THE TOP OHIO PREP FOOTBALL TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2025: DIVISION I EDITION
By Kyle Holsinger
Welcome back everyone for the beginning of the 2025 high school football season. I’m excited to get back on the sidelines to cover some games in the coming weeks.
During the season, I do not make any picks or predictions publicly in case I end up getting sent to cover that game on short notice. That being said, the following series of articles are my preseason predictions to win all 28 regions, and my picks for state champions in each of the seven divisions in OHSAA 11-man football this season. There will be seven articles—one for every OHSAA division.
At the end of each division’s predictions, I will list my state champion pick along with some contender and dark horse schools that were not picked as regional champions that could hoist the state championship trophy at the end of the 2025 season.
I also want to preface that it was difficult to gauge some non-Ohio opponents for these schools. So, if I wasn’t sure then I didn’t consider them for a team’s toughest opponent or key game. Some schools’ schedules were so difficult that it was eenie, meanie, miney, moe as to who their toughest opponent was actually.
I hope all of the schools in the state have a healthy and sportsmanlike year, and at the end of the season, we’ll recap and see how close I ended up on these picks.
All recruiting information is thanks to 247Sports.com.
REGION 1: Lakewood St. Edward
County: Cuyahoga.
Enrollment: 922 boys.
Nickname/Mascot: Eagles
Colors: Green & Gold.
Conference: Independent.
Head Coach: Tom Lombardo (11th season at St. Ed, 104-20; 22nd overall, 193-58).
Last Season: 9-6; D-1 state semifinalists; Region 1 champions.
Class of 2026: 39-8 (.830); two state titles; three state semifinals appearances.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 19 @ Massillon Washington.
Key Games: Sept. 12 vs. Glenville; Oct. 18 vs. Moeller; and Oct. 24 @ Akron Hoban.
2024 Region 1 Final: St. Edward defeated Mentor, 13-7, at Bedford’s Bearcat Stadium.
Team Preview: The independent Eagles squad doesn’t play for league championships, but regional ones. St. Edward has owned Region 1 since 2021, and have been in the regional championship game eight times in the last decade—winning six of those times. There is no doubt that the Region 1 title runs through them again.
Brandon White, a 2023 second team All-Ohio running back, returns after a knee injury last season. The senior rushed for 1,236 and 17 TDs in 11 games as a sophomore. Senior receiver Zach Hackleman was first team All-Ohio even though his season was cut short due to injury with 51 catches for 723 yards, 10 TDs, plus three rushing TDs last season. Hackleman is committed to Kent State.
Interior offensive lineman Mason Wilhelm is back after an honorable mention All-Ohio performance a year ago. Wilhelm is a three-star recruit committed to North Carolina. Mason is the son of former Ohio State All-American and NFL linebacker Matt Wilhelm.
Junior quarterback Jack Sanders has transferred to St. Edward after starting for Solon last year. He’s competing for the starting position with several other quarterbacks who have seen little action at the varsity level.
Defensively, defensive back Brayden Thomas leads the way. The 2024 honorable mention All-Ohio selection is a three-star prospect that’s committed to Michigan State. Thomas made 102 tackles, seven PBUs, five TFL, three sacks, and two fumble recoveries in the All-Ohio effort.
Helping out in the secondary are honorable mention all-district picks Brodon Moore and Makhi Boone. Moore, a Western Michigan commit, had 75 tackles, 11 PBUs, seven TFL, four sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Boone is committed to Miami University (OH) and racked up 42 tackles, four PBUs, three TFL, two INTs, and a sack in his junior season.
On the D-line is honorable all-district nominee Colin Crocker. Crocker earned 108.5 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, an interception, and a fumble recovery in his 2024 campaign.
REGION 2: Centerville
County: Montgomery.
Enrollment: 1,024.
Nickname/Mascot: Elks
Colors: Black & Gold.
Conference: Greater Western Ohio Conference.
Head Coach: John Puckett (first at Centerville; fourth overall, 10-21).
Last Season: 11-4; D-1 state semifinalists; Region 2 champions; GWOC co-champions.
Class of 2026: 30-10 (.750); a state semifinals appearance; two GWOC titles.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 12 vs. Fairmont.
Key Games: Aug. 29 @ St. Xavier; Sept. 5 @ Carmel (IN); and Sept. 19 @ Springfield.
2024 Region 2 Final: Centerville beat Wayne, 23-14, at Dayton Welcome Stadium.
Team Preview: Whomever wins the GWOC has a great shot of winning the region. I feel Centerville comes out on top in the GWOC this season.
Coach Puckett, who was previously defensive coordinator for the Elks, takes over for Brent Ullery after Centerville’s historic run to the state semifinals a year ago.
Shane Cole, last year’s leading passer for the Elks, returns to take snaps after completing 51.4-percent of his passes for 1,460 yards, 13 TDs, and 10 INTs. The senior commit to Youngstown State also ran for 857 yards and 10 TDs a year ago as well—good enough for honorable mention all-district honors.
Returning in the backfield with Cole will be classmate Parker Johnson. Johnson, also an honorable mention all-district player, ran for 1,332 yards and 25 TDs with a receiving TD to lead the Elks in scoring in 2024.
Senior receiver Ryan Swanson led Centerville last season with 38 catches, 431 yards, and three TDs.
Defensively, the Black & Gold are led by linebacker Luke Mullinger after a junior campaign of 97 tackles, 17.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. On the line, classmate Brady Seeley committed 46 tackles, a team-leading nine sacks, seven TFL, and a fumble recovery for the Elks.
In the secondary, junior Ziere Alston is the team’s leading returning interceptor with two last season. The honorable mention all-district selection made 59 tackles, 2.5 TFL, two sacks, a forced fumble and recovery last season also.
REGION 3: Gahanna Lincoln
County: Franklin.
Enrollment: 944.
Nickname/Mascot: Lions.
Colors: Royal Blue & Athletic Gold
Conference: Ohio Capital Conference - Ohio Division.
Head Coach: Bruce Ward (12th at Gahanna Lincoln, 77-42; 17th overall, 114-56).
Last Season: 9-3; OCC-Ohio champions; Region 3 quarterfinalists.
Class of 2026: 34-6 (.850); a state semifinals appearance; three OCC - Ohio divisional titles.
Toughest Opponent: Aug. 22 @ Pickerington Central.
Key Games: Sept. 5 vs. Olentangy Liberty; Sept. 12 @ Olentangy Orange, and Oct. 24 vs. Pickerington North.
2024 Region 3 Final: Olentangy Liberty defeated Pickerington North, 21-9, at Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus.
Team Preview: Lincoln sophomore Chase McKee is the leading returning passer, completing 15-of-22 passes for 165 yards, a TD, and two picks a year ago.
Junior RB Kellen Rachal rushed 51 times for 345 yards and three TDs as a sophomore.
Ryan Washington was honorable mention all-district as a defender last year, but leads all returning receivers with 12 passes for 111 yards in 2024.
Leading in the trenches for Lincoln will be three-star Cincinnati commit Luke Collins and Alex Marcum. Collins was honorable mention all-district a year ago. Marcum was second team All-OCC - Ohio also.
Defensively, Washington also had 38 tackles, six deflections, five INTs, and 2.5 TFL for the Lions a year ago.
Junior DB Marshawn Lee Gaines received special mention All-OCC - Ohio after producing 29 tackles, 6 TFL, and INT and a sack a year ago.
Lions coach Bruce Ward was awarded OCC - Ohio coach of the year last season. The offensive backfield lost a lot, but Gahanna Lincoln doesn’t rebuild—they reload.
REGION 4: Archbishop Moeller
County: Hamilton.
Enrollment: 890.
Nickname/Mascot: Crusaders.
Colors: Blue & Gold.
Head Coach: Bert Bathiany (3rd at Moeller, 24-7; 4th overall, 34-10)
Conference: Greater Catholic League - South Division.
Last Season: 14-2; D-1 state runner-up; Region 4 champions; GCL South champions.
Class of 2026: 37-9 (.804); state runner-up; three state semifinal appearances; three GCL South titles.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 18 @ St. Edward.
Key Games: Aug. 23 vs. Princeton; Sept. 5 vs. Louisville (KY) Trinity; and Oct. 3 @ Elder.
2024 Region 4 Final: Moeller beat St. Xavier, 23-23, at Mason’s Tri-Health/Beacon Stadium.
Team Preview: Moeller has won Region 4 the previous four years.
Two-time All-Ohio QB and 2024 Division I Offensive Player of the Year, Matt Ponatoski is back for his senior year. Ponatoski, a four-star commit to Kentucky, completed 70.7-percent of his passes for 4,107 yards, 56 TDs, and three INTs a season ago.
Ponatoski has two three-star tight ends to whom he can toss the pigskin: Cooper McCutchan and Sam Hamilton. McCutchen, a UNC commit who was selected honorable mention all-district, caught 32 passes for 534 yards and seven TDs; while the West Virginia-commit Hamilton snagged 22 balls for 272 yards and five TDs for the Crusaders.
On the O-line, blocking for Ponatoski, is three-star junior Patrick O’Brien.
The defensive front is led by three-star Wake Forest commit Christian Harris. Harris’ stat line for last season was 45 tackles, 15.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks, a forced fumble and recovery.
Senior LB Connor Cuozzo is the leading returner tackler for Moeller with 56 total, 4 TFL, and a sack. Safety Ricky Thomas leads all returning defenders with two INTs along with 40 tackles, nine deflections, and 2.5 TFL.
PREDICTED DIVISION I CHAMPION: Lakewood St. Edward.
OTHER CONTENDERS: Lakota West, Princeton, Springfield, Upper Arlington, and Olentangy Liberty.
DARK HORSE: Winton Woods.
Thanks for reading, and look for the other six divisions of previews for the upcoming 2025 at Heart of Ohio Sports!
DIVISION I https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-i/
DIVISION II https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-ii/
DIVISION III https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-iii/
DIVISION IV https://heartofohiosports.com/top-ohio-prep-football-teams-2025-division-iv/
DIVISION V https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-v/
DIVISION VI https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-vi/
DIVISION VII https://heartofohiosports.com/the-top-ohio-prep-football-teams-to-watch-division-vii/
