The 2025 high school football season included two state championships for central Ohio teams – the second year in a row that happened – and a third team reaching a semifinal.
Five local teams won regional championships in 2024, the second time in four seasons that many central Ohio programs earned the right to practice on Thanksgiving.
So is the Columbus area in for more of the same this fall?
The Dispatch high school sports staff has picked 10 area teams that could make deep postseason runs. For these purposes, that qualifies as reaching at least a regional final, although with three Division I, Region 3 teams listed at least one would fall short.
Here are those 10 teams, in alphabetical order:
Big Walnut
Many pundits seem to be penciling in a Division II,
Region 7 final between the Golden Eagles and Watterson, and can they be blamed? The two-time defending regional champions return talent and experience at almost every position, including three three-year starters in seniors Nolan Buirley (RB), Matt Green (OL) and Eli Stumpf (QB), and 23 seniors in all. In other words, they are not the surprise team they might have been when they knocked off Massillon Washington in the regional final in 2024. Even more expectations, and eyes, are on Big Walnut now. That didn’t matter last year, and it won’t matter this year as the Golden Eagles navigate one of the best regions in the state.
Columbus Academy
Coach Robin Miller has built a perennial Division V contender at Academy, and with several returnees on both sides of the ball, the Vikings should again be in the mix for the Region 19 title. The defense should be anchored by senior Reinaldo Perez (DE/OT), a defensive line commit for defending national champion Indiana. Classmate Michael Tishkoff returns at quarterback. Wheelersburg was seeded first in the Region 19 playoffs last season, one spot ahead of Academy, and should again provide a major obstacle for the Vikings. But don’t be surprised if Academy reaches its first state semifinal since 2003.
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Danville
With nine starters back on each side of the ball, the Blue Devils are not only one of central Ohio’s top small-school teams, but also would appear to be the class of Division VII, Region 27 in the early going. Defending regional champion Jeromesville Hillsdale has moved to Division VI, and the Blue Devils surged in the 2025 playoffs after a 5-5 regular season. Four of five offensive linemen return, as do sophomore quarterback Parker Proper and junior running back/defensive back Cyren Wallace. Linebackers Chris Mosher and Jacob Byers combined for 351 tackles. If Danville starts fast, good luck slowing the Blue Devils down.
Harvest Prep
With the return of 11 starters, including senior quarterback and Bowling Green commit Collin Boff, Harvest Prep hopes to rebound from a 4-5 season in which it failed to qualify for the Division V, Region 19 playoffs. Harvest Prep should be aided by dropping to Division VI, Region 23. The Warriors are seeking their first state semifinal berth since 2023 and fifth overall. With 56 players in the program, including several talented freshmen, depth should be another strong point. Harvest Prep will get tested early as it opens against Division VI Versailles and Division VII Maria Stein Marion Local, both contenders in their respective regions, but the competition should help in its state title pursuit.
Licking Valley
The Panthers will try to extend their 20-game regular-season winning streak beginning in Week 1 against Thornville Sheridan, and they seem to have all the necessary parts. Quarterback Brody Rodgers enters his third year as a starter, Division I recruit Carson Adkins is in his third year as starting left tackle and a tall group of receivers should complement backs Dylan Keeley and Peyton George. Valley seemed destined for a Division III, Region 11 final clash with Watterson a year ago before being upended by Steubenville in a semifinal. The same matchup could take place a week later in November.
London
With several key players back from last season, along with dropping to Division IV from III, London could be primed to earn its third state semifinal berth; the others came in 1994 and 2024. Other major contenders in Region 16 will likely include Cincinnati Taft and Germantown Valley View. A key returnee is junior Bryson Toronto, who rushed for 1,127 yards and 19 touchdowns last season and was named second-team all-district. Junior Colt Hughes succeeds 2026 graduate Blake Reay at quarterback to guide London’s run-oriented offense.
Olentangy Liberty
Playing in a loaded Region 3, the Patriots captured their first state championship in 2024 and reached a regional semifinal last season before losing 21-17 to eventual state champion Olentangy Orange. Liberty returns six starters on each side of the ball, including senior quarterback Alex Leonard, who emerged as the starter last season. Coach John Sansbury said that like last season, junior Mason Miller should also see time at quarterback. Facing a five-game run of Dublin Coffman, Upper Arlington, Hilliard Bradley, Hilliard Davidson and Orange in the OCC-Central should also boost the Patriots’ chances. Liberty will be tested in Week 1 when it visits state title contender Lakewood St. Edward and in Week 2 when it hosts reigning Division IV state champion Cleveland Glenville.
Pickerington Central
It will be an odd year when the Tigers are not in the conversation for a Division I regional championship, and a year after running into Orange in the Region 3 final, Central has all the pieces for a first regional title and state final appearance since 2020. A handful of freshmen saw valuable time last year, paving the way for them to be even better in complementing several talented upperclassmen this fall. Among that group is 1,162-yard sophomore running back Edmund McAllister, who will be part of a formidable tandem with senior Jordan Sanders. Another sophomore, quarterback Winnie Garnett, transferred from Westerville North and will try to be the program’s second consecutive three-year starting signal caller after 2026 graduate Rocco Williams.
Pickerington North
A team with Region 3 and Division I state title aspirations, the Panthers will be tested during the regular season with games against Cleveland St. Ignatius, Pickerington Central, Orange and OCC-Ohio rival Gahanna Lincoln. North returns six starters on offense and five on defense, necessary experience for a contender. Junior quarterback Chase McKee, a transfer from Gahanna, will direct what figures to be a high-powered offense. Senior running back and Ohio University commit Andyriq Thomas rushed for 1,246 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Watterson
Although these 10 teams are listed in alphabetical order, the staff voted on those who would qualify, and the fact that the Eagles ended up No. 1 should not shock anyone. One can come up with many more reasons Watterson should win a third consecutive state title – but its first in Division II after years in Division III – than why it would not. Sure, Watterson is working in a new quarterback in junior Dash Hoy and some new receivers and linemen. Senior Caden Mangini is capable of anchoring the ground game behind four-star lineman and Ohio State commit Davis Seaman, and then there is the defense that returns 10 starters – not to mention seven Division I commits in all.
One question might be whether any differences in depth between divisions III and II would matter the further into November – and December – the Eagles play.
High school sports reporters Frank DiRenna and Dave Purpura can be reached at sports@dispatch.com and at @DispatchPreps on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Which central Ohio football teams could make deep OHSAA playoff runs?
