Top 10 Ohio high school football small-school games to watch in 2016

Video: Canton Central Catholic football highlights vs. St. Thomas Aquinas
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Feel like watching some high school football this fall? Here's a few games featuring Ohio's small schools that you should circle on the calendar.


Aug. 26: Central Catholic (Toledo) at Bishop Hartley (Columbus)
It's a matchup of two of the state's top teams regardless of division. Defending D-IV state champ Hartley will try to beat TCC for the second-straight season. The Irish own two state titles and 51 wins in four years and were D-III state runner-up last season. Hartley won 20-16 last year.

Sept. 2: Canton Central Catholic at Perry (Massillon)
A pair of returning state runners-up tangle a few miles from the Pro Football Hall of Fame as CCC (D-V) tries to avenge a 49-17 loss to Perry (D-II) last season.

Sept. 2: Zanesville at Jonathan Alder (Plain City)
This will be a great test for D-IV central Ohio standout Alder and senior tight end Trey Pugh (Northwestern commit) as they host D-III state semifinalist Zanesville and senior defensive lineman RJ Harris (30 tackles-for-loss).

Sept. 2: Coldwater at Jefferson (Delphos)
The four-time defending D-V state champion Cavaliers visit Jefferson, which went on a nine-game winning streak last year after losing to the Cavs in Week 2. The Wildcats promise to be one of Ohio's top D-VI teams.



Sept. 16: Wyoming (Cincinnati) at Indian Hill (Cincinnati)
The Cincinnati Hills League title should be decided during this game. A rematch in the D-IV Region 16 playoffs is a real possibility. Indian Hill beat Wyoming twice last year (regular and postseason).

Sept. 30: Garaway (Sugarcreek) at Ridgewood (West Lafayette)
Two of the Inter-Valley Conference and Ohio's best tangle in a game that Ridgewood won 7-0 last year. It could be a D-V Region 19 playoff preview. Both will have faced fellow heavyweight Sandy Valley in successive weeks prior.

Sept. 30: Shadyside at River (Hannibal)
These two southeast Ohio programs with postseason experience renew a non-conference rivalry. Shadyside started 1-6 last year and still made the postseason. River is coming off a playoff berth as well.

Sept. 30: West Liberty-Salem at Mechanicsburg
The Ohio Heritage Conference crown is usually decided by this game. This season should be no different. Mechanicsburg has a team that can challenge for the D-VI state title. West Liberty-Salem, a playoff team 10 of the last 12 years, returns the program's largest senior class (15) in recent memory.

Oct. 14: Marion Local (Maria Stein) at Fort Recovery
Two Midwest Athletic Conference heavyweights collide. Marion Local is looking to make its sixth-straight state final and win its fifth title during that span. The Flyers were D-VI state runner-up last year. Fort Recovery is the defending D-VII state champion. Oct. 28: Kenton Ridge (Springfield) at Bellefontaine
This game should decide the Central Buckeye Conference crown and could carry some big-time playoff implications. Last year Kenton Ridge beat Bellefontaine 53-28 as then-senior Jayden Davis ran for 407 yards and six touchdowns. It was the most points the Chieftains allowed all season.

10 More to take in
Aug. 26: Fort Recovery at Lehman Catholic (Sidney)
Sept. 2: McComb at Marion Local
Sept. 9: Coldwater at Marion Local
Sept. 10: Calvert (Tiffin) at St. Paul (Norwalk)
Sept. 16: Bishop Hartley (Columbus) at St. Francis de Sales (Columbus)
Oct. 7: Steubenville at Ursuline (Youngstown)
Oct. 14: Garfield (Garrettsville) at Mogadore
Oct. 21: Cuyahoga Heights (Cleveland) at Kirtland
Oct. 21: Swanton at Liberty Center
Oct. 28: Grandview Heights (Columbus) at Bexley (Columbus)