Pigskin Pick’Em: Week No. 15

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

And then there were two. Well, two state semifinal football games involving three area teams.

It’s Week No. 15 of the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s football playoffs and it means 28 teams are practicing on Thanksgiving. Somehow, I don’t think any of them are complaining. For two of the teams – Columbus Grove and Coldwater – Thanksgiving practices are a routine part of the schedule.

Last week I went 2-1, with the one loss being St. Henry’s. This week, just two games on on the slate then next week, I’ll make predictions for all seven state championship games, regardless of which teams are playing.

Games of the Week

Division VI

Hopewell-Loudon (12-1) vs. Coldwater (10-4)

I’m just going to say this and get it out of the way – Coldwater has played a much more challenging schedule. That’s not meant as a knock on Hopewell-Loudon. The Chieftans have played and beaten some solid teams in the Sandusky Bay Conference this season. They attained a No. 4 ranking in the final Associated Press poll of the season and Hopewell-Loudon has rolled through the playoffs. But they haven’t tangled with the likes of MAC teams like Coldwater, Marion Local, St. Henry, Anna, etc. Both teams are battle tested but in my mind, the level of battles is vastly different. Plus, as the defending state champion, Coldwater has deep tournament run experience.

I don’t think this will be a blowout by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I think a touchdown or less will be the margin. I do believe Hopewell-Loudon could hang with Coldwater, but I’m not confident they’ll win the game. I’m going with the Cavaliers and I’ll add this – the winner will almost certainly face Kirtland in the state championship game.

The pick: Coldwater

Division VII

Columbus Grove (10-3) vs. St. Henry (12-1)

For the fourth consecutive year, Columbus Grove is in the state semifinals. That’s obviously a huge and very rare accomplishment. Kudos to all of the players and coaches who have made that happen. In each of those four years, the Bulldogs  have had to face a team from the MAC – Marion Local in 2022 and 2024, and Versailles in 2023. Unfortunately for Columbus Grove, the MAC went 3-0 in those games. Now, the Bulldogs have to face yet another MAC school, St. Henry.

Ohio Mr. Football finalists announced

VW independent sports/submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Ohio Prep Sports Media Association has announced the finalists for the 2025 Ohio Mr. Football Award. The winner will be announced at 5 p.m. next Thursday in Canton prior to the start of the OHSAA football state championships. The prestigious honor has been awarded since 1987.

The OPSMA district chairpersons and officers have selected the finalists. The voting process is nearly identical to that used to determine the Heisman Trophy winner in college football. The 220 registered OPSMA members each get one vote, with voting ending at noon on Monday, December 1.

Ohio’s Mr. Football was selected by the Associated Press from 1987-2016. Since 2017 it has been presented by the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association.

The OPSMA All-Ohio teams will begin being released on Monday, December 8.

2025 Ohio Mr. Football Finalists (finalists listed in alphabetical order)

Levi Davis, Olentangy Orange, 6-0, 187, sr. QB.

A dynamic dual threat weapon, Davis has been the chief catalyst for second-ranked Orange’s winningest season in history (13-0). Entering a state semifinal, Davis had completed 134 of 198 passes (67.7 percent) for 2,016 yards with 15 TDs and 7 interceptions and had rushed for 935 yards on 126 carries (7.4 average) with 15 TDs. A four-year starter and Ohio University football commit, Davis has passed for 7,006 yards and 51 TDs while rushing for 2,631 yards and 37 TDs in his career. Davis made second-team All-Ohio in 2024. Davis also was starting point guard for the state championship basketball team last March (and for the regional runner-up in 2023 and 2024) and in track last spring was regional champion in the long jump (23 feet, 1 1/4 inches) and runner-up in the high jump (6-6), earning All-Ohio in the latter.

Brayden DeVito, Shelby, 5-11, 175, sr., QB

United States Air Force Academy commit led the Whippets to back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and the No. 1 ranking in the final Associated Press poll in 2025. In 12 games, DeVito entered the regional championship on Nov. 21 with 2,783 yards and 35 touchdowns to just three interceptions on 165-of-221 pass attempts (75 percent completion rate). He had also run 106 times for 1,009 yards and 24 TDs on the ground. DeVito had 54 total TDs in just 31 quarters of action. Shelby also entered the regional final having scored 30-plus points in 12 straight games, the longest active streak in Ohio. For his career, entering Week 14, DeVito is 700-of-1,060 passing (66 percent) for 12,440 yards (unofficially No. 4 in OHSAA history) with 120 TDs (13th in OHSAA history) and has rushed 516 times for 4,294 yards and 71 TDs with a career total of 196 TDs. As a sophomore, he faced Van Wert in the Division IV Region 14 quarterfinals and led the Whippets to a 71-41 victory. On track to become a three-time All-Ohio first team selection, DeVito was also All-Ohio first team in basketball and was a state placer in track as the first three-sport all-state player in school history.

Girls hoops: Ottoville downs Lincolnview

VW independent sports

Lincolnview and Ottoville were nearly even at halftime, but the Big Green used a big second half to pull away and win 53-30 Tuesday night.

The game was tied 10-10 after one quarter, with Kassidy Hammons and Destiny Breese each hitting a trey and converting two foul shots. Kendall Schnipke accounted for seven of Ottoville’s 10 second quarter points and the Big Green carried a 20-18 lead into halftime. Brooklyn Koester scored seven points in the third period and Ottoville led 35-27 entering the fourth quarter. In the final period, the Big Green enjoyed an 18-3 scoring advantage, with Koester and Schnipke accounting for all of Ottoville’s points.

Koester led all scorers with 19 points and Koester added 17. Destiny Breese and Keira Breese had nine points for Lincolnview.

Ottoville (3-0) will travel to Fort Jennings on Tuesday, while Lincolnview (1-1) will host Paulding the same night.

Random Thoughts: NIL, streaks, more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

This week’s installment of Random Thoughts centers around high school NIL, a classy gesture, streaks, a likely third rematch, Black Friday football and a big difference.

NIL

No big surprise here – OHSAA member schools have approved the NIL referendum, but the totals were a bit unusual. 447 schools voted yes, 121 schools voted no and 247 schools abstained. I’m not sure why anyone would abstain – it’s a simple yes or no.

The choices were pretty simple as well – approve it or have a court do it. At least this way, the OHSAA can set its own rules and guidelines.

I doubt it’ll have much of an impact in this area, but it could down the line if any area teams meet an NIL team long down a tournament trail.

Classy

Marion Local’s long winning streak was going to end at some point. As we all know, the end came with Friday’s 24-7 regional championship loss to fellow MAC member St. Henry.

I was impressed with both teams as the game ended. Marion Local, knowing it was over, took a knee to run off the final seconds. The two teams then immediately began to congralute each other, even before forming the handshake line. There was no excessive celebration by St. Henry, even though they had reason to, and Marion Local showed zero signs of anomosity.

To both teams – well done.

Streak I

Despite the loss, Marion Local still owns Ohio’s current regular season winning streak, 58 games. Liberty Center is second with 45 consecutive winning seasons. Wapakoneta has Ohio’s fifth longest current regular season winning streak, 28 games.

Cougar volleyball awards…

Van Wert High School’s annual volleyball banquet was held recently, with members of the team lauded for accomplishments on the court and in the classroom. Among the awards that were passed out: Most Kills, Bella Wise (85); Most Assists, Brissia Ickes (203); Most Digs, Maria Parrish (142); Most Aces, Brissia Ickes (43); Most Blocks, Flannery Foster (14 solo, 20 assists, 34 total), and the Cougar Leader, Leah Krites. Parrish was named honorable mention All-WBL and Ickes broke the school record for aces in a match with 11 vs. Bath. The previous record of nine was set in 1997 by Joy Keipper. Varsity awards and scholar-athlete awards were presented as well. Photos submitted

OHSAA member schools approve NIL

VW independent sports/submitted information

COLUMBUS  — Member schools of the Ohio High School Athletic Association have voted in favor of an emergency bylaw referendum on Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), making Ohio the 45th state to allow NIL at the high school level.

The voting period ended Friday afternoon, November 21, and a sizable number of schools chose not to vote. Final results show 447 schools in favor of the referendum and 121 schools voted against it, while 247 schools abstained from voting. 

The new bylaw goes into effect immediately, meaning that OHSAA student-athletes can now enter into agreements and be compensated for their name, image and likeness through appearances, licensing, social media, endorsements and/or the use of branding based on their public recognition or notoriety. The bylaw also establishes reporting procedures and limitations so that students do not jeopardize their eligibility as it relates to the OHSAA’s recruiting and amateur bylaws. 

The emergency referendum vote was in response to a Franklin County judge’s temporary restraining order due to a lawsuit filed by a student-athlete on October 15. With the passage of this emergency referendum issue, the OHSAA Office will continue to keep the membership informed on the pending legal case.

The OHSAA believes that the adoption of this new bylaw will help ensure a stable and secure framework for NIL and Personal Branding Rights at the high school level in Ohio moving forward.

“We would like to thank our member schools for taking ownership of this NIL bylaw proposal,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. “Whether our schools or individuals agree with NIL at the high school level or not, the courts have spoken on this issue across the country that the NCAA and high school athletic associations cannot prevent a student-athlete from making money on their NIL.” 

Over the last year and a half, the OHSAA developed the NIL bylaw proposal in consultation with an NIL committee comprised of school administrators, the OHSAA board of directors, which is elected by the member schools, and from member school feedback at regional update meetings.

OHSAA member schools were updated on the potential for an NIL emergency vote during the regional update meetings around Ohio in August and September, and the final version of the language was approved by the Board of Directors on September 26. Since the lawsuit expedited the vote, the OHSAA sent information to schools on the referendum proposal and conducted two information webinars in coordination with Influential Athlete.

OHSAA announces state semifinal sites

VW independent sports/submitted information

COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced the pairings and host sites for the football state semifinals on Friday, November 28. All games kick off at 7 p.m. The state championship games will be hosted at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton December 4-6.

The regional playoffs followed bracket format before the OHSAA conducted rebracketing for the state semifinals, which are based on the geography of the schools involved. A team’s regional seed, state rank and won-lost record do not factor into the state semifinal bracket pairings.

OHSAA Football State Semifinal Playoff Pairings

Designated home team listed first. Winner of first game listed in pairings will be designated home team in state championship game.

Division I

Middletown (11-2) vs. Cincinnati St. Xavier (10-2) at Dayton Welcome Stadium

Lakewood St. Edward (11-2) vs. Lewis Center Olentangy Orange (13-0) at Mansfield Arlin Field

State Championship: Friday, December 5, 7:30 p.m.

Division II

Avon (12-1) vs. Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (11-1) at University of Akron InfoCision Stadium

Cincinnati Anderson (13-0) vs. Sunbury Big Walnut (12-1) at Historic Crew Stadium, Columbus

State Championship: Thursday, December 4, 7 p.m.

Attn winter sports coaches: info needed

VW independent sports

All local 2025-2026 winter sports coaches are reminded that, after each game or event, win or lose, to send scores, scorebook pages, statistics and any other relevant information to sports@thevwindependent.com. Screenshots of the information are also accepted at 419.681.2130.

Sending the information, or having an assistant coach, team manager or other team representative send it helps the VW independent provide the best possible coverage of your winter sports athletes on our Sports page.

Weekend roundup: hoops, bowling

VW independent sports

Girls basketball

Lincolnview 45 Continental 8

In Saturday’s season opener, Lincolnview raced out to a 19-0 first quarter lead and never looked back on the way to a 45-8 victory over Continental.

Keira Breese had the hot hand for the Lancers, scoring 12 of her 17 points in the first quarter. Breese, a senior guard, hit two treys, a pair of conventional two point baskets and two foul shots. Quinlyn Walker chipped in with five points and Annebel Horstman added a bucket. Hortsman tossed in two baskets in the second period, while Breese, Walker, Kassidy Hammons and Destiny Breese each hit a triple to help Lincolnview to a 35-3 halftime lead.

Hortsman finished with 11 points and Walker added eight.

Lincolnview will host Ottoville on Tuesday.

Ottoville 32 Crestview 30

CONVOY — In a defensive minded game, Ottoville edged Crestview 32-30 in the season opener for the Knights on Saturday. It went down to the wire, as Ottoville’s Brooklyn Koester hit two foul shots with 2.8 seconds left, and it was Ottoville’s second win in as many nights.

The game was deadlocked 9-9 after the first quarter, with Peyton Hoffman hitting a pair of treys for the Knights, but Crestview took a 17-14 lead into halftime, with Kaci Gregory contributing six points, including four free throws. The game was tied 25-25 entering the final period.

Gregory finished with 11 points and Hoffman added nine. Koester led all scorers with 14 points,

Crestview (0-1) will return to action December 2 at Upper Scioto Valley. 

Bowling

Lincolnview, New Bremen split

NEW BREMEN — At Speedway Lanes, Gwen Goins rolled a 149-220-369 series to lead Lincolnview past New Bremen 2401-2340 on Saturday. Abby Dannenfelser had a 171-157-328 series, followed by Aubrey Ricker (152-173-325), Hadley Goins (147-149-296) and Riley Brown (157-109-266). Summer Keunning led New Bremen with a 178-173-351 series.

On the boys’ side, Lincolnview’s Pacey Early bowled a 234-191-425 series but the Lancers fell to the Cardinals 2828-2608. Grayden Clay had a 158-183-341 series, followed by Owen Dannenfelser (180-151-331), Logan Block (155-173-328) and Zach Newell (155-143-298). New Bremen was led by Vinny Goins (223-198-421). 

Down to the wire…

Kaci Gregory (3) finds a path to the basket during Saturday’s season opener against Ottoville. The game was tight throughout but Ottoville was able to emerge with a 32-30 victory. The Big Green will travel to Lincolnview Tuesday night. Crestview is off until December 2, when the Lady Knights travel to Upper Scioto Valley. Wyatt Richardson/Van Wert independent