2017 Ohio football Division VII preseason state poll and preview

Video: Jared Huelsman highlights
Minster senior quarterback Jared Heulsman returns after earning Midwest Athletic Conference offensive player of the year honors. Minster is looking to reach its third state final in four years.

A year after Warren John F. Kennedy became the first non-Midwest Athletic Conference school to capture the D-VII state title, plenty of questions loom. Especially with competitive balance making its debut and new regional alignments in place. Can Minster make it's third state final in four years? Can JFK repeat? Will Cuyahoga Heights make an impact after dropping down from D-VI? And then...there's the return of Harvest Prep senior running back Daniel Bangura who set the state's single-season rushing record with over 4,000 yards. Who is going to stop him?

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Here's a look at what to expect in Ohio's smallest division...

EF'S JJH/MP OHIO HS PRESEASON TOP 10

1. Minster - 10-5, D-VII state runner-up, Region 28 champion
The Wildcats have played in two of the last three state finals. Don’t be shocked to see them make 3-in-4. Minster was 2-4 at one point last year before riding an eight-game winning streak to the state final. Senior quarterback Jared Huelsman, the reigning MAC offensive player of the year, returns. In all, the Wildcats return four starters on offense (all skill players) and six on defense.

2. Cuyahoga Heights (Cleveland) - 14-1, D-VI state runner-up, Region 21 champion
The Redskins reached the first state championship game in program history in head coach Al Martin’s 19th season. Under Martin, who returns for Year 20, Heights has never had a losing record and has been to the playoffs 18 times. Key seniors include receiver Dylan Drummond, defensive lineman Jonathan Teeter and defensive back Lucas D’Orazio.

3. Harvest Prep (Canal Winchester) - 10-4, D-VII state semifinalist, Region 27 champion
The Crusaders surprised some people last season en route to the Final Four. For an encore they may one up that. Harvest Prep returns extreme star power and talent in senior running back Daniel Bangura and senior defensive end Isaiah Mullins. Bangura ran for an Ohio single-season record 4,128 yards last year. That tally ranked second nationally. He also set Ohio single-season records for rushing touchdowns (54) and total touchdowns (57). Mullins? All the first team All-Ohioan has done is commit to Wisconsin.

4. John F. Kennedy Catholic (Warren) - 14-1, D-VII state champion, Region 25 champion
The Eagles won longtime head coach Jeff Bayuk his first state title and the program’s second last year (first since 1991).  Five starters return on offense including senior quarterback Gregory Valent, junior running back Isaac Hadley and senior receiver Hyland Burton. The defense returns four starters, including two-way senior lineman Chris Urchek.

5. Danville - 8-4, Region 27 semifinalist
The Blue Devils started 2-3 last year before putting together a six-game win streak that ended with a postseason loss to Harvest Prep. Senior quarterback Skyler Durbin returns after passing for 2,000 yards and rushing for 1,000. Also back is senior receiver Tyler Mickley, junior kicker Reese Dorsey and junior defensive lineman Dylan Wilson.

6. River (Hannibal) - 10-1, Region 23 quarterfinalist
The Pilots drop down a division after finishing No. 1 in computer points in D-VI Region 23 last year. Senior quarterback/defensive back Lukas Islay is one of the state’s most versatile small school athletes. A year after rushing for 1,204 yards as a running back, Islay threw for 1,550 yards (and 14 touchdowns) and ran for 1,029 yards (and 23 touchdowns). He also ran for 11 two-point conversions and had five interceptions as a defensive back. Other key returning seniors include lineman Drew Dietz and defensive back Drew Wagnild.

7. Toronto - 8-3, Region 25 quarterfinalist
The Red Knights three losses last year were to playoff teams, including a first round exit at the hands of eventual state champion Warren JFK. Junior quarterback Nathan Karaffa (Ohio State baseball commit), senior receiver Jake Keenan and senior defensive lineman Luke Fogle headline a list of talented returners.

8. McComb - 12-2, D-VII state semifinalist, Region 26 champion
The Panthers are coming off their 15th postseason berth in 18 years. Senior defensive back Cam Morris (six interceptions) is a good one. Junior defensive lineman Kheaghan Loe was first team All-Blanchard Valley Conference last season.

9. Crestview (Convoy) - 9-4, Region 26 finalist
The Knights will ride talented junior quarterback Drew Kline who threw for 1,681 yards (and 16 touchdowns) and ran for 1,631 yards (and 29 touchdowns) a year ago.

10. Leipsic - 7-4, Region 26 quarterfinalist
The Vikings made the playoffs for the eighth straight season last year. Expect that string to reach nine. Junior running back Gavin Lomeli was first team All-Blanchard Valley Conference last year after rushing for 968 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior receiver Cole Rieman (54 catches, 854 yards and five touchdowns) was also first team All-BVC. Other key returners include senior offensive lineman Corey Plassman and senior linebacker Brayden Niese.

TEAMS TO WATCH

* St. Paul (Norwalk) - 12-1, Region 25 finalist
The Flyers are looking for the program's 19th postseason berth and sixth straight. Key seniors include offensive lineman Zak Reed, defensive lineman Luke Nickoli and kicker Joey Catalano. Veteran head coach John Livengood has a record of 247-67 with 18 playoff appearances, seven regional titles and five state finals in 24 years.

* East (Sciotoville) - 10-1, Region 27 quarterfinalist
The Tartans are looking for their third straight playoff berth. Senior offensive lineman Blaine Scott is one of the state’s top prospects (30 offers) and has committed to the University of Mississippi. His other finalists were Michigan State, Duke and Rutgers. The defense will feature standout seniors Justin Kritzwiser (lineman) and Ethan Gifford (linebacker). 

* Bishop Rosecrans (Zanesville) - 7-4, Region 27 quarterfinalist
The Bishops reached the postseason after a three-year absence last year and are looking to earn the program’s 8th bid overall. Senior quarterback Jack Nash and senior defensive lineman Derek Kunkler headline their respective units.

* Miller (Corning) - 7-3
The Falcons are looking for the program’s first playoff berth since back-to-back postseason trips in 1999 and 2000. The return of a stellar senior class – including receiver Carson Starlin, running back Zach Waldrop, defensive lineman Jake McCune and linebacker Seattle Compston – has expectations high.

* Newbury - 6-4
The Black Knights have never been to the postseason, but that could change this year. Newbury returns a pair of Northeast Lakes District players of the year in quarterback Johnny Chambers and linebacker Alex Lampert. Both are seniors. Also back is senior defensive lineman Mike Weston.

* St. John (Ashtabula) - 0-10
The alma mater of Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has witnessed a revival of the football program (restarted again after a five year absence in 2014). This year the Heralds will feature junior running back Christian Blank and senior defensive lineman Ron Nejbauer.

KEEP AN EYE ON

Aquinas (Louisville)
Malvern
Fort Loramie
Arlington
Lucas
Trimble (Glouster)