More central Ohio high school football Week 3 previews
(0-2) Berea-Midpark at (1-1) DeSales
The Stallions were driving for a potential game-winning touchdown when Aiden Brown of Hamilton Badin intercepted a pass from Avery Garlock and returned it for a touchdown during the final minute to cap a 27-14 victory.
DeSales lost 34-27 last season to Midpark, which is 0-2 after a 37-34 loss to Macedonia Nordonia. While Garlock and running back Gabe Caruso lead DeSales, Midpark is led by quarterback Troy Shick, who threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Hudson Devins, who had 146 yards and two scores against Nordonia.
(0-1) Bexley at (1-1) KIPP Columbus
The teams play a rubber game after splitting the first two meetings. The Lions won 21-20 in 2020, and the Jaguars won 40-26 last fall.
KIPP is coming off a 42-8 loss to Columbus Academy on Aug. 26. Quarterback Tymir Wynn was 4-for-9 passing for 53 yards and one touchdown, and wide receiver Cameron Frazier had two receptions for 50 yards and one score.
Bexley, which opened with a 35-6 loss to Washington Court House, did not play in the second week because of several positive COVID-19 tests.
(1-0) Columbus South at (0-1) Whetstone
Week 3 will feature the return of City League competition after games involving its teams were canceled in Week 2. South has beaten the Braves each of the past three seasons, including 60-0 last fall, and will travel to face the Braves on Sept. 1. South opened with a 32-30 win Aug. 18 over Cincinnati Woodward.
For Whetstone, junior running back Damarion McClinton rushed for 109 yards and one touchdown in a 55-9 loss to Watterson on Aug. 19.
(2-0) Delaware at (1-1) Mount Vernon
An old rivalry will be renewed when these teams meet. The Yellow Jackets defeated the Pacers 20-14 in 2020 in the first meeting between the two since 2015 when both were members of the OCC-Capital Division.
The Pacers are coming off a 17-0 win over St. Charles in Week 2 and is seeking their first 3-0 start since starting 4-0 in 2018 when they finished 6-4. Jake Lowman went 13 of 24 for 149 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Delaware and St. Charles were originally supposed to play City League opponents last week, but those games were canceled because of the Columbus City Schools teacher’s strike.
The Yellow Jackets lost to Newark 35-34 as the Wildcats ended a 20-game losing streak. Mount Vernon trailed 28-7 in the first quarter before rallying for a 34-28 lead.
Jonny Askew caught seven passes for 92 yards and three touchdowns and added 109 yards on nine carries to lead Mount Vernon.
(1-1) Dublin Coffman at (0-2) Canton McKinley
The teams will meet for the third time as McKinley won 26-17 in 2013 and Coffman won 48-0 the following year.
Shamrocks lost to Centerville 48-14 on Aug. 26. Quarterback Quinn Hart was 15-for-32 passing for 189 yards and one interception, and he had a 17-yard touchdown run. Wide receiver Amari Valerio-Hudson caught six passes for 112 yards.
The Bulldogs are 0-2 for a second consecutive season after losing to Austintown-Fitch 38-14. Quarterback Keaton Ride was 12-for-28 passing for 118 yards, and running back Shaukeer Hatch rushed for 79 yards and one score. After last season's 0-2 start, the Bulldogs went on to finish 8-5.
(2-0) Dublin Jerome at (0-2) Shaker Heights
The Celtics are seeking their first 3-0 start since 2016 when they went on to finish 10-2. The teams met last season for the first time with host Jerome winning 24-20. Luke McLoughlin rushed for 247 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-30 win at Toledo Whitmer on Aug. 26. Brady Sestili has a team-high 27 tackles through two games. Shaker Heights, a Division II, Region 5 program, has been outscored 85-24 in two games. Panthers sophomore Trey McNutt III (WR/SS) has offers from Pittsburgh and MAC schools.
(1-1) Grove City Christian at (0-0) Paden City (W.Va.)
Grove City Christian and Paden City will be meeting for the first time. The Eagles are looking to rebound from a 20-6 loss at New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic on Aug. 27. Braydan Taylor passed for 100 yards, Cayden Carroll rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown and Josh Lautenschleger added 74 yards rushing. Paden City’s 18-man roster has no seniors. The Wildcats finished 2-8 last season.
(0-2) Hartley at (1-1) Canal Winchester
The Hawks will try to avoid their first 0-3 start since 2002 and first three-game losing streak in 15 years against an Indians team still trying to find its footing offensively.
DeAunte Hubbard’s 238 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries led Hartley in a 40-35 loss at Harvest Prep on Aug. 26, in which the Hawks erased a 21-point deficit but fell on a late touchdown. Two of the Indians’ four scores this year have come on passing plays of 68 and 81 yards from quarterback Maxton Brunner, and another was a 24-yard touchdown run from Kaseem Wade.
This is the programs’ second meeting, after a 48-21 Hawks win last year.
(2-0) Harvest Prep at (1-0) Eastmoor Academy
Eastmoor returns to action Sept. 2 after having its Week 2 game canceled by getting a matchup against one of the area’s hottest teams, Harvest Prep.
While Eastmoor opened with a 20-14 win over Dayton Chaminade Julienne, Harvest Prep opened with a 20-7 victory over Bloom-Carroll, a state semifinalist last season, and then posted a 40-35 victory over Hartley, which has made 12 consecutive playoff appearances. Harvest Prep quarterback Aidan Rogers rushed for four touchdowns and threw for two others against the Hawks.
(1-1) Heath at (1-0) Hamilton Township
After having games canceled against Independence and Bexley last week, the Rangers are scheduled to return to action against the Bulldogs in a matchup that was canceled last season.
Hamilton Township beat Franklin Heights 28-0 in its opener, and Heath, a Division IV, Region 15 playoffs qualifier last season, opened with a 28-27 victory over Liberty Union but lost 28-15 to Licking Valley last week.
(1-0) Independence at (1-1) St. Clairsville
The 76ers opened with a 46-0 win over Dayton Thurgood Marshall before having their Week 2 matchup with Hamilton Township canceled.
The Red Devils, who opened with a 48-34 win over Canton South before losing to Wheeling (W.Va.) Park. In Independence’s opener, running back Davaughn Bufford rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Antonio Harris rushed for 64 yards and one score.
(0-2) Lancaster at (1-1) Olentangy
The Braves and Golden Gales will meet for the second time after Lancaster won last year's meeting 34-15.
Olentangy will look to build on the momentum gained in last week’s 34-28 win in overtime over Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin after trailing 21-6 late in the third quarter. Ethan Grunkemeyer threw five touchdown passes, including a 3-yard pass and ensuing 2-point conversion to Ethan Grover with 14 seconds left in regulation and a 20-yard pass to Zach Griffith on the first play in overtime to give coach Wade Bartholomew his first win with the Braves.
Lancaster, meanwhile, still is searching for its first points of the season after opening with losses to Pickerington North (53-0) and Marysville (17-0). It was the first time the Gales had been shut out in back-to-back games since 2011, when Pickerington Central and Gahanna did it in Weeks 4 and 5.
Against Marysville, Trace Van Gundy completed nine of 14 passes for 60 yards and rushed for 43 yards on 12 attempts.
(1-1) Marysville at (0-2) Reynoldsburg
The Monarchs will be looking for a second consecutive win against an OCC-Buckeye opponent when they visit Reynoldsburg. Marysville allowed 166 yards of offense in a 17-0 win at Lancaster on Aug. 26. Colton Powers rushed for 108 yards on 16 carries to lead the offense. Reynoldsburg, which is looking for its first win under coach Mark Philmore, has been outscored 95-21 in two games. Troy Martin passed for 169 yards and a touchdown in a 53-7 loss to Huber Heights Wayne on Aug. 26.
(2-0) New Albany at (0-1) Walnut Ridge
Eagles coach Brian Finn was as focused on trimming penalties as sustaining an unbeaten start after last week’s 45-13 home rout of Canal Winchester. New Albany had eight penalties for 70 yards, arguably the only damper on a night that began with Christian Manville’s 74-yard touchdown run and saw the entire second half played with a running clock. Manville rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries.
The Scots are playing their first game in two weeks because of the Columbus Education Association teachers strike. They gave up 240 yards and 54 plays in a 37-12 opening loss at Hilliard Davidson on Aug. 19 and will face the same type of time-chewing run-based offense this week.
(0-2) Northridge at (1-1) Grandview Heights
The Bobcats hope to get back on track after losing at Centerburg 28-12 on Aug. 26. Quarterback Logan Baker was 6-for-19 passing for 89 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Ian Gecse (2 catches, 35 yards) and Tristin Pierce (2 catches, 34 yards, 2 TDs) were the top receivers, and Maddox Baker had 90 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Northridge, which defeated Grandview 17-14 last year, opened with home losses to East Knox (26-13) and Fredericktown (36-6). Quarterback Lane Hess completed 16 of 29 passes for 152 yards one touchdowns and one interception and rushed for 61 yards in 16 carries against the Freddies.
(1-1) Olentangy Berlin at (0-2) Dublin Scioto
The teams have met three times with the Bears winning the two previous meetings, including 17-7 last fall. Scioto won the first meeting 38-20 in 2018.
The Irish still are coming off a 21-0 loss to Watterson in which quarterback Byson Arthur completed 19 of 43 passes for 142 yards with three interceptions. The Bears picked up their first win by shutting out Olentangy Orange 17-0 on Aug. 26. Quarterback Harrison Brewster was 8-for-15 passing for 75 yards and also rushed for 90 yards and one score on 16 tries. Running back Mason Ziegler added 62 rushing yards on 16 carries.
(0-2) Olentangy Liberty at (0-2) Cincinnati St. Xavier
Perennial powers Liberty and St. Xavier look to right the ship.
The Patriots seemed to get things going against Cleveland Glenville last week, rallying form a 20-point deficit before falling 20-14. Liberty moved to the 11-yard line in the final minutes before Glenville’s Shawn Williams intercepted a pass in the end zone.
Alex Okuley caught eight passes for 100 yards, and Bryce Byrd and Zachary Austin each had eight tackles to lead Liberty.
For the Bombers, who beat Liberty 49-0 when the programs met for the first time last year, Jack O’Malley went 15 of 28 passing for 145 yards in a 44-20 loss at Wilmette (Illinois) Loyola Academy on Aug. 28.
(1-1) Olentangy Orange at (1-1) Toledo Central Catholic
The teams met for the first time last season with the Fighting Irish winning 28-0.
Toledo Central Catholic opened with a 23-20 loss to Lakewood St. Edward before beating Cleveland Benedictine 31-0. Quarterback Ty’Waun Clark was 13-for-19 passing for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception against Benedictine. Running back Chris Edmonds rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. The Pioneers lost to Olentangy Berlin 17-0. The game marked the debut of freshman quarterback Levi Davis, who started the second half and went 8-for-15 passing for 75 yards and one interception.
(1-1) Pickerington Central at (1-1) Huber Heights Wayne
The last time the programs met was in 2016 when the Tigers edged the Warriors 17-14 in the Division I, Region 3 championship game. The latest matchup won’t have as much on the line, but Wayne is coming off a 53-7 win over Reynoldsburg and Central is eager to bounce back from a 17-7 loss to Cincinnati Elder.
The Tigers were limited to 109 yards of offense but have intercepted four passes through two games. Wayne finished with 513 yards of offense against Reynoldsburg.
(1-1) Westerville North at (2-0) Chillicothe
North will try to build on a 27-0 win over Central Crossing last week when it travels to Chillicothe on Sept. 2.
The Warriors, who bounced back from a 23-20 loss to Westerville Central in Week 1 play the Cavaliers for the first time since the two were members of the OCC-Central Division in the mid-1990s.
North quarterback Ronald Jackson completed eight of 13 passes for 175 yards and two touchdowns and added 68 yards rushing on 15 carries against the Comets.
Maxwell Lee recorded 18 tackles as the Cavaliers defeated London 27-24 a week after beating Teays Valley 29-19.
(2-0) Westerville South at (0-2) Hilliard Darby
The Wildcats and the Panthers feature similar strengths in the running game, although they do it in different ways.
Darby, which lost to Hilliard Bradley 19-14 last week, hasn’t started 0-2 since 2016 and hasn’t been 0-3 since it went 0-10 in 2003. The Panthers have won all eight meeting with South, including 34-31 last year.
The Panthers rushed for 324 yards out of the triple option against the Jaguars. Quarterback Sage Kean had 23 carries for 137 yards and two touchdowns and slotback Javi Quimba added 105 yards on 13 rushes. Out of the spread, South ran the ball 56 times out of 67 plays, led by Nasir Phillips had 28 carries for 189 yards and two touchdowns.
Drew Goff had 10 tackles, including four tackles-for-loss and a sack for the Wildcats and Brayden Kohl had 12 tackles, including one tackle-for-loss for the Panthers.
(2-0) Westland at (1-1) Central Crossing
The Cougars seek their first victory in a series that was abandoned for three seasons after the teams left the OCC-Central.
The Comets have won all 11 meetings, including a 17-13 victory in 2019. The Cougars are 2-0 for the second consecutive year. After last year's 2-0 start, the Cougars lost their final seven games.
Levi Estep went 6-for-13 passing for 72 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-28 victory over Franklin Heights. The Comets were held to 52 total yards in a 27-0 loss to Westerville North on Aug. 26. Running back Abdul-Malik Kamara had 42 yards rushing on 17 carries.
(1-1) Whitehall at (1-1) Marion Pleasant
Whitehall is looking to build on a 35-16 win over visiting Dayton Dunbar on Aug. 26. Elijah Hughes passed for 137 yards and three touchdowns and Andre Jackson rushed for 126 yards and two scores for the Rams. Pleasant, a Division V program, managed just 140 yards of offense in an 8-0 win over Bucyrus Wynford on Aug. 26. Quarterback Owen Lowry passed for 86 yards and Candence Varner had 69 yards receiving. Whitehall and Pleasant met last season, with the Rams winning 46-14.
(1-1) Worthington Christian at (1-1) Centerburg
Worthington Christian opened with a 33-17 loss to Danville but bounced back with a 45-0 victory over Dayton Christian as quarterback Hobie Raikes threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another.
The Trojans beat Grandview 28-12 on Aug. 26 as quarterback Tyler Johnson rushed for 201 yards and one touchdown and threw for three scores.
(1-1) Worthington Kilbourne at (0-2) Groveport
Both teams look to bounce back from losses last week. Groveport, which has won the last four meetings against the Wolves, including 41-23 last year, was held to 81 total yards in a 20-13 loss at Gahanna last week. Jace Nincehelser accounted for both touchdowns to lead the Cruisers against the Lions, returning a fumble 75 yards for a touchdown and blocking a punt, which was returned 30 yards for a score by C.J. Barnett.
Kilbourne is coming off a 38-0 loss to Thomas Worthington that was its worst defeat in the series’ 15 games. It was also the Wolves’ worst loss since losing to Dublin Jerome 56-0 in 2019. Ben Bartram carried 18 times for 51 yards and added three receptions for 32 yards to lead the Wolves.
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This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: More central Ohio high school football Week 3 previews
