Week 12 H.S. football playoff preview: Games and players to watch

H.S. football week 12

Nov. 7 playoff games

Div. I, Region 1

Medina (4-7) at Canton McKinley (8-2)

Last week: Medina 28, Strongsville 25. Canton McKinley bye

Last year: Medina did not make the postseason in 2024; McKinley advanced to the regional semifinals, falling 31-0 to Mentor.

This week: Medina picked a good time to have its first winning streak. The Bees won their last two games by three points each. Their first-round upset of Strongsville was stunning, given that they lost to the Mustangs 42-14 during the regular season. McKinley fell in Week 10 to archrival Massillon, losing 21-14 thanks to a second-half punt return. The Bulldogs have been solid all year but not dominant. They have a couple wins by a field goal or less and have not had many second-half running clocks. The winner this week will take on the winner of second-seeded Mentor (10-0) and No. 7 Massillon Jackson (6-5). Either team would have to play at Mentor, while McKinley would either be at Mentor or at home against Jackson. Medina shocked the Mustangs, getting the winning points via John Nagel’s 1-yard run with less than 30 seconds left. Things didn’t look good early, as the Musatangs put up three unanswered second-quarter touchdowns to take a 19-7 lead. Brian Wuchter’s second TD reception, coming in the final 22 seconds of the half, pulled Medina within 21-19. The Bees took their second led on Dylan Pay’s 75-yard interception return, but fell behind with just inside of eighth minutes left when the Mustangs scored for the final time. Strongsville failed to convert after three of its TDs, proving very costly in the tight game.

Div. II, Region 5

Hudson (9-2) at Lake (7-3)

Last week: Hudson 27, Willoughby South 0; Lake bye

This week: Lake may enjoy home-field advantage but Hudson enters the game with a stronger record and also has the benefit of being on a four-game winning streak, including a victory in the first round of the OHSAA playoffs against Willoughby South. The Explorers’ 27-0 shutout marks the sixth time they’ve blanked their opponent this season. Despite losing in OT to Green in Week 10, the Blue Streaks received a first-round bye, which was much needed in allowing Lake to heal some injuries, most notably to offensive threat Ty DeGeorge, who returned to limited action against Green after breaking his ankle in Week 3; the junior accounted for 10 TDs in the first two weeks of the season. Zach Novak has been the prime beneficiary of senior QB Alex Quior’s high-percentage passing attack, while Davis Matson stepped in as an able replacement on the ground following DeGeorge’s injury. Hudson’s defense may get a lot of press, but the offense is powerful, led by QB Hayden Lipinski and a troika of running backs featuring Reno Ferri (713 yards and six touchdowns), Christopher Horner (369 yards, nine TDs), and Brennan Funyak (318 yards, five TDs).

Div. II, Region 6

Brecksville-Broadview Heights (7-4) at Highland (10-0)

Last week: Brecksville 34, Oregon Clay 14. Highland bye

Last year: Highland advanced to the Elite 8 before falling to eventual state champ Avon 28-20 in the regional championship game. Brecksville did not make the playoffs in 2024.

This week: While the Hornets likely won’t be taking anyone lightly this time of year, expect more of the same from them, unless forecast rain slows down their weekly onslaught. The Bees come in on a bit of a hot streak, winners of three in a row and four of their last five. Brecksville might not have been thinking about the second round of the playoffs after losing 4-of-6 in the middle portion of the season. The teams have three common opponents and they don’t make things look good for the Bees. Hudson beat Brecksville 27-0 while losing to the Hornets 32-0. Aurora lost to both teams, falling 21-17 to the Bees and 41-7 to the Hornets, while Tallmadge also fell to both, losing 14-7 to Brecksville and 62-0 to Highland. Add it up and it looks like another easy second half for the clock operator at North Gateway Tire field. The winner will play either No. 4 North Ridgeville (9-1) or No. 5 Whitehouse Anthony Wayne (7-4) in a regional semifinal. Highland would be at home, while Brecksville would have to travel.

Div. III, Region 10

St. Marys Memorial (8-3) at Buckeye (10-0)

Last week: St. Marys Memorial 36, Copley 34; Buckeye bye

Last year: Buckeye made it to the second round of the Division III playoffs a year ago before falling 39-34 to Parma Padua in the regional quarterfinals. Competing in Division III, Region 12, the Roughriders made it to the third round of the playoffs before falling 30-7 to London in a regional semifinal.

This week: Buckeye is set to make its 17th postseason appearance, all since 2002, and 13th in a row. The Bucks have only advanced past the first round in four of those trips. They have made the playoffs in all eight seasons under head coach Greg Dennison, who will coach in his 17th postseason after qualifying nine times as head coach at Wadsworth. While Buckeye is unbeaten, the Roughriders are coming in hot, winners of their last six games. Four of those six were single-digit margins. Buckeye went 4-0 during the regular season against teams that qualified for the playoffs. St. Marys is 2-4 against playoff teams this year, including the win over Copley. The winner will play either No. 4 Dresden Tri-Valley (8-2) or No. 5 Columbus Hamilton Township (9-2). Buckeye would host either team, while St. Marys will be on the road in either case.

Div. IV, Region 14

Orrville (7-4) at Shelby (10-0)

Last week: Orrville 35, Clear Fork 28; Shelby bye.

This week: Orrville recorded the program’s first playoff win in six years, and its seven wins are the most since that 2019 team finished 11-2. The Red Riders took a 35-14 lead after quarterback Cam Kraft’s 1-yard touchdown run with 10:13 left in the fourth quarter but had to come up with a late defensive stop to come out with the win after Clear Fork. Kraft has passed for 1,654 yards and 17 TDs while adding four rushing scores, with 6-5 wideout Breylon McDuffie (58 rec., 873 yards, 9 TDs) and RB Parker Hostelter (1,253 yards, 16 TDs rushing) are big-play threats. Top-seeded Shelby is led by quarterback Brayden DeVito, an Air Force recruit. The Whippets are ranked first in Ohio in the MaxPreps Div. IV poll as DeVito has passed for 2,258 yards, 28 TDs and just three INTs while also carrying the ball 96 times for 906 yards and 21 scores.

Cloverleaf (7-4) at Galion (9-1)

Last week: Cloverleaf 42, Bay Village Bay 35; Galion bye.

Last year: Cloverleaf lost in the first round in 2024 41-14, also at Bay. Galion also was eliminated in the first round a year ago, falling 13-7 to Ottawa Glandorf.

Last week: The Colts saw leads of 21-0 and 35-14 evaporate but managed to come away with their first playoff victory in six postseason trips. Ethan Gray scored three times, including once on an 89-yard kickoff return and Cloverleaf’s defense threw a fourth-quarter shutout after allowing 28 third-quarter points, as Jimmy Tolley’s 3-yard reception of an Isaac Smith pass with 9:47 left held up. Gray and Smith both rushed for more than 100 yards. As the three accounted for nearly all of Cloverleaf’s 300 yards of offense. The Colts’ defense was good enough, forcing four Bay turnovers, which included three interceptions. The Colts had lost 3-of-4 games before topping Bay. Cloverleaf’s win over Bay was its first this year against a team that made the postseason. By contrast, the Tigers are 3-1 in such games, with the lone loss to unbeaten Shelby. 

Div, IV, Region 15

Circleville (8-3) at Indian Valley (9-0)

Last week: Circleville 31, Philo 14. Indian Valley: Bye. 

Last year: Indian Valley won the Division IV state title a year ago. Circleville finished 4-6 a year ago and did not qualify for the Division III, Region 11 playoffs before dropping this year to Division IV. 

This week: Indian Valley comes in hot since its week 4 game against Expression Prep (West Virginia) canceled the teams’ game. That game, incidentally, was left as a cancellation, rather than be turned into a forfeit, which happened to other games that were canceled for identical reasons. Had it been ruled a forfeit, Indian Valley would have finished in first place in the Region 15 standings and would be playing Fairfield Union this week. Not that it likely matters, since Fairfield Union only beat Circleville 6-3, but the OHSAA definitely works in mysterious ways. The Braves have won by an average of 48-8 since that time, after averaging a 35-14 win over the first three weeks. Circleville has won its last three games convincingly but lost 3-of-4 before that modest streak. In the win last week over Philo, the Tigers ran for 286 yards behind the 3-headed rushing monster of their three-pronged running attack of Ray Ezell (9 carries for 109 yards), Hudson Phalin (17 for 94) and Kole Nungester (14 for 83). The winner will take on either No. 3 Plain City Jonathan Alder (9-1) or No. 11 Johnstown next week in a regional quarterfinal. Indian Valley will host in either case. If Circleville wins, it would play at Alder or at home against Johnstown.

Div. V, Region 18

Fairview (9-2) at Triway (9-1)

Last week: Fairview 51, Fredericktown 41; Triway bye

This week: This has been an impressive season so far for the Triway football team. In the next two weeks, the Titans could determine just how highly regarded the 2025 campaign will be remembered. Triway (No. 9 in MaxPreps Div. V state rankings) has never won more than one playoff game in a season but has the talent and depth to change that. Senior quarterback Luke Starr led the Titans (9-1, 5-1) to the outright Principals Athletic Conference title and a first-round playoff bye with an area-best 2,202 yards passing and 26 touchdown passes. Triway boasts one of the area’s most balanced and explosive offenses, featuring three receivers with at least 35 catches. Junior Bruin Flinner leads the way with 58 receptions for 812 yards and eight touchdowns, followed by senior Olley Krupp with 40 grabs for 553 yards and six scores, and junior Brandt Clippinger with 35 catches for 446 yards and seven touchdowns. In the backfield, senior Grayson Miller (120 carries, 549 yards, 9 TDs) and quarterback Starr (113 carries, 615 yards, 10 TDs) provide a potent rushing duo that keeps opposing defenses off balance. Defensively, the Titans are anchored by Alex Robinson (68 tackles), Flinner (67), and Grayson Smith (66). Roman Gilbert has been a force up front, recording 20 tackles for loss among his 59 total stops. 

Findlay Liberty Benton (11-0) at Norwayne (8-2)

Last week: Liberty Benton 49, Delta 13; Norwayne bye.

This week: Norwayne (MaxPreps 14th ranked) closed the regular season with seven straight wins, culminating with a Week 10 triumph over fellow Wayne County Athletic League unbeaten Hillsdale to claim the league title. The big win also gave the Bobcats a first-round playoff bye, but they drew an extremely tough bracket slot with unbeaten, sixth-ranked Liberty Benton taking the No. 5 seed. The Eagles routed Delta to earn a second-round trip to Creston. Eagles junior QB Connor Barbara fan for four TDs and passed for two more in the demolition of Delta. WR CJ Barbara, Connor’s older brother, is another player to watch. RB Zach Elchert had five carries for 72 yards and a TD last week. Norwayne is used to feeling like it’s not given enough credit at this point after being counted out in the WCAL, so it’s doubtful the Bobcats will be intimidated by the Eagles’ perfect record. Jacob Bruner leads Norwayne with 1,872 yards passing, 17 TDs and just four INTs. Ryder Ingold is the top receiver, with 55 catches for 949 yards and 12 scores. Carson Arnold leads the ground attack with 126 carries for 686 yards and nine TDs.

Div. VI, Region 21

Smithville (9-2) at Hanoverton United Local (9-1)

Last week: Smithville 28, Cuyahoga Heights 24; United Local bye

This week: The Smithies won a thriller at home to advance to the second round against United local. The 1-2 punch of senior Mason Haines, the program’s all-time career rushing leader and sophomore speedster Isaiah give Smithville a Thunder & Lightning combo. QB Brady Sidle directs the offense. Lee scored all four TDs in the playoff win over the Red Wolves. The United Local Eagles rely heavily on junior RB M’Kyan Haynes, while Braden Schwartz is also a key playmaker.

Dalton at Columbia Station Columbia (9-1)

Last week: Dalton 43, Columbiana 7; Columbia bye.

This week: Dalton moves on from a first-round win over Columbiana to a second-round game at Columbia. That’s not much variety in opponent’s names, but the competition should get stronger this week. Dalton QB Carter Hignight passed for three TDs to junior TE Jackson Oswald in the win over Columbiana and also ran for a score. Oswald also had a fumble recovery for a TD and an interception in a remarkable performance. Hayden Cecil added to the rout with a 90-yard kickoff return for a TD. Columbia plays power football, with 2,822 yards rushing compared to only 488 yards through the air. Sophomore RB Xavier Hendon leads the attack with 168 carries for 1,168 yards and 11 TDs, while senior Jose Rivera has 67 totes for 561 yards and 14 scores.

Garaway (8-2) at Columbiana Crestview (10-0)

Last week: Garaway 49, Mineral Ridge 7; Crestview bye.

This week: The seventh-seeded Garaway football team rolled to a win over Mineral Ridge in first-round action as Matthew Frey rushed for 169 yards and four touchdowns on 14 carries to lead the Pirates. QB Grady Miller finished 10-of-14 passing for 242 yards and three touchdowns — tossing two scoring strikes to Micah Yoder (three catches, 121 yards) and a 15-yarder to Colson Kuemerle — while adding 45 yards on the ground. Trey Miller (67 yards) and Jaxon Garber (39) both had three catches.Now, the Pirates make the trek to the Ohio-Pennsylvania border to take on second-seeded Crestview. Outscoring opponents by an average of 40-9, the Rebelas are led by QB Jake Noling, who has thrown for 1,621 yards, 17 TDs and only one pick and rushed for 1,058 yards at 8.6 yards a carry with 17 more scores. RB Mikey Proctor has nearly 700 yards rushing (9TDs) and averages 11 tackles a game as the CHS middle linebacker.

Div. VI, Region 23

Ridgewood (9-2) at Centerburg (9-1)

Last week: Ridgewood 28, Newcomerstown 6; Centerburg bye.

This week: Centerburg was the No. 1 overall seed in its region after winning the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference title and losing just once this season. The Trojans have blitzed teams offensively all season, averaging 41 points per game. They keep teams off balance, trying to decide who to stop — running back Miles Marshall (1,355 yards) or quarterback Blane Ball (1,161 yards passing and 1,023 yards rushing). Hayden Love (21-426) and Jackson Ballinger (20-381) are Ball’s favorite receivers. The Trojans only loss came in week 2 to Johnstown, which beat Indian Creek, 51-37, in the first round of the Div. IV playoffs. Ridgewood is coached by longtime HC John Slusser, defeated Newcomerstown, just 9 miles away, for the second straight postseason, this time 28-6. Ridgewood rushed for 251 yards, including 109 on 14 carries from Talon Carns and 62 yards and a 9-yard TD run from Bryce Tolliver. Carns caught three first-half passes from QB Jace MacQueen that set up all three Ridgewood touchdowns in taking a 21-0 halftime lead. The scores came on MacQueen’s 23-yard pass to Preston Ator, Tolliver’s run and a 1-yard MacQueen sneak. In the second half, after Ridgewood used all but 18 seconds of the third quarter on a drive that ended with a fumble, Carns capped the Generals’ scoring with a 47-yard TD run. Ridgewood defense allowed Newcomerstown to cross midfield just twice, once in each half. Ridgewood’s two losses were to Inter-Valley Conference rivals Indian Valley, the defending Div. IV state champ, and Div. VI Garaway, which also advanced to the second round with a first-round win.

Div. VII, Region 25

Malvern (7-4) at Monroeville (8-2)

Last week: Malvern 34, Ashtabula St. John 0; Monroeville bye.

This week: Malvern could do little wrong in its first-round playoff throttling of Ashtabula St. John as the Hornets defeated the Heralds in a shutout. Julius Gore averaged nearly 10 yards per carry in running for more than 220 yards, and first-year QB Jaxon Jones was an efficient 11-of-17 for 107 yards and two scores. On defense, the Hornets harassed St. John relentlessly, limiting their opponents to just 60 yards of total offense – in fact, the Heralds were docked more yards in penalties than they picked up. For Malvern, the path to a third-round game gets appreciably more difficult versus the Eagles, who enter on a seven-game winning streak and can score points by the truckload, having eclipsed 45 points in five of their eight victories this season. Monroeville shook off a 1-2 start to roll through the Firelands Conference without a loss. It’s a long drive for the Hornets too — Monroeville is in Huron County, a haul of more than 100 miles.

Div. VII, Region 27

Danville (6-5) at Fisher Catholic (8-2)

Last week: Danville 54, Steubenville Catholic Central 0; Fisher Catholic bye.

It’s going to be power vs. power when Danville travels to Fisher Catholic for a second-round playoff game this Friday. Both the Blue Devils and Irish like to run the ball. FC running backs Leo Hampshire and Sam Tencza have feasted on defenses behind a big, strong and quick offensive line. Quarterback James Wilkinson can also run and will keep the defense honest with some timely passes. The Blue Devils’ defense, led by Owen Gronberg, Jacob Byers and Chris Mosher all season, will need to be up to the task again Friday. The Irish finished second in the Mid-State League Cardinal Division, losing only to Portsmouth Notre Dame (34-6) in week 2 and 41-0 to MSL champ Grove City Christian. They have also held opponents to 14 points per game, including one shut out. Danville counters with a strong running game of its own, led by Cyren Wallace. The sophomore has averaged more than 100 yards per game and has scored 13 touchdowns. He picked up 118 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries in a 54-0 victory over Steubenville Catholic Central. Freshman quarterback Parker Proper has grown into the role, running for 34 yards and passing for another 70 on 8 of 11 passes in the victory.

Strasburg-Franklin (8-3) at Waterford (8-2)

Last week: Strasburg 28, Lucas 14; Waterford bye.

This week: The Tigers gave their fans quite a treat on Halloween, a 28-14 win over Lucas in their first home playoff game in 23 years. In keeping with the holiday motif, Strasburg-Franklin employed some tricks in jumping out to a 14-0 first quarter lead as the Tigers executed a perfect fake punt on fourth-and-4 from deep in their own territory to extend a drive. Strasburg-Franklin widened it to 21-0 early in the second quarter as QB Brody Baughman scrambled for an 82-yard score, then the hosts coasted to the two-score win. Waterford is a different beast entirely as the Wildcats enter the playoffs on a five-game winning streak, having outscored their last four opponents 214-14.

Conotton Valley (9-2) at Hillsdale (9-1)

Last week: Conotton Valley 78, Rosecrans 46; Hillsdale bye

This week: The Rockets might need a repeat performance of a week ago when they rolled up over 800 yards of offense. Kaden Leggett tossed 7 TD passes — 3 each to R.J. Higgenbotham and Kamden Wright — and the seventh to Gavin Haney, who also had 194 rushing yards and 3 TDs on the ground. Haney also led the defense with 14 tackles and CV had five interceptions. Hillsdale, state runnerup last year with many of the same players back, is led by RB Owen Sloan with 1,391 yards and 19 touchdowns rushing, while quarterback Kael Lewis has thrown for 1,731 yards, 19 TDs and only two interceptions. Hayden McFadden (7 TDs) has 30 receptions, Kyle Turk (3 TDs) 29 and Knox Lewis (5 TDs) has 27 grabs.

Compiled by Ray Sarvis, Todd Stumpf, Aaron Dorksen, Fred Main, D.J. Watson and Mike Plant.