2016 Ohio high school football Division VII Region 27 preview

Video: 2015 season - Blake Johnson
See highlights of the Racine Southern quarterback in action


Players To Watch

* Akia Brown, Senior RB, Sciotoville East
The three-time 1,000-yard rusher had 20 total touchdowns last year.

* Blaine Scott, Junior OL, Sciotoville East
Scott holds 16 scholarship offers.

* Blake Johnson, Senior QB, Racine Southern
He ran for 1,601 yards and 16 scores last season.

* Nathan Sandusky, Senior LB, Millersport
He has 191 career tackles.

* Johnny Sheets, Senior RB, South Gallia
674 yards rushing (10 touchdowns) and 28 tackles (12 for loss) last season.

* Donnie Meadows, Senior DL, Shadyside
The two-way standout was all-Ohio last year after making 62 tackles.

* Emilio Saldana, Senior LB, Bridgeport
 Saldana had 58 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks last year.
Team To Beat

* East (Sciotoville) - 6-5, Region 25 quarterfinalist
The Tartans will feature a loaded offense that returns every player that contributed to last season’s 3,401 total yards and 284 points. The headliner is senior running back Akia Brown (5-foot-10, 165 pounds), who is looking for his fourth-straight 1,000-yard rushing season after running for 1,324 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. Opening holes will be junior lineman Blaine Scott (6-5, 300), who is quickly becoming one of the country’s top prospects with 16 scholarship offers including Vanderbilt, Purdue, Rutgers, Kentucky, Indiana, Cincinnati, North Carolina State and Syracuse. Senior quarterback Drew Lowe (6-2, 210 with 947 yards passing, eight touchdowns) returns as does the entire receiving corps, led by junior JD Hatcher (6-2, 185 with 16 receptions, 398 yards and four scores), senior DeShaun Martin (5-9, 180 with 17 catches for 193 yards, two touchdowns) and senior Zane Scott (5-11, 190 with nine catches, 140 yards and two touchdowns). Scott also carried the ball 40 times for 431 yards and four scores last season, while Martin had 36 carries for 240 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, the Tartans return their top nine tacklers, led by junior linebacker Ethan Carver (5-10, 195 with 93 tackles). Other key returners include Brown (68 tackles, four interceptions), Scott (57 tackles, 12 for loss) and Martin (47 tackles) at linebacker, defensive line and defensive back, respectively. Junior linebacker Ethan Gifford (6-0, 210) had 61 tackles and a team-leading six sacks last year. He doubles as the kicker.

Teams To Watch

* Belpre - 8-3, Region 21 quarterfinalist
The Eagles are coming off their fourth playoff berth since 1988 and have gone 8-3 each of the past two seasons. Senior wide receiver/defensive back DeJon Bedgood (6-1, 160) was all-TVC Hocking Division.

* Caldwell - 11-2, Region 25 finalist
The Redskins have won 22 games the last two years but will have some voids to fill offensively. The defense is led by senior linebacker Sheldon Archer (6-0, 200; 129 tackles) and senior defensive back Jason Allen (5-7, 145 with four interceptions). Allen doubles as a standout punter.

* Miller (Corning) - 6-4
The Falcons went from 1-9 in 2014 to 6-4 last year. Expectations linger with the return of all-TVC Hocking Division juniors offensive lineman/linebacker Seattle Compston and wide receiver/defensive back Carson Starlin.

* Danville - 13-1, Region 25 champion, state semifinalist
The Blue Devils made the playoffs for the fifth-straight season and advanced to the state semifinals. Gone from that squad are seven first team all-Central District performers, including record-setting quarterback Ridge Durbin.
 
* Trimble (Glouster) - 9-3, Region 25 semifinalist
The Tomcats and head coach Phil Faires (171-70 in 22 years) are 36-5 the last three years and were state runners-up in 2013. The program is looking to make a push for its seventh-straight postseason berth and 13th overall. Senior wide receiver Kamron Curry (5-11, 170) will look to contribute heavily. Trimble must replace six first team all-TVC performers, including two-time Offensive POY Justice Jenkins.

* Harvest Prep (Canal Winchester) - 9-3, Region 25 semifinalist
The Warriors hosted and won the program’s first playoff game last year. Coming off back-to-back MSL titles, momentum is at an all-time high. Key returners include senior offensive lineman Quinton Woodson-Levey (5-11, 240), junior running back Daniel Bangura (5-9, 170), junior defensive lineman Isaiah Mullens (6-6, 230) and senior defensive back/wide receiver Nijal Jackson (5-9, 170).

* Fisher Catholic (Lancaster) - 6-4
The Irish, former state runners-up (1998), are coming off their first winning season since capping four straight playoff berths in 2006. Senior linebacker Allen McCall (6-1, 175) is a good one.

* Frontier (New Matamoras) - 3-7
The Cougars return a solid and sturdy senior trio in lineman Caleb McLeish (6-2, 260), lineman Wyatt Smitley (6-1, 250) and linebacker Calvin Valentine (6-1, 240).

* Notre Dame (Portsmouth) - 4-6
The Titans defense will revolve around senior standout linebacker Aaron Bazler (6-2, 170). The offense returns two good ones in senior quarterback Isiah Johnson (6-2, 180) and senior running back Sam Kayser (5-10, 155).

* Southern (Racine) - 4-6
Two years removed from the program’s first playoff berth (2013), the Tornadoes have gone 4-6 back-to-back years. Key returning seniors are all-TVC Hocking Division selections quarterback Blake Johnson (1,601 yards rushing, 16 touchdowns) and defensive end/tight end Crenson Rogers. Also back is junior athlete Dylan Smith (316 receiving yards, 234 yards rushing, seven total touchdowns).

* Shadyside - 4-7, Region 25 quarterfinalist)
The Tigers extended their playoff string to 11 straight years despite winning just four games. Shadyside started 1-6 before winning three straight to close the regular season and earn a sixth seed at 4-6. Key returners include senior lineman Donnie Meadows (6-2, 251), junior offensive lineman Dylan Hanson (5-9, 185) and senior defensive back Gregory Quinn (5-7, 140).

* Symmes Valley (Willow Wood) - 6-4
The Vikings have been to the playoffs five times in the last seven years and just missed out last season (ninth in the final computer points). The defense lost several key standouts.

* Waterford - 5-5
After back-to-back 2-8 seasons, the Wildcats finished .500. The future looks bright with the return of two key seniors – quarterback/defensive back Isaac Huffman (5-10, 160) and running back Tyler McCutcheon. Both are two-time first team all-TVC Hocking Division selections. Also back are two more all-TVC performers in senior linebacker Ty Mcgraw and junior NG Teddy Smith. 

Keep An Eye On

* Bridgeport - 4-6
After three straight playoff appearances (2008-10), the Bulldogs went 8-25 in their next 32 games. They’re since 10-7. Senior linebacker Emilio Saldana (6-2, 178 with 58 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and seven sacks) is a good one. Offensively, sophomore quarterback Tino Kusic (5-10, 160) returns for his second season as a starter.

* Buckeye Trail (Lore City) - 3-7
Junior running back Austin Snodgrass (5-8, 160) and senior running back/defensive back Troy Pontius will contribute heavily.

* Millersport - 5-5
After losing 48 straight games, the Lakers are 12-8 the last two seasons. Senior linebacker Nathan Sandusky (5-11, 180) has 191 career tackles. Sophomore quarterback Sebastien Bateman (6-1, 180) returns after throwing for 766 yards and 11 touchdowns. Defensively, junior lineman Isaac Butts (6-0, 240 with 47 tackles) and sophomore defensive back Dylan Sandusky (5-10, 150 with 46 tackles) add experience.

* Eastern (Reedsville) - 5-5
The Eagles return one of the region’s top quarterbacks in all-TVC Hocking Division senior Jett Facemyer.

* Shenandoah (Sarahsville) - 4-6
After going 1-9 in 2014, the Zeps came within a game of .500 last year. Key returners include senior quarterback Dalton Cowgill (6-1, 175) and junior running back Nick Miller (6-1, 185).

* South Gallia (Crown City) - 6-5, Region 25 quarterfinalist
Coming off the fourth playoff berth in program history, the Rebels suffered some key losses to graduation. One key returner is senior running back/linebacker Johnny Sheets (6-1, 240), who ran for 674 yards and 10 touchdowns and had 28 tackles, including 12 for loss, last season.

* Bishop Rosecrans (Zanesville) - 3-7
The Bishops are 5-25 the last three years. Senior running back Travis Johnston (5-10, 180) is one of the region’s best.

Also In This Region

St. John Central (Bellaire) 2-8
Federal Hocking (Stewart) 0-10
Grove City Christian 0-10
Green (Franklin Furnace) 1-8
Fairfield Christian Academy (Lancaster) 3-7
Africentric Early College (Columbus) 2-8