Four area teams are preparing for Week 12 in the OHSAA football playoffs. Only Colonel Crawford, Mohawk, Seneca East and Northmor remain in the regional quarterfinal round.

It was a tough week for other north central Ohio schools as Crestline and Galion both fell in opening round games. Upper Sandusky and a trio of Marion County squads were eliminated as Elgin, River Valley, and Pleasant all lost road games.

Division VI, Region 23

No. 10 Centerburg (8-3) at No. 2 Northmor (11-0)

It was all Golden Knights last week with a 42-0 whitewash of Caldwell. Northmor had 183 yards passing and another 208 rushing.

All-Ohio quarterback A.J. Bower hit on 11-of-12 pass attempts and three scores.

Jax Wenger caught two touchdowns and Bo Landin one as the Golden Knights have a talented and deep arsenal under veteran head coach Scott Armrose.

“It’s hard to stop everybody,” Bower said Friday night. “We had one of our receivers out and they double-teamed one of the kids. But as soon as we got him back, no one else can double team us because you can’t double-team everybody.”

Bower also has converted on 54-of-58 PAT kicks, including all six last week.

The defense held the Redskins to 76 total yards, anchored by end Cameron Goldbach. The senior had 5 solo tackles, with 4.5 being tackles for loss, and one sack.

Ashton Clark had 8 tackles, and a pair of passes deflected on one drive. Junior linebacker Garrett Deisch blocked a punt to set up a Northmor touchdown.

In its 34-12 win over Eastern, Miles Marshall led Centerburg with 108 yards in 22 carries. Blane Ball added 15 carries for 103 stripes and Chris Marshall eight for 80.

Ball was 11-of-19 in the air for 124 yards, Trevis Harris caught five for 52 yards, and Jackson Ballinger added two for 48.

In the regular season Ball ranked second behind Bower in passing with 1,561 yards and 19 TDS, with just five picks.

On the ground Marshall toted the pigskin 120 times for 1,079 yards (9.0 average) and scored 15 touchdowns.

Ballinger had 4.5 sacks for the Trojans defense.

Northmor won the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference regular season meeting at Centerburg in week four, 34-26.

The Trojans other losses were to powerhouses Division IV Ontario (10-1) and KMAC rival Danville (9-2).

NEXT: The winner plays either West Lafayette Ridgewood or Newcomerstown.

Division VI, Region 23

No. 9 Colonel Crawford (9-2) at No. 1 Grandview Heights (10-0)

The Eagles went on a three-hour bus ride and came home with a thrilling 37-36 victory over Monroe Central. Crawford trailed by two scores but rallied in the fourth quarter, scored, and went for two and won to advance.

Crawford had a fourth-and-three from the Seminoles seven-yard line when Dominic Dean picked up four yards. Two plays later, Brayden Holt hit sophomore Roen Thew for a six-yard TD to make it 36-35.

Head coach Jake Bruner had the Eagles go for two — and a Holt-to-Dean conversion gave the visitors the win.

Their reward? A trip to Columbus to take on top-seed Grandview Heights.

The Eagles sealed the game with an interception with under a minute to play.

Workhorse running back Connor McMichael opened the scoring with a 64-yard touchdown run. The junior has 1,454 rushing yards and 23 TDs, tops in the Northern 10 Athletic Conference.

Quarterbacks Holt and Peyton Baker have combined to pass for over 1,725 yards and 16 touchdowns.

As a team, Colonel Crawford averages 412 yards per game, while giving up 190 yards.

Grandview Heights signal caller Jack Clifford threw three touchdown passes to beat Elgin, 41-6. He was 6-of-9 for 81 yards.

Running back Henry Ohlinger led the Bobcats with 46 rushing yards and 46 yards receiving on four catches.

Grandview Heights has only beaten one team with a winning record, that being Briggs (6-5). It defeated Northridge (5-6) in double overtime, 17-14, in Week 3.

NEXT: The winner takes on either Fort Frye or Waterford next week.

Division VI, Region 22

No. 9 Seneca East (7-4) at No. 1 Hopewell-Loudon (10-0)

The Tigers buried Western Reserve 56-20 last Friday night to earn the right to face the top-ranked Chieftains. H-L won 43-8 over Margaretta.

Head coach Brian Colatruglio’s squad has allowed just 15 points in the past six games, while putting up 228 points.

The Chieftains finished No. 3 in the final Division VI Associated Press state poll.

Seneca East, meanwhile, scored three touchdowns in the first quarter and led 30-0 at halftime. The Tigers totaled 481 yards (226 yards passing and 255 yards rushing).

Quarterback Nicholas Parks was 10-of-11 passing for 197 yards and 2 TDs and ran 12 times for 59 yards and another score.

Taylor Young caught eight passes for 144 yards and a TD, while Jackson Gayheart ran 14 times for 85 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Justin Reiter caught a 37-yard score and ran 38 yards for another.

Western ran 17 times for just 81 yards on the ground.

Seneca East was 4-of-5 on third downs, while Western was 1-of-8 on third downs and 1-of-3 on fourth downs.

Parks has thrown for 2,520 yards and 30 touchdowns. Young has snagged 12 touchdowns and 1,109 receiving yards.

Jackson Gayheart (101) tackles and Reiter (75) lead the Tigers defense. The duo has combined for 38 tackles for loss.

NEXT: The winner moves on to play either Patrick Henry or Carey.

Division VII, Region 26

No. 12 McComb (8-3) at No.4 Mohawk (9-2)

Head coach Eric Daniel said he challenged his team to run the ball — and they responded.

The Warriors ran for 279 yards on 29 carries to down Edgerton, 49-14.

Mohawk two-way threat Ben Bogner was 6-of-12 for 126 yards passing, but he also ran 16 times for 169 yards.

Bogner has thrown for 1,951 yards and 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions. On the ground he’s rushed for 1,118 yards and nine scores.

Kaden Bish added 117 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Kahne Hayman caught 3 passes for 74 yards. He has 905 yards and 10 TDs via the air.

Owen Patrizi, outside linebacker, led the Warriors with 122 total tackles (40 solo) and 15 tackles for loss during the regular season.

McComb topped Edon 28-14 in its first-round game. Mohawk’s defense forced five turnovers by the Bombers.

The Panthers’ losses have come at the hands of Liberty-Benton 31-6, Ada 35-20, and Leipsic 30-27.

NEXT: The winner faces either Lima Central Catholic or Columbus Grove.

Playoff information

  • Second-round games will be played on Friday at the better seeded team’s venue. Kickoff is 7 p.m. for all contests.
  • Neutral sites will be used beginning in the third round on Friday, Nov. 15, and the regional finals on Friday, Nov. 22. The state semifinals will be on Friday, Nov. 29, with the state championship games then hosted at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton Dec. 5-7. · Tickets for all playoff games will be available on Mondays at www.ohsaa.org/tickets.
  • Final OHSAA computer ratings available at https://ohsaaweb.blob.core.windows.net/files/Sports/Football/2024/20241026HarbinReport.pdf