More central Ohio high school football Week 2 previews
CORRECTION: Due to a reporter's error, Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland's nickname, divisional classification and state playoffs history were incorrect in an earlier version of this story. The Rams won the state title in 2020 and finished 7-5 last season.
(1-0) Big Walnut at (1-0) Zanesville
The Golden Eagles swoop into John D. Sulsberger Memorial Stadium for their second consecutive matchup against the Blue Devils. Big Walnut won 42-19 last season. Both teams are coming off strong starts. Nate Severs rushed for 143 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries in the Golden Eagles’ 35-7 victory over visiting Hartley in Week 1. Zanesville’s Drew Doyle threw for two touchdowns and rushed for 148 yards and two TDs in the Blue Devils’ 40-14 win at Newark.
(0-1) Toledo St. Francis at (1-0) Upper Arlington
The Golden Bears will try for a 2-0 start after opening with a resounding statement, routing host Reynoldsburg 42-14 on Aug. 19. Junior quarterback Tommy Janowicz made an impact in less than a half at quarterback, rushing for 75 yards and a touchdown while passing for 72 yards and a score. Running back Connor McClellan ran for two touchdowns and linebacker Jacob Hanks returned an interception for a score. UA dominated St. Francis 37-14 last season.
(1-0) Dublin Jerome at (1-0) Toledo Whitmer
Jerome will visit Whitmer in an early season clash of Division I, Region 2 teams. The teams met for the first time last season, with Jerome winning 28-23. The Celtics are coming off a 24-21 victory over visiting Perrysburg as Luke McLoughlin rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns and Zakk Tschirhart passed for 201 yards. Teron Crawford rushed for 105 yards and three touchdowns in Whitmer’s 41-6 win over Toledo Start.
(0-1) Columbus Academy at (1-0) KIPP Columbus
Academy will look to bounce back from a 34-13 home loss to Hunting Valley University School when it takes on KIPP Columbus. The teams met for the first time last season, with the Vikings winning 33-6. Academy was held to 117 yards against University School. KIPP, which ended its final game in 2019 with 14 players but now has nearly 70 players in its fourth year as a program, reached the Division VI playoffs a year ago as the 12th seed in Region 23 and upset fifth-seeded Willow Wood Symmes Valley 16-13 in the first round.
(1-0) Grove City Christian at (1-0) New Philadelphia Tuscarawas Central Catholic
Grove City Christian is looking for its first 2-0 start since 2012. Cayden Carroll rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns during a 42-16 opening win over Cincinnati Miami Valley Christian Academy. It was the coaching debut for Ben Schall at Grove City Christian. Tuscarawas Central Catholic leads the series 2-0.
(1-0) Chardon Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin at (0-1) Olentangy
Olentangy gets another shot at Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin after the Lions won last year 28-27 in Chardon in their first meeting. The Braves will look to give first-year coach Wade Bartholomew a win after losing 30-7 to Westerville South in Week 1. Ethan Grunkemeyer was 22-for-40 for 160 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the Wildcats. In the Lions’ 35-21 win over Willoughby South, Burke Buell had 23 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown and Angelo Tamburrino added eight carries for 96 yards and two touchdowns.
(1-0) Cleveland Glenville at (0-1) Olentangy Liberty
Liberty has won three of the four meetings between the programs, including 7-6 a year ago. Glenville held Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary to 83 yards of total offense in a 25-0 victory Aug. 18, and that defense will be another challenge for a Patriots offense that was limited to 130 yards of total offense in a 42-0 loss at Pickerington Central on Aug. 19. Alex Okuley had three catches for 25 yards for Liberty against the Tigers. D’Shawntae Jones ran 15 times for 140 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Tarblooders against St. Vincent-St. Mary.
(1-0) Central Crossing at (0-1) Westerville North
Central Crossing will be seeking the first 2-0 start in program history when the Comets travel to North, while the Warriors are looking to bounce back from a 23-20 loss at Westerville Central on the game’s final play. The Comets beat North 28-7 in 2015 in their last meeting, but the Warriors lead the series 5-2. Central Crossing’s Malik Kamara ran 23 times for 97 yards and three touchdowns and added two catches for 83 yards and another score during a 40-22 win over Marion-Franklin in Week 1.
(0-1) Centerburg at (1-0) Grandview Heights
The Bobcats will be looking for their first points in four tries against the Trojans, who won 49-0 last fall, 18-0 in 1975 and 8-0 in 1974. Grandview opened by defeating Centennial 46-19 on Aug. 18 as Maddox Baker rushed for 145 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries, and his twin brother, quarterback Logan Baker, threw for one touchdown and ran for another score. Tristin Pierce had three catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns for the Bobcats. Centerburg lost 26-19 to Utica despite the play of quarterback Tyler Johnson, who ran for 165 yards and two scores on 33 carries.
(1-0) St. Charles at (1-0) Delaware Hayes
The Cardinals and Pacers meet in an unexpected matchup of teams coming off opening-week victories. St. Charles was scheduled to play at Beechcroft and Delaware at Marion-Franklin before the strike by teachers in Columbus City Schools led to the cancellation of those contests. St. Charles defeated Northland 48-28 on Aug. 18 as Pete DeSocio rushed for 252 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries and also had a 70-yard kickoff return for a score. Mason O’Reilly added 78 rushing yards on nine carries for the Cardinals. In Delaware’s 28-14 victory over Buckeye Valley on Aug. 19, Jake Lowman was 13-for-24 passing for 204 yards with one touchdown, and Kaden Gannon caught four passes for 80 yards.
(0-1) Hartley at (1-0) Harvest Prep
The teams met for the first time last season, with Hartley winning 21-14. The Hawks got a fourth-quarter touchdown run by DeAunte’ Hubbard but committed three first-half turnovers and lost 35-7 on Aug. 19 to Big Walnut. Harvest Prep quarterback Aidan Rogers threw for 151 yards and a touchdown as the Warriors beat Bloom-Carroll 20-7 to end the Bulldogs' 14-game home winning streak and send them to their first loss in an opener since 2014.
(1-0) Pickerington North at (0-0) Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland
The Panthers are coming off a 53-0 victory over Lancaster on Aug. 19 but figure to face a more difficult task when they travel to Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, to meet Pine-Richland for the first time. North — which got 93 yards and three touchdowns from Dawaun Green and 189 yards and two scores through the air from quarterback Landon O’Connell — will represent Pine-Richland's opener. The Rams won the Class 6A title in 2020 and went 7-5 last season.
(0-1) Groveport Madison at (1-0) Gahanna Lincoln
Gahanna will attempt to move to 2-0 for the first time since 2017 when it plays host to Groveport on Aug. 26 in the final game at its stadium because of construction beginning this fall. The Lions edged Mason 9-7 on Aug. 19, with Isaac Perkins being credited with a tackle in the end zone for a first-quarter safety and running back Diore Hubbard rushing for 124 and one touchdown on 25 carries. Groveport opened with a 14-0 loss to Canal Winchester, which limited the Cruisers’ wing-T attack to 50 yards rushing. Gahanna defeated Groveport 21-7 a year ago.
(0-1) Worthington Christian at (0-1) Dayton Christian
Worthington Christian is 3-0 all-time against Dayton Christian, with the latest matchup of teams nicknamed Warriors set for Aug. 26. Worthington Christian lost 33-17 to Danville and Dayton Christian fell 34-14 to Sabina East Clinton on Aug. 19. Hobie Raikes threw for 221 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, Gibby Wilson had five catches for 72 yards and Ethan Albert and Correll Amsbaugh both added one touchdown catch for Worthington Christian. Both teams went 8-3 and made the Division VI, Region 24 playoffs in 2019, but Dayton Christian has gone just 3-17 since.
sports@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekSports
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: More central Ohio high school football Week 2 previews
