Two-way – or even three-way – performers provided some of the top individual efforts across central Ohio during Week 4 of the high school football season.
Several paved the way for victories that, if not surprising, at least turned heads.
Here is a look at which central Ohio players had the best games in Week 4.
This list was gathered from games covered by the USA Today Network and statistics submitted to The Dispatch by area teams. 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. Ryan Sager, Johnstown
Statistics: The senior running back ran for all three of his touchdowns and two two-point conversions in the second half as the Johnnies
(3-1) scored the game’s final 22 points to beat Mount Vernon 37-30. Sager finished with 162 yards on 42 carries.
Next game: Sept. 18 at Licking Valley
2. Mason Ackermann, New Albany
Stats: The senior returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter, scored on a 2-yard run in the third quarter and made a key tackle for a late fourth-down stop as the Eagles (3-1) took a three-score lead in the fourth quarter and held off Upper Arlington 28-21.
Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Dublin Jerome
3. Charlie Pizzotti, Columbus Academy
Stats: The senior had two interceptions, one of which he returned 49 yards for a touchdown, and caught an 11-yard score late in the first half as the Vikings (2-2) beat Granville 36-14. Pizzotti caught six passes for 58 yards to help Academy break a two-game losing streak.
Next game: Sept. 18 at Worthington Christian
4. Shawn Rice, Worthington Kilbourne
Stats: The senior receiver caught seven passes for 158 yards and touchdowns of 10, 75, 21 and 9 yards in the Wolves’ 49-20 win at Westland. Quarterback Jackson Szabo threw for 367 yards and six scores for Kilbourne (4-0, 1-0 OCC-Capital). Rice now has nine receiving touchdowns in the past two games.
Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Dublin Scioto
5. Evan Switalski, West Jefferson
Stats: The senior quarterback accounted for five of the Roughriders’ (3-1) six touchdowns in a 44-6 win at Cedarville, throwing for 243 yards and three scores and running for 75 yards and two touchdowns.
Next game: Sept. 25 at Springfield Northeastern
6. Del’navon Bailey, West
Stats: The senior quarterback threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards and two scores on six carries as the Cowboys (4-0, 1-0 City League-South) shut out Eastmoor Academy 44-0.
Next game: Sept. 17 at Africentric
7. Dash Hoy, Watterson
Stats: The junior quarterback threw for 163 yards and three touchdowns – one each to Austin Alles, Carter Bellisari and Ben Lamielle – as the Eagles (4-0) erased a 13-0 first-half deficit to defeat Cleveland Glenville 35-13. Watterson extended its winning streak to 34 games.
Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Harvest Prep at Ohio Dominican
8. Bryston Toronto, London
Stats: The junior running back amassed 201 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries in the Red Raiders’ 29-7 win over Lewistown Indian Lake. London won its third game in a row after a season-opening loss to New Albany.
Next game: Sept. 18 at St. Paris Graham
9. Cyren Wallace, Danville
Stats: The junior running back/defensive back rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, made 10 solo tackles and assisted on seven more and returned three punts for 81 yards to power the Blue Devils (4-0, 1-0 Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference) to a 52-7 win over Fredericktown.
Next game: Sept. 18 vs. Mount Gilead
10. Tristyn Jones, Heath
Stats: The senior running back rushed for 264 yards and three touchdowns (9, 23 and 48 yards) as the Bulldogs won their third game in a row, 58-28 at Washington Court House.
Next game: Sept. 18 at Watkins Memorial
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 4 games?
