Seven central Ohio high school football teams will take the field in Friday night’s regional finals. The Dispatch and its sister papers in the USA Today Network will be covering five of the squads.
Olentangy Liberty and Pickerington North meet in the Division I, Region 3 final at Historic Crew Stadium, so central Ohio is guaranteed at least one team in next Friday’s state semifinals. Dave Purpura will provide coverage of top-seeded Liberty versus seventh-seeded North.
Frank DiRenna will be in New Philadelphia, where top-seeded Watterson and second-seeded Steubenville face off for the Division III, Region 11 title in a battle of unbeatens. Watterson won the region last year on the way to a state runner-up finish.
Watch OHSAA football playoffs on NFHS Network
Thanks to the Canton Repository and Marion Star, we also will have coverage of the Division II, Region 7 final between top-seeded Big Walnut and third-seeded Massillon Washington at Arlin Field in Mansfield and the Division VI, Region 23 final between No. 1 Grandview Heights and No. 2 Galion Northmor at Westerville Central.
We’ll be watching social media for updates from the Division III, Region 12 final between fourth-seeded London and third-seeded Bellbrook at Springfield as well as the Danville-Beaver Eastern matchup of No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the Division VII, Region 27 final at Logan.
Who’s going to win Friday night? Follow along with the action all evening as this live blog grows.
Grandview gets on the scoreboard against Northmor
Quarterback Jack Clifford scores on a 2-yard sneak, pulling the Bobcats within 21-6 late in the second quarter.
Watterson scores on special teams
Now it’s the special teams’ turn to add to the lead as Cal Mangini scores on a 48-yard punt return, putting Watterson ahead 20-7 with 3:44 left in the first half. The Eagles miss the extra point.
Fourth-down gamble pays off for Pickerington North
North gets on the board 2:27 into the second quarter when Jarin Mock finds Preston Bowman in the back of the end zone on fourth-and-goal at the 6. That gets the Panthers within 14-7 against Olentangy Liberty. Bowman has six catches for 104 yards.
It’s halftime in Springfield
London leads Bellbrook 7-0 on Noah Sollars’ 1-yard TD run in the first quarter.
Grandview trails Northmor by three touchdowns
A.J. Bower throws his second TD pass, this one 15 yards to Jax Wenger, and Northmor leads Grandview 21-0.
Steubenville cuts deficit in half
Steubenville takes advantage of a Watterson turnover to cut its deficit in half as Aiden Davis connects with Jerimiah Hinton for a 12-yard touchdown with 8:07 left in the first half. The Eagles lead 14-7.
Jake Struck strikes again for Olentangy Liberty
Struck scores again on a direct snap, running in from 6 yards for a 14-0 lead with 20 seconds left in the first. He also made a big block earlier on the drive during a 49-yard catch-and-run from QB Andrew Leonard to Christian Moulton.
Danville has three-possession lead on Beaver Eastern
Watterson takes 14-0 lead into second quarter
It’s been an impressive opening quarter for Watterson. The Eagles and Steubenville traded punts late in the first.
Olentangy Liberty grabs lead against Pickerington North
After a defensive stop near midfield to start the game, Liberty needed only five plays to strike first against Pickerington North. Jake Struck took a short pass 62 yards for first-and-goal, outmanning two North defenders in the process, and two plays later Struck scored from 3 yards off a direct snap with 6:35 left in the first.
Northmor leads Grandview 14-0
Thomas Detwiler scores on a fumble return of about 65 yards and Bo Landin catches a 27-yard touchdown pass from A.J. Bower.
London grabs early lead
Defense delivers for Watterson
Watterson leads Steubenville 14-0 with 3:49 left in the first quarter after Tommy Haley scoops up a fumble and scores on a 23-yard return.
Watterson’s defense gets the stop
Steubenville drives into Watterson territory before losing the ball on downs. Watterson takes over with 4:45 left in the first quarter. (The Eagles then went three-and-out on their drive.)
Watterson strikes first against Steubenville
Watterson strikes quickly as Zack Weber breaks free for 68-yard touchdown. The Eagles lead 7-0 only 56 seconds and three plays into the game.
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