus powerhouse who made the OHSAA elite eight three divisions above them last season.
Players to watch: Glenville junior IOL Marquis Whipple is a three-star prospect on offense. The Tarblooders will look to first team All-Ohio senior DL Jameil Hamm and junior LB Cincere Johnson, a four-star recruit who is the 11th-best LB in the nation in his class, to help win another state title this season.
Upper Arlington senior DL Cal Thrush, a three-star committed to Michigan State, was an honorable mention All-Ohio honoree a year ago. Senior DB Zac Corna made second team All-Ohio last season for the Golden Bears.
When: Thursday, Aug. 22 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 29, 2014, Ursuline defeated Walsh Jesuit on the road, 13-9.
2023 Records: Walsh Jesuit 12-2, Ursuline 13-1.
Head Coaches: Walsh Jesuit - Nick Alexander (6th; 38-19); Ursuline - Dan Reardon (14th at Ursuline, 115-48 | 21st, 156-81).
Intrigue: Both teams were Northeast Ohio regional runner-ups last year in Divisions II and III, respectively. These two storied programs have only met twice prior with Ursuline winning both times by four points or less.
Players to watch: Walsh Jesuit’s offense returns senior QB Keller Moten and OL Kodey Kish, who were selected third team All-Ohio in 2023. Moten has three-star Junior WR Milan Parris to target this year.
Three-star junior athlete James Brewer III returns after playing WR/CB for the Warriors last year.
Ursuline welcomes back second team All-Ohio senior IOL Phillip Bowser, a three-star prospect, on offense. Two wideouts are back to cause problems for any opponents’ secondary: senior D.C. Ferrell, a two-time All-Ohio selection, and junior three-star recruit Devonte Taylor.
Senior three-star S Tairan Davis is an Akron commit.
When: Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: Aug. 18, 2023, St. Xavier defeated Lakota West at home, 10-0.
2023 Records: St. Xavier 7-5, Lakota West 11-3.
Head Coaches: St. Xavier - Steve Specht (22nd, 175-74); Lakota West - Tom Bolden (6th at Lakota West, 50-11 | 18th, 192-32).
Intrigue: Two Cincy powerhouses with legendary coaches going back at it after a dogfight last year.
Players to watch: St. Xavier’s offense is anchored by senior first team All-Ohio OT Tucker Kattus. Kattus has a three-star rating and is committed to Kentucky.
Defensively, three-star Notre Dame commit Gordy Sulfsted returns to the D-line. Sulfsted was third team All-Ohio last year as a junior. The Bombers defense also boasts junior LB Jakobe Clapper, who is a three-star recruit also.
Lakota West have seniors TE Luka Gilbert and OT Vincent Giordano returning on offense. Gilbert, a four-star Miami (FL) commit, is the 16th-ranked TE in the nation after an honorable mention All-Ohio performance a year ago. Giordano is a two-star BGSU commit.
Defensively, the Firebirds can rely on two phenomenal linebackers: senior three-star Purdue commit Grant Beerman, and three-star junior Cam Thomas.
When: Friday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 12, 2021, Moeller defeated Princeton, 28-21, in a regional semifinal contest at Mason.
2023 Records: Moeller 10-5, Princeton 12-1.
Head Coaches: Moeller - Bert Bathiany (2nd at Moeller, 10-5 | 3rd, 20-8); Princeton - Andre Parker (4th at Princeton, 32-6 | 14th, 77-33).
Intrigue: This storied rivalry between Cincy public vs. private schools has been the topic of a 2022 documentary, “King of the Block”, which is the name of the trophy claimed by the winner of this matchup.
Players to watch: Moeller’s junior QB Matt Ponatoski was third team All-Ohio last season. Ponatoski has the benefit of being able to throw to three top-notch receivers. Senior WR Jovan Love earned first team All-Ohio honors a year ago plus junior tight ends Cooper McCutchan and Sam Hamilton are three-star recruits respectively.
The Crusader defense is headed by senior edge rusher Jonah Hayes, who is a three-star Northwestern commit; and senior S Micah Rice, a three-star committed to Louisville.
Princeton, offensively, return senior All-Ohio honorable mention OL J.T. White, and three-star junior TE Landen Miree.
The Viking defensive line has two seniors to depend upon. Defensive lineman Khy’Lek Jarrett was an honorable mention All-Ohio selection a year ago, and DL/DE Jaimion Olverson is a three-star prospect.
The linebacking corps is led by senior P.J. Nelson, a three-star Indiana commit who was first team All-Ohio and the OHSAA Division I defensive player of the year in 2023. Accompanying Nelson in the corps is three-star junior LB Andre Parker, Jr.
The secondary has senior CB Airriss Rosemond, a three-star Army commit, to blanket receivers for the Vikings this season.
Honorable Mention: London (UK) NFL Academy @ Massillon Washington. Ohio teams regularly play out-of-state opponents, but I don’t know of a Ohio team playing an out-of-continent opponent before. The game is a part of the Nike Football Kickoff Classic and will be played in Oregon on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
We’ll see you next week.
