Central Ohio high school football: Here are the games to watch during the 2024 season

Another high school football season is almost here, a few days later than last year simply because of how the calendar falls.

After last season began Aug. 17, the first games this year are Aug. 22-24.

The wait will be worth it.

We took a chance last year on figuring out the best games of all 10 weeks of the regular season, and it went so well that we’re trying it again. For the most part, we steered fans in the right direction.

Disclaimer: We reserve the right to change our minds, especially later in the season as true contenders emerge.

Here is a week-by-week look at the best games to watch across central Ohio:

Week 1: Lakewood St. Edward at Pickerington North

It’s tough to top the three-time defending Division I state champions coming down from suburban Cleveland for the season opener. Make that almost impossible to top. North has scrimmaged the Eagles in previous years, but a game in which everything counts is a vastly different deal. It will be a good litmus test for the Panthers, who in seeking their first regional championship in 12 years boast Kentucky commit Preston Bowman at wide receiver and have a ground game led by Ohio University commit Michael Taylor.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Cleveland Glenville at Upper Arlington, Harvest Prep at Pickerington Central , Olentangy at Olentangy Liberty, Thornville Sheridan at Licking Valley, Watterson at Big Walnut

Week 2: Groveport at Gahanna Lincoln

Groveport’s rugged start begins with defending Division I, Region 3 champion Hilliard Bradley and continues with a visit to the Lions, who are deep on both sides of the ball as they seek a second Region 3 championship in three seasons . Quarterback and Kentucky commit Brennen Ward starts for the third year in a row for Gahanna, and running back Jayden Gwinn moved in from Westerville Central. They will face head-on a stout Cruisers defensive line led by seniors Keishaun Calhoun (Indiana commit) and Jalen Joyce.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Canal Winchester at Hilliard Davidson, Hilliard Bradley at Hilliard Darby, Jonathan Alder at Columbus Academy, Thomas Worthington at Worthington Kilbourne, Westerville Central at Westerville South

Week 3: Grove City at Hilliard Bradley

By this point, we should have an accurate impression of Bradley, which has promising sophomore Declan O’Neil at quarterback and several strong athletes to help, including Toledo commit Terris Dudley at defensive back and wide receiver. It very well could be a shootout with the Dawgs, who scored 42 or more points six times last year but allowed 20 or more eight times.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Africentric at DeSales, Gahanna at Olentangy Liberty, Pickerington North at Pickerington Central , Walnut Ridge at Beechcroft , Westerville North vs. Watterson at Ohio Dominican

Week 4: Lancaster at Teays Valley

This choice is less about the matchup than the momentous nature of the occasion, Teays’ first game in the OCC . With the growth of northern Pickaway County over the past few decades, playing in the big-school conference might have once been unthinkable around Ashville.

Logan also makes its OCC-Buckeye debut this night at home against Pickerington Central, coinciding with the start of league competition for the City League, Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference, MSL, Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and OCC-Capital.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Beechcroft at Centennial, Delaware at Big Walnut, Dublin Coffman at Pickerington North, New Albany at Upper Arlington

Week 5: DeSales vs. Ready at Fortress Obetz

This tilt between one-time CCL rivals started as a rout but turned into a classic last year. DeSales bolted to a 21-0 first-half lead, only to see Ready score three times in less than 90 seconds late in the half and eventually pull out a 43-42 win in overtime. Much of the drama came from Ready running back Kentrell Rinehart ’s 144 yards, three rushing touchdowns and a scoring pass of his own, but Rinehart has since transferred to Westland. Still, both teams return plenty of talent and this should be a great litmus test.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Fairfield Union at Logan Elm, Hartley at Ironton, Marion-Franklin at Independence, Newark Catholic at Licking Valley, Olentangy at Westerville Central

Week 6: Watterson at Hartley

Division III state runner-up Watterson and usual power Hartley square off for what could be the first time this fall – “could be” only because both should contend in a loaded Region 11 that also includes the likes of Bloom-Carroll , Granville , Hamilton Township and Licking Valley. Don’t go in expecting a repeat of Watterson’s 35-7 win from a year ago, but rather the closer games that have highlighted the CCL rivalry in previous seasons.

League play also begins this night for most of the OCC and the Central Buckeye League.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Bellefontaine at London , Northland at East, Watkins Memorial at Granville, Westerville South at Westerville North, Wheelersburg at Harvest Prep

More: Which central Ohio football teams are changing OHSAA playoff divisions in 2024?

Week 7: Africentric at Marion-Franklin

We head to the City League for a potentially huge South Division game. By now, it will be clear whether Africentric is building on last year’s 7-3 regular season and how well the host Red Devils have surrounded Purdue commit and all-around big-play threat Dawayne Galloway Jr. with talent.

There is no guarantee that the winner captures the league championship even if both already were at or near the top of the division, but someone could get a leg up with three weeks to go. Considerable playoff points might also be on the line.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Hartley at DeSales, Logan Elm at Bloom-Carroll, London at Jonathan Alder, Marysville at Olentangy, Olentangy Liberty at Upper Arlington

Week 8: Granville at Licking Valley

Another big tilt between Region 11 foes doubles as a Licking County League showdown among rivals on either side of Newark. The visiting Blue Aces again should have no problem scoring points with several key contributors back, including dual-threat quarterback Beckett Long, and Valley appears to have the pieces to grind out victories under longtime coach Randy Baughman.

How much different, if at all, Granville will look under new coach Heath Hinton after predecessor Wes Schroeder departed for Olentangy Orange will be interesting to watch.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Bloom-Carroll at Hartley, East at Beechcroft, Hilliard Davidson at Dublin Coffman, Olentangy Berlin at Dublin Jerome, Upper Arlington at Olentangy Orange

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Week 9: Dublin Coffman at Upper Arlington

A rivalry that rarely disappoints, at least for the winner and casual fans, likely will have OCC-Central championship implications. UA will seek its fourth consecutive win over a Coffman team that, after last year’s ugly 21-3 setback to the Golden Bears , won its next four games to reach the Division I, Region 2 final.

Last year’s win for the Bears was part of a six-game streak that took UA to the Region 3 final and an overtime loss to Bradley.

OTHER TOP GAMES: Dublin Jerome at Olentangy, Jonathan Alder at Bellefontaine, Licking Heights at Watkins Memorial , Olentangy Berlin at Marysville, Pickerington North at New Albany

Week 10: We’re not saying yet …

… because it’s too early for even us to make that call. Last year, it was obvious far in advance that the Pickerington North at Gahanna tilt would be the headliner , given the distinct possibility and eventual reality of both teams being 9-0. The same matchup is the same week this year, except it’s at North.

Another nice thing? Leagues are continuing to emphasize rivalries where possible in Week 10, as it should be. That hasn’t always been the case.

SOME TOP GAMES: Beechcroft at Northland, Danville at East Knox, DeSales vs. Watterson at Ohio Dominican, Hilliard Bradley at Dublin Coffman, Olentangy at Olentangy Berlin, Upper Arlington at Hilliard Davidson

dpurpura@dispatch.com

@dp_dispatch

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio high school football: Here are the games to watch during the 2024 season