As the 2026 Ohio high school football regular season came to a close, some of central Ohio’s top individual performances helped their teams clinch playoff spots, first-round home games or even first-round byes.
Others sent their teams into the offseason on a high note.
Here is a look at which central Ohio players had the best games in Week 10.
This list was gathered from games covered by the USA Today Network and statistics submitted to The Dispatch by area teams or otherwise posted publicly. The Dispatch encourages all central Ohio programs to submit information to sports@dispatch.com, dpurpura@dispatch.com and fdirenna@dispatch.com as soon as possible following games:
1. Kane Stover, Highland
Statistics: The senior had another strong all-around game as the Scots (4-6,
3-4 Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference) clinched a Division IV, Region 14 playoff spot, amassing 400 all-purpose yards, including 24 carries for 245 yards and two rushing touchdowns, 67 yards passing for a score and an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown in a 40-37 win over Marion Pleasant. Stover also made 15 tackles, including one for loss.
Next game: Oct. 30 at Bellevue
2. Dior Hansard, East
Stats: The junior quarterback completed 13 of 17 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns – including a 50-yarder to Dominique Edwards a minute into the game – and ran for another score as the Tigers (9-1, 6-0 City League-North) topped previously undefeated Linden-McKinley 25-10 to clinch the outright league championship.
Next game: Nov. 6 vs. Dresden Tri-Valley or Thornville Sheridan
3. Graham Smith, Watkins Memorial
Stats: The senior running back totaled 155 yards on 34 carries and scored all four of his touchdowns in the second half, including from 1 yard with 17 seconds left, as the Warriors (6-4, 3-2 Licking County League-Buckeye) erased a 26-6 halftime deficit to stun host Mount Vernon 34-33. Smith also scored from 3, 3 and 15 yards and had a 2-point conversion run to help Watkins clinch a playoff spot in Division II, Region 7.
Next game: Oct. 30 at DeSales
4. Owen Miller, Olentangy Berlin
Stats: The senior running back had a career-high 165 yards on 30 carries, including a 30-yard touchdown, as the Bears (8-2, 5-0 OCC-Cardinal) beat Olentangy 18-6 to win their fifth straight league championship. Miller also had two tackles, both for loss, at defensive end.
Next game: Oct. 30 vs. Westerville Central
5. Alex Leonard, Olentangy Liberty
Stats: The senior quarterback completed 18 of 24 passes for 199 yards with touchdown passes of 35 yards to Carter Nelson and 13 yards to Grayson Davis as the Patriots (6-4, 4-1 OCC-Central) held off Olentangy Orange 21-15 and clinched a first-round bye in Division I, Region 3.
Next game: Nov. 6 vs. Olentangy Berlin or Westerville Central
6. Giovanni Cotton, Grove City Christian
Stats: The senior running back amassed 205 yards and touchdowns of 2, 35, 46 and 47 yards and caught a 10-yard score from Colton Stanley in the Eagles’ (5-5, 5-1 MSL-Cardinal) 49-7 win at Fairfield Christian. Grove City Christian earned the 12th and final playoff spot in Division V, Region 19 with the win.
Next game: Oct. 30 at Wheelersburg
7. Dean Clark, Fairfield Union
Stats: The senior quarterback completed seven passes for 145 yards and a touchdown and made the game-clinching interception at safety in the final minute as the Falcons (8-2, 5-1 MSL-Buckeye) clinched a share of the league championship with a 14-6 win over Hamilton Township.
Next game: Oct. 30 vs. Heath
8. Kolton Peterson, Newark
Stats: The senior running back threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jason Giblin and ran for the game-winning score from 2 yards with a minute left as the Wildcats (4-6, 2-5 OCC-Buckeye) finished the season with a 29-22 rivalry win over Lancaster. Peterson finished with 106 yards on 22 carries and became the Wildcats’ all-time leading scorer with his winning touchdown.
9. JuJu Ward, Bloom-Carroll
Stats: Starting in place of injured senior Kyson Cline, the sophomore running back ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in the Bulldogs’ (5-5, 4-2 MSL-Buckeye) 21-7 win over Amanda-Clearcreek. Both of Ward’s touchdowns came from 1 yard out.
10. Grady Wanner, Worthington Kilbourne
Stats: The junior tight end turned three of his eight receptions into touchdowns and finished with 147 receiving yards as the Wolves (9-1, 5-1 OCC-Capital) used 14 unanswered fourth-quarter points to defeat Westerville South 41-27. Wanner caught the game-tying touchdown from 64 yards in the third quarter.
Next game: Nov. 6 vs. Groveport or Pickerington North
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Which central Ohio high school football players had top Week 10 games?
