2018 Ohio HS Football Preview: Division II

Click the following link to access 2018 Ohio High School Football Schedules and Scores.

Archbishop Hoban (Akron) enters this season as the overwhelming favorite to repeat as state champion in Division II. The Knights are looking for their fourth straight state title overall. The big question? Who can stop them?

* Can anyone dethrone Hoban?
The Knights might be the best team in Ohio – period. They are impressive. Stocked with a load of Division I talent (check out the player lists below), Hoban debuts at No. 32 nationally in the MaxPreps Preseason Top 100. They could be Top 10 before the season is over. Other teams looking to make deep runs in Region 5 include Hudson, Bedford, Boardman (Youngstown), Walsh Jesuit (Cuyahoga Falls) and Benedictine (Cleveland).

* La Salle (Cincinnati) ready for another run?
The Lancers were denied their fourth straight state title last year with a 16-14 regional final loss to Winton Woods (Cincinnati). Eight All-Greater Catholic League South Division players return. If anyone is going to unseat the Knights, the Lancers appear to be that team. Those expected to push LaSalle for the Region 8 title are Anderson (Cincinnati), Winton Woods and Troy. Keep an eye on regional newcomer Big Walnut (Sunbury).

* Will Washington (Massillon) win that elusive state title?
Until the Tigers win a state championship in the tournament-era this will always be a discussion. One of the country’s most notable prep programs, Massillon owns nine national titles and 24 state titles (all before 1972). The Tigers reached the state semifinals last year. The talent is there for this to be the roster that breaks through. The offense is scary. Perry (Massillon), a D-II state finalist in 2015 and 2016, returns to Region 7 after a one-year stay in D-I and is expected to vie for the regional title as well.

* Who is going to survive Central Ohio?
Whitehall-Yearling made the program’s first back-to-back playoff appearances since 1984-85 last year and expects to become the first squad in school history to reach the postseason (Region 7) three years in a row. New Albany is looking for its 10th playoff berth (all since 2004) after reaching the regional final last season. Northland (Columbus) appears to be the class of a talented Columbus City League. Sleepers? Logan and Canal Winchester.

* How will Central Catholic (Toledo) adjust to D-II? 
The Irish, who won a D-III state title in 2014, finished runner-up in 2015 and were state semifinalists the last two years, bump up to D-II thanks to Competitive Balance. They – and Avon – are the Region 6 favorites. A Week 1 meeting with D-III power Bishop Hartley (Columbus) awaits. A Week 7 meeting with D-I monster Whitmer (Toledo) looms late.

Predictions
Who we think makes the Elite Eight and few more programs that might make the trip instead.

Hoban over Hudson

Toledo Central Catholic over Avon

Massillon Washington over Whitehall-Yearling

LaSalle over Winton Woods

Akron Hoban

* LaSalle at Colerain (Cincinnati), Aug. 24
St. Xavier and Colerain have created a tremendous rivalry. The Lancers and Cardinals are working on doing the same. LaSalle won last year’s meeting 7-3.

* Hoban at St. Ignatius (Cleveland), Aug. 25
Potential Week 1 meeting of Ohio’s eventual big school (I and II) state champions.

* Northland at Whitehall-Yearling, Aug. 31
Big Week 2 meeting between Central Ohio teams who plan to make extended postseason runs. Will set the tone early in the state capital.

* Hoban at Wayne (Huber Heights), Sept. 7
The Knights travel south to the Gem City to tangle with the Warriors. Wayne is two-years removed from back-to-back D-I state finals appearances.

* McKinley (Canton) at Massillon Washington, Oct. 27
This will be the 129th meeting between the schools in what is considered by many to be the country’s top prep football rivalry. Massillon won last year’s meeting 16-15 to take a 70-53-5 series lead. The Tigers have won six of the last seven. The school’s first played in 1894.