The high school football season in Ohio kicks off next week with 359 games scheduled Aug. 18-20. After going 15-1 and winning the
Division I state championship last season,
St. Edward (Lakewood) debuts at No. 1 in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25.
The Eagles' state title was the third under head coach Tom Lombardo (76-14 record in seven years at St. Edward) and fifth overall (all since 2010). St. Edward, which finished No. 25 in the final national MaxPreps Top 25 last year, opens at
No. 24 in this year’s preseason poll.
Senior linebacker
Wyatt Gedeon (6-1, 225, Coastal Carolina commit) and senior defensive lineman
Michael Kilbane (6-4, 240, Northwestern) anchor the Eagles defense. The offense will build around a trio of juniors – linemen
Devontae Armstrong (6-5, 270) and
Ben Roebuck (6-7, 320) and athlete
Kyan Mason (5-10, 160).
Springfield, which lost 23-13 in the Division I final to St. Edward last year, opens at No. 2 in Ohio and
No. 49 nationally. The Wildcats return one of the state’s top 10 overall prospects in senior receiver
Anthony Brown (5-10, 170, Kentucky). The offense will also be bolstered by senior quarterback
Bryce Schondelmyer (6-2, 190). A transfer from Arcanum, Schondlemeyer accounted for 4,059 yards and 57 total touchdowns last year en route to earning OPSWA Division VI State Offensive Player of the Year honors. Senior defensive back
Jaivian Norman (5-10, 184, Eastern Michigan) is the team’s top returning tackler (95 tackles and 10 sacks).
Coming off its second winning season and first double-digit win campaign since 2014,
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) is positioned to challenge for the program’s 10th state title. The Crusaders are ranked No. 65 in the
MaxPreps Top 100. Running back
Jordan Marshall (5-10, 195) ranks among the state’s top 5 junior prospects and holds 24 offers (including Ohio State, Michigan and Wisconsin). He rushed for 1,155 yards and 15 touchdowns a year ago. Senior receiver
Tennel Bryant (5-10, 162) returns after catching 71 passes for 896 yards and 15 TDs. Senior linebacker
Joe Ginnetti (6-2, 225) has committed to Air Force.
After snapping
Colerain’s 20-year hold on the Greater Miami Conference in 2020,
Lakota West (West Chester), ranked No. 81 in the
MaxPreps Top 100, is looking to claim its third straight league title. The Firebirds graduated five All-Ohio players but return nine athletes that earned All-GMC honors. Senior defensive backs
Malik Hartford (6-2, 175, Ohio State),
Ben Minich (5-11, 185, Notre Dame) and
Josh Fussell (6-0, 180, Northwestern) rank among the state’s top 30 overall recruits.
Defending
Division II state champion Winton Woods (Cincinnati) – led by senior defensive backs
Cameron Calhoun (6-2, 175, Cincinnati) and
Jermaine Mathews (6-0, 175, Ohio State) – is the final Ohio team (No. 92) to crack the MaxPreps Top 100. Senior running back
Trey Cornist (5-11, 209) is headed to Georgia Tech.
Pickerington Central,
Archbishop Hoban (Akron) and
St. Ignatius (Cleveland) in coach Chuck Kyle’s 51st and final season will play large parts in deciding big school state titles.
Ohio's top two senior prospects are
Findlay offensive lineman
Luke Montgomery (6-5, 280, Ohio State) and
Mentor defensive lineman Brenan Vernon (6-5, 275, Notre Dame).
The OHSAA state finals will be held Dec. 1-3 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Read on for a complete look at Ohio’s preseason top 25 for 2022.
St. Edward outdueled Springfield 23-13 in last year's OHSAA Division I final.
Photo by Jeff Harwell
2.
Springfield, 13-2
3.
Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), 11-4
4.
Lakota West (West Chester), 11-2
5.
Winton Woods (Cincinnati), 13-3
6.
Pickerington Central, 12-2
7.
Archbishop Hoban (Akron), 12-4
8.
St. Ignatius (Cleveland), 8-5
9.
Lakota East (Liberty Township), 7-4
12.
Wayne (Huber Heights), 8-3
13.
Avon, 12-3
14.
Kings (Kings Mill), 11-1
15.
Central Catholic (Toledo), 11-3
16.
Princeton (Cincinnati), 11-2
17.
Washington (Massillon), 11-3
18.
Lincoln (Gahanna), 7-3
19.
Mentor, 5-6
20.
La Salle (Cincinnati), 7-6
21.
Olmsted Falls, 10-3
22.
Chardon, 16-0
23.
Glenville (Cleveland), 9-4
24.
New Albany, 12-1
25.
Upper Arlington (Columbus), 14-1
