Every result is magnified the deeper into the high school football season we go, and Week 8 was no exception.
Some teams unofficially clinched home playoff games, if not first-round byes, and others sustained their postseason hopes with two weeks to go. One undefeated team, St. Charles, took its first loss in a close CCL contest at DeSales.
Here is a look at which central Ohio players had the best games in Week 8.
This list was gathered from games covered by the USA Today Network and statistics submitted to The Dispatch by area teams or otherwise publicly posted. 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. Jamari Snow, Canal Winchester
Statistics:
The senior running back amassed 319 yards and six touchdowns on 21 carries, scoring from 14, 50, 3, 54, 36 and 9 yards as Canal (5-3, 4-1 OCC-Buckeye) routed visiting Logan 70-28.
Next game: Oct. 16 at Lancaster
2. Dash Hoy, Watterson
Stats: The junior quarterback took four of his five carries for touchdowns, scoring from 41, 43, 15 and 35 yards and finishing with 120 yards overall, threw for a touchdown and even caught a pass for 15 yards as the Eagles (7-0, 2-0 CCL) routed Hartley 63-7.
Next game: Oct. 16 at Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit
3. Ryan Sager, Johnstown
Stats: The senior running back anchored the Johnnies’ comeback against Heath, scoring from 4, 18 and 30 yards to erase a 17-7 deficit and finishing with 208 yards on 30 carries as Johnstown improved to 6-2 overall and 3-0 in the Licking County League-Cardinal with a 28-17 win.
Next game: Oct. 16 vs. Lakewood
4. Kaleb Johnson, DeSales
Stats: The senior defensive back made two interceptions, including one in the end zone in the final seconds, as part of a five-takeaway night for the Stallions (6-2, 1-1 CCL) in a 28-20 win over previously undefeated St. Charles. Johnson also ran for 72 yards on seven carries.
Next game: Oct. 16 at Steubenville
5. James Hocking, Berne Union
Stats: The senior running back, who was converted from wide receiver in recent weeks because of injuries, rushed for 142 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries in a 23-7 win over Fisher Catholic. Berne Union (5-3, 4-0 MSL-Cardinal) handed Fisher (6-2, 4-1) its first league loss.
Next game: Oct. 16 vs. Fairfield Christian
6. Grayson Davis, Olentangy Liberty
Stats: The senior amassed 162 yards on 22 carries with touchdown runs of 1, 10 and 48 yards as the Patriots (5-3, 3-0 OCC-Central) won their fifth game in a row, 28-14 over Hilliard Bradley.
Next game: Oct. 16 vs. Hilliard Davidson
7. Lance Reynolds, Hamilton Township
Stats: The senior running back had 13 carries for 141 yards and the game’s only touchdown, from 7 yards in the third quarter, in the Rangers’ (6-2, 4-0 MSL-Buckeye) 7-0 win at Bloom-Carroll.
Next game: Oct. 16 vs. Logan Elm
8. Carter Waggoner, Centerburg
Stats: The junior quarterback accounted for both Trojans (6-2, 5-0 Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference) touchdowns in a 13-12 comeback win over Mount Gilead. Waggoner had 12-yard touchdown runs in the second and third quarters, throwing for 126 yards and rushing for 86 more on 15 carries.
Next game: Oct. 16 at Danville
9. Duane Greer, Reynoldsburg
Stats: The sophomore returned a kickoff 70 yards for a touchdown, caught a 4-yard touchdown pass and had an interception in a 27-14 win at Lancaster. The Raiders (5-3, 4-1 OCC-Buckeye) won their fourth consecutive game.
Next game: Oct. 16 vs. Newark
10. Nolan Buirley, Big Walnut
Stats: The senior turned three of his seven catches into touchdowns, scoring from 22, 6 and 16 yards while also rushing for 63 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries as the Golden Eagles (8-0, 4-0 OCC-Capital) shut out Westerville North 31-0.
Next game: Oct. 16 at Dublin Scioto
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 8 games?
