Tigers begin the season ranked No. 1 in the state after going 16-0 in 2023.
The high school football season in Ohio kicks off this week and MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. Defending Division II state champion
Massillon Washington owns the No. 1 spot in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
The Tigers are aiming to capture their second consecutive title and 26th going back to the days of writer's polls crowning champions.
Seniors
Nolan Davenport (6-6, 260, OT, committed to Wisconsin),
Tyler Hackenbracht (6-2, 205, ATH, Toledo),
Vito McConnell (6-4, 215, LB, Maryland) and
Jaezen Lewis (6-6, 305, OT) along with junior
Demari Clemons (5-9, 155, CB) lead the charge for Washington.
The best player in the state and arguably the entire country, however, is senior quarterback
Tavien St. Clair of
Bellefontaine. Committed to Ohio State, he threw for 3,983 yards and 37 touchdowns as a junior.
In addition to Massillon, defending state champions include
St. Edward (Lakewood) in Division I,
Central Catholic (Toledo) in Division III,
Glenville (Cleveland) in Division IV,
Perry in Division V,
Kirtland in VI and
Marion Local (Maria Stein) in Division VII.,
The Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 is a composite of the Preseason Top 100 and computer rankings factoring in past results and adjustments such as returners and statistical data when available.
Ohio Preseason MaxPreps 25
1.
Washington (Massillon), 16-0 record in 2023
2.
St. Edward (Lakewood), 15-1
3.
Archbishop Hoban (Akron), 13-2
4.
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), 10-5
5.
Avon, 14-1
6.
Central Catholic (Toledo), 16-0
7.
St. Xavier (Cincinnati), 7-5
8.
Pickerington North (Pickerington), 11-2
9.
Marion Local (Maria Stein), 16-0
10.
Cleveland Heights, 11-2
11.
Anderson (Cincinnati), 13-2
12.
Lakota West (West Chester), 11-3
13.
Lincoln (Gahanna), 12-1
14.
Glenville (Cleveland), 13-3
15.
Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland), 9-4
16.
Perry, 16-0
17.
Upper Arlington (Columbus), 10-4
18.
Perkins (Sandusky), 12-1
19.
Springfield, 10-6
20.
Findlay, 8-3
21.
Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls), 12-2
22.
Hilliard Bradley (Hilliard), 13-2
23.
Chardon, 11-4
24.
Harvest Prep (Canal Winchester), 12-2
25.
Ursuline (Youngstown), 13-1
