Which central Ohio high school football players had top Week 7 games?

The stakes increase with every week of the high school football season, especially in October when league championships and playoff seeds come into sharper focus.

That is abundantly clear with The Dispatch’s list of top performers from Week 7. Several players who shined in multiple facets of the game helped earn crucial victories for their teams.

Here is a look at which central Ohio players had the best games in Week 7.

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. Kane Stover, Highland

Statistics: The versatile senior accounted for all five Scots touchdowns and threw the game-winning 2-point conversion pass in the second overtime to give Highland (3-4, 2-2 Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference) a 34-33 win at Caledonia River Valley. Stover scored from 1, 5, 2, 20 and 3 yards – the last two scores coming in overtime. He finished with 187 yards rushing on 30 carries, made 10 tackles and averaged 34.7 yards on three punts.

Next game: Oct. 9 vs. Bellville Clear Fork

Big Walnut's Nolan Buirley (3) runs the ball in the second half of the OHSAA football game at Big Walnut High School on Oct. 2, 2026 in Sunbury, Ohio.

2. Nolan Buirley, Big Walnut

Stats: The senior running back amassed 288 yards and touchdowns of 13, 44 and 2 yards on 25 carries, with the latter score giving the Golden Eagles (7-0, 3-0 OCC-Capital) important breathing room in the final minutes of a 35-28 win over previously undefeated Worthington Kilbourne.

Next game: Oct. 9 at Westerville North

Granville's Luke Bosse attempts to fend off a Zanesville tackler during the visiting Blue Aces' 36-12 victory at Sulsberger Stadium on Oct. 2, 2026.

3. Luke Bosse, Granville

Stats: The senior accounted for four touchdowns – runs of 30 and 8 yards, a 77-yard interception return and a 29-yard reception – in the Blue Aces’ (5-2, 2-0 Licking County League-Buckeye) 36-12 win at Zanesville. Bosse also had a second interception.

Next game: Oct. 9 vs. Watkins Memorial

Licking Valley's Dylan Keeley follows a block from Henry Stewart during the Panthers' 28-13 victory against visiting Johnstown at Randy Baughman Stadium on Sept. 18, 2026.

4. Dylan Keeley, Licking Valley

Stats: The junior accounted for all three Panthers (7-0, 2-0 LCL-Buckeye) touchdowns in a 20-14 win at Mount Vernon. He returned an interception 19 yards for a score in the fourth quarter, ran 30 times for 161 yards and a touchdown and made one catch for a 7-yard touchdown that ended up being the winning score with less than 5 minutes left.

Next game: Oct. 9 at Licking Heights

Grove City's Lochlann Speakman pursues Olentangy Berlin's Cooper Ailes on Oct. 31 2025, at Olentangy Berlin in a Division I, Region 3, first-round playoff game. (photo by John Hulkenberg)

5. Cooper Ailes, Olentangy Berlin

Stats: The junior returned the opening kickoff against Thomas Worthington 82 yards for a touchdown and later took an interception back 35 yards for a score in the Bears’ (5-2, 2-0 OCC-Cardinal) 31-7 win.

Next game: Oct. 9 at Dublin Jerome

Johnstown's Ryan Sager attempts to fight through Utica tacklers during the visiting Johnnies' 54-13 victory on Oct. 2, 2026.

6. Ryan Sager, Johnstown

Stats: The senior running back totaled 293 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries as the Johnnies (5-2, 2-0 LCL-Cardinal) routed Utica 54-13. Sager scored from 3, 18, 16, 8 and 67 yards as Johnstown rolled up 532 yards on the ground.

Next game: Oct. 9 vs. Heath

7. Carter Waggoner, Centerburg

Stats: The Trojans’ junior quarterback amassed 311 all-purpose yards in Centerburg’s (5-2, 4-0 Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference) 42-7 win over Cardington. Waggoner completed 9 of 10 passes for 235 yards and three scores and ran six times for 76 yards.

Next game: Oct. 9 at Mount Gilead

Gahanna Lincoln’s Marki Wallace (12) returns the opening kickoff during Week 5 of Ohio high school football at Hilliard Darby High School on Sept. 18, 2026.

8. Marki Wallace, Gahanna Lincoln

Stats: The senior receiver led a balanced offensive effort with eight catches for 142 yards and a touchdown, helping keep the Lions undefeated (7-0, 2-0 OCC-Ohio) with a 35-3 win over New Albany.

Next game: Oct. 9 at Westerville Central

9. CJ Wells, DeSales

Stats: The sophomore scored three touchdowns – on a 90-yard kickoff return, a 36-yard run and a 23-yard reception from RJ Day – as the Stallions (5-2) defeated Bloom-Carroll 30-0.

Next game: Oct. 9 vs. St. Charles

Heath's Tristyn Jones dives across the goal line to score during the Bulldogs' 34-3 victory against visiting Utica at Swank Field on Sept. 25, 2026.

10. Tristyn Jones, Heath

Stats: The senior running back tallied 175 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, scoring from 44 and 27 yards as the Bulldogs (5-2, 2-0 LCL-Cardinal) routed Northridge 49-8.

Next game: Oct. 9 at Johnstown

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 7 games?