Ohio High School Football Week 1: Showcases, Streaks, and Stellar Performances
Ohio High School Football Week 1: Showcases, Streaks, and Stellar Performances
Week 1 of Ohio's high school football season erupted with intense matchups, standout performances, and unexpected turnarounds. From Northeast Ohio's dominance in the showcase to individual heroics and rivalries, the opening week set a thrilling pace. Join us as we break down the key moments and top players that made headlines.
Northeast Ohio Sweeps Out-of-State Team in NE Ohio vs America Showcase
Northeast Ohio teams made a statement, going undefeated (4-0) against top-tier out-of-state opponents from Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, and Georgia. They outscored their rivals 136-46, with the most significant margin being Archbishop Hoban's 45-6 triumph over Frederick Douglass (Ky).
Massillon Tigers' Resurgence: Owens Powers Through in Clash with Valdosta
In the NE Ohio vs. America showcase, two of the nation's most renowned high school football programs, Massillon Tigers and Valdosta Wildcats, faced off, marking the 2023 football season's grand opening. Valdosta, recognized as "Titletown USA" by ESPN and featured in the Netflix series "Titletown High," started strong with a 14-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. However, the Tigers, under Coach Nate Moore's guidance, made a remarkable comeback. Senior Daone Owens played a pivotal role, with a 75-yard run setting up a touchdown and later tying the game with a 69-yard touchdown run. The Tigers eventually secured the victory with Owens being the standout performer, amassing 241 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Despite the loss, Valdosta had notable performances from Shakevious Wright and Todd Robinson. The final score was 28-17.
Champions Collide: Eagles Outshine Center Grove in Marquee Matchup
In the 2nd game of NE Ohio vs. America Showcase, the St. Edward Eagles, two-time defending Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state champions, faced off against Indiana's three-time defending Class 6A state champions, the Center Grove Trojans. The Eagles, ranked 13th nationally by MaxPreps, delivered a dominant performance, securing a 27-10 victory. The game began with the Eagles quickly establishing their dominance, with senior Josh Groudle scoring a 24-yard touchdown. Despite a strong start by Center Grove, the Eagles' defense was formidable, allowing only a 30-yard field goal in the first half. Behind a powerful offensive line, the Eagles' ground game was unstoppable, with Groudle leading with 68 yards and two touchdowns. The Eagles' quarterback, Casey Bullock, threw for 140 yards and added another 40 with his legs.
Hoban Knights' Dominant Debut: A Statement Victory Over Frederick Douglass
Archbishop Hoban's football team commenced their 2023 season with an impressive 45-6 win over Frederick Douglass, the reigning Class 5A high school state champions from Kentucky. The Knights displayed their strength and skill on both offense and defense, establishing a commanding 38-0 lead by halftime. In his debut as quarterback, Tylan Boykin made an immediate mark, connecting with senior wide receiver Parker Falkenstein for a 46-yard touchdown in the opening quarter. The game witnessed standout performances from senior running back Caleb Jones, who accumulated 93 rushing yards and three touchdowns, and freshman running back Brayton Feister.Â
Glenville Tarblooders Triumph in NEO vs. America Showcase, Extending Winning Streak
In the NEO vs. America showcase finale, the Glenville Tarblooders ensured a clean sweep for Northeast Ohio. The two-day event had earlier seen victories from Massillon, St. Edward, and Archbishop Hoban. Glenville, despite starting the first quarter 7-0 down against the 2022 Virginia Class 4 state champions, Dinwiddie, showcased their resilience and extended their winning streak to 16 games. Glenville's talent was evident, with four players ranked in Ohio's top 100 class of 2024. The second quarter was dominated by senior running back D'Shawntae Jones, who scored four consecutive touchdowns. By halftime, Glenville led 36-7 and eventually won the game 36-13.Â
Cardinal Mooney Clinches Victory Over Lake Catholic in Opener
In an exciting season kickoff at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium, tradition-steeped teams, Lake Catholic and Cardinal Mooney, went head-to-head. Lake Catholic's junior quarterback, Frankie Trinetti, displayed promise, racking up 239 yards with four touchdowns (3 to Cross Nimmo). However, early mistakes, including a crucial fourth-quarter fumble, allowed Mooney and their standout quarterback, Ashton O’Brien, to capitalize and seize a narrow 29-26 win.
The game was a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, with both teams showcasing offensive flair and defensive grit. While Lake Catholic demonstrated resilience, especially after trailing 14-0, Mooney's timely plays and tough defense in the final moments sealed their victory.
Roosevelt Overcomes Ravenna in Weather-Interrupted Clash
In the celebrated 109th face-off between Roosevelt and Ravenna at Portage Community Bank Stadium, Roosevelt secured a 28-20 victory. Originally slated for Thursday, the game faced interruptions due to lightning and was ultimately wrapped up on Saturday. Early in the game, Ravenna's Daniel Sanders made a mark with two touchdowns, setting the score at 14-7. Responding swiftly, Roosevelt's quarterback, Jack Smith, delivered two touchdown passes, one of which was a standout 55-yard link-up with Jaiden Portis. This play positioned the Rough Riders at a 21-14 lead at halftime, before weather-related postponements. When play resumed, both teams added to their tallies. A missed extra point after Sanders' 39-yard TD run left Ravenna trailing by just one point. However, the Rough Riders sealed the deal with another touchdown pass from Smith, this time connecting with Theo Maccarone.
Chaney vs. Akron East: A Nail-Biting Opener
In a two-day match, the Chaney Cowboys were edged out 14-13 by Akron East. Akron East's junior running back, Ziaire Stevens, ran for 151 yards in the first half, including a 64-yard touchdown. Senior Ibraheem Kamara, intercepted a pass from Chaney's Drew Gault, scoring a 42-yard touchdown for the Dragons. Despite trailing at halftime, Chaney's quarterback, Matt Jones, narrowed the gap with a late touchdown. However, a crucial two-point conversion attempt failed.
Week 1 Ohio High School Football Highlights from around the State (Data Courtesy of Joeeitel.com and Fantastic50.net)
The first week of Ohio's high school football season brought thrilling action and impressive performances. Here's a quick recap of the highlights:
Home Advantage: Out of 359 games featuring Ohio teams, the home side clinched 202 victories (56.27%), while away teams secured 157 wins (43.73%).
Scoring Insights: The average score differential stood at 22.33 points, with home teams averaging 25.4 points and away teams 21.58 points. Notably, 41 away teams and 31 home teams failed to score, resulting in shutouts.
Game Extremes: The lowest-scoring game was a defensive battle between Lakota West and St. Xavier, ending 10-0 in favor of St. Xavier. In contrast, a high-octane clash saw Fairfield and Wayne combine for a whopping 109 points, with Wayne emerging victorious 58-51.
Dominant Performances: Perkins showcased their might with an 81-0 drubbing of Woodward, marking the week's largest margin of defeat. Additionally, five teams secured wins by margins of 70 points or more.
Close Calls: 21 games had fans on the edge of their seats, being decided by just 2 points or less. Interestingly, only four games extended into overtime.
Win Streaks: Kirtland and South Range continued their impressive regular-season win streaks. Kirtland extended their streak to 56 games, while South Range celebrated their 31st consecutive victory.
The season has started with a bang, and fans can look forward to more exciting coverage from Sky High Sportz in the coming weeks!