Two teams battling for at least one home game – and maybe a second – in the Division I, Region 3 high school football playoffs face off Friday when Groveport visits Pickerington Central in OCC-Buckeye action.
Groveport (4-3, 2-2) has lost consecutive close games, falling 21-14 to Teays Valley and 22-21 to Reynoldsburg . The Cruisers led the former 14-6 entering the fourth quarter and lost the latter on a 24-yard field goal on the game's final play.
Central (5-2, 4-0) has won four in a row since losing to Pickerington North 38-27 on Sept. 6 . The Tigers have dominated those games, all in league play, outscoring their opponents 191-37.
Groveport is No. 7 and Central is No. 4 in this week's Region 3 computer ratings. The top eight teams open the playoffs at home, and second-round games are played on the home field of the better seed.
Watch Groveport at Pickerington Central
Groveport
2024 schedule: Def. Hilliard Bradley 28-7 ; def. Gahanna Lincoln 8-7; lost to Big Walnut 24-13; def. Newark 56-13; def. Lancaster 35-7; lost to Teays Valley 21-14; lost to Reynoldsburg 22-21; Friday at Pickerington Central; Oct. 18 vs. Logan; Oct. 25 at Canal Winchester
The ground game fuels the Cruisers' offense, which has 1,866 yards rushing this season. Raishad King leads the way with 870 yards and seven touchdowns on 108 carries. Nickolas Hodge has 297 yards and one score on 49 attempts, and Jo’Siyah Foster has 277 yards and two scores on 26 carries. In short-yardage situations, the ball often goes to 5-foot-11, 260-pound defensive lineman Jalen Joyce , who has four touchdowns and 142 yards on 26 carries. Joyce also is Groveport's leading tackler. The defensive line also features Indiana commit Keishaun Calhoun. The Cruisers' quarterback, Baker Bowden, has completed 46 of 84 passes for 581 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.
High school football: Your guide to the 2024 season
Pickerington Central
2024 schedule: Lost to Harvest Prep 24-21; def. Huber Heights Wayne 45-40; lost to Pickerington North 38-27; def. Logan 54-0; def. Canal Winchester 51-23; def. Lancaster 42-7; def. Newark 44-7; Friday vs. Groveport; Oct. 18 at Teays Valley; Oct. 25 vs. Reynoldsburg
The Tigers have a balanced rushing attack of their own. Kaejuan Alexander leads with 487 yards and 11 touchdowns on 76 carries, but he's far from the only threat. Quarterback Rocco Williams (240 yards, 2 TDs), Gerald Banks (226 yards, 3 TDs), Kyseam Robinson (222 yards, 2 TDs) and Justin McCoy (175 yards, 3 TDs) also have contributed. Williams has completed 73 of 124 passes for 1,182 yards with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. His leading receivers are Sherone White Jr. (24 catches, 440 yards, 5 TDs) and Jayden Nelson (12 catches, 265 yards, 5 TDs). White is a Marshall commit. Central's top defensive players include linebacker Myles Harrison (26 tackles, 6 ½ sacks), lineman Jah’Marione McAllister (38 tackles) and safety Mike Jones (36 tackles).
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Watch Groveport vs. Pickerington Central in Ohio high school football on NFHS Network
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