THE TOP OHIO PREP FOOTBALL TEAMS TO WATCH IN 2025: DIVISION V 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.
DIVISION V
REGION 17: South Range
County: Mahoning.
Enrollment: 157.
Nickname/Mascot: Raiders.
Colors: Gold & Burgundy.
Head Coach: David Rach (3rd at SR, 26-3).
Conference: Northeast 8 Athletic Conference.
Last Season: 14-1; D-5 state semifinals; Region 17 champions; NE8 champions.
Class of 2026: 42-3; state title; two state semifinals appearance; three NE8 titles.
Toughest Opponent: Aug. 22 vs. Uniontown Lake.
Key Games: Sept. 19 @ Struthers; Sept. 26 @ Poland Seminary; and Oct. 3 v. Girard.
2024 Region 17 Final: South Range defeated Poland Seminary, 17-16, at Boardman High School.
Team Preview: South Range has been to the Region 17 finals the last five seasons.
The Raiders returns junior QB/SS Jason Vorshak who was second team All-NE8 as a punter a year ago.
This pick has to do with metrics. Although not returning back, a team that repeatedly gets back to the regional finals while changing the cast and crew is a solid program to bet on.
REGION 18: Liberty Center
County: Henry.
Enrollment: 165.
Nickname/Mascot: Tigers.
Colors: Orange & Black.
Head Coach: Casey Mohler (9th at LC, 91-16).
Conference: Northwest Ohio Athletic League
Last Season: 15-1; D-V runner-ups; Region 18 champions; NWOAL champions.
Class of 2026: 44-3 (.936); two state runner-ups; three state semifinals appearances; three NWOAL titles.
Toughest Opponent: Aug. 29 vs. Eastwood.
Key Games: Aug. 22 @ Tinora; Sept. 26 vs. Patrick Henry; and Oct. 24 @ Archbold.
2024 Region 18 Final: Liberty Center beat Milan Edison, 34-6, at Millbury Lake’s Community Stadium.
Team Preview: Tiger junior RB Garrison Kruse was honorable mention All-Ohio a year ago after carrying the ball 91 times for 922 yards and 15 TDs. Thomas Mohler, an honorable mention all-district pick himself, had 121 attempts for 933 yards and eight TDs last season.
Defensively, Kruse is also the LC’s leading returning tackler with 90 tackles, 22 TFL, and two sacks as a sophomore.
Hunter Spangler was second team all-district and first team All-NWOAL as a defensive lineman. Spangler also won state in shot put last spring.
Max Walker’s 23 punts for 829 yards gave Walker a 36-yard punt average last year—good enough for honorable mention All-Ohio.
REGION 19: Ironton
County: Lawrence.
Enrollment: 188.
Nickname/Mascot: Fighting Tigers.
Colors: Black & Orange.
Head Coach: Trevon Pendleton (8th at Ironton, 82-14).
Conference: Independent.
Last Season: 15-1; D-5 state champions, Region 19 champions.
Class of 2026: 41-4 (.911); state title; state runner-ups; two state semifinals appearances.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 13 vs. Canisius (NY).
Key Games: Sept. 5 @ McNicholas; Sept. 19 vs. Jackson; and Oct. 10 vs. Fairland.
2024 Region 19 Final: Ironton defeated Wheelersburg, 55-0, at South Point’s Alumni Field.
Team Preview: Two-time All-Ohio linebacker Zayne Williams returns on the offensive side as well after 98 carries for 756 yards and 17 TDs last season. He’s also the team’s leading returning receiver with 20 receptions 320 yards and four TDs.
Kayden Edwards completed 78.3% of his passes for 362 yards, four TDs, and one pick to be the leading returning passer for the Fighting Tigers. Edwards also rushed for 357 yards and five TDs a year ago, and caught 20 balls for 319 receiving yards and three TDs in 2024.
Junior DB Brycen Mullins was honorable mention all-district a year ago, committing 86 tackles, six TFL, six PBU, five INTs, three forced fumbles and recoveries.
Mason Wheeler, an edge rusher, had 57 tackles, 14 TFL, two sacks, one forced fumble and recovery a season ago.
Trevon Pendleton is coming off a Division V co-coach of the year performance. This senior class is poised and ready to help Coach Pendleton and Ironton make a serious run at back-to-back state titles.
REGION 20: Versailles
County: Darke.
Enrollment: 172.
Nickname/Mascot: Tigers.
Colors: Orange & Black.
Head Coach: Ryan Jones (7th @ Versailles, 50-24; 10th overall, 72-33).
Conference: Midwest Athletic Conference.
Last Season: 5-6; Region 20 first round, tied-6th in MAC.
Class of 2026: 27-13 (.675)
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 26 @ Marion Local.
Key Games: Aug. 29 vs. Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy; Oct. 10 vs. Minster; and Oct. 17 @ Coldwater.
2024 Region 20 Final: West Liberty-Salem beat Indian Lake, 21-4, Piqua’s Alexander Stadium.
Team Preview: Wideout Drake Ahrens is back after an honorable mention All-MAC season a year ago.
In a league as tough as the MAC, the Versailles will be battle-tested before the playoffs.
PREDICTED DIVISION V CHAMPION: Liberty Center.
OTHER CONTENDERS: Harvest Prep, St. Clairsville, Oak Harbor, Milan Edison, and Barnesville.
DARK HORSE: Wheelersburg.
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/
