SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
448 teams have qualified for the OHSAA football playoffs and two of them will meet for the first time ever in Wood County Friday night, as the fifth seeded Otsego Knights (7-3, 5-2 NWC) host the No. 12 seed Van Wert Cougars (5-5, 4-5 WBL) in a Division IV Region 14 opening round game.
It’s the 16th playoff appearance for the Knights and the ninth for the Cougars. Otsego enters the game on a three game winning streak, including a 62-0 victory over Fostoria in the regular season finale, while Van Wert snapped a four game losing streak with a 55-28 win over Kenton.
“I think our ability to run the ball and our ability to create turnovers were both huge factors in the game,” Van Wert head coach Keith Recker said of Friday’s win. “We have been inconsistent in both of those categories, so dominating both of those stats was a huge factor in the win. I appreciate the excitement our guys have shown in earning a spot back in the playoffs, as our seniors were freshmen the last time we went, and I know they are excited about the opportunity to compete against Otsego.”
The win over Kenton was necessary to qualify for the playoffs and most projections had the Cougars heading further east, perhaps to Oberlin Firelands or Medina Buckeye, but the team learned late Friday night it would instead make the shorter trek to the Bowling Green area.
“We had looked into every team that was in range so we would have an idea of what we would want to do with film exchange come Friday night and Saturday morning,” Recker explained. “We thought we’d finish somewhere in the 10-12 seed range, and with some upsets that happened in other games on Friday it pushed us to the 12 seed. To us, records and seeds don’t matter at this point, as it’s a one game season to get the chance for another one.”
To advance to the next game, Van Wert will have to at least slow Otsego’s old school flexbone triple option attack, which allows the Knights churn out nearly 343 yards per game on the ground.
“There aren’t even that many teams who are under center anymore,” Otsego head coach Craig Rutherford said. “We’re hoping it’s difficult for the other team to get a good look in practice. We don’t throw the ball often. But even though the defense knows we’re probably running, we think it’s hard for them to know who is going to get the ball. If the defense wants to take one of our backs away, we hope we have an answer.”
Quarterback Frank Grady leads the team in rushing (108 carries, 734 yards, 12 touchdowns), with fullback Zaden Ziviski right behind (145-718, 13 touchdowns). Dane Leiter has added 566 yards and four touchdowns on just 36 carries and Mason Kramer has 49 carries for 511 yards and seven touchdowns. Dane Fatzinger has just 29 carries but 377 yards and six touchdowns. Otsego has nine ballcarriers who average 10 yards or better per carry.
“We play as many guys as any team I have ever coached,” Rutherford said. “We will have three players start on both sides of the ball, but we are able to sub any of them out to keep them fresh. Similar to Van Wert, we have pretty good team speed. We aren’t big at many positions, but we have been able to get some big plays on offense.”
(more…)POSTED: 10/27/26 at 9:38 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
CONVOY — There’s no getting around it – the 2026 high school football season was a rough one for Crestview.
Playing against one of the toughest schedules in all of Division VI, the Knights finished 2-8 (2-5 NWC). Just how tough was the schedule? According to fantastic50.net, it was the sixth toughest in the state. Nine of Crestview’s 10 regular season opponents qualified for the playoffs. The eight losses came to teams with a combined record of 64-20. Four of the opponents – Minster, Bluffton, Columbus Grove and Lima Central Catholic were all ranked in the top 10 in their respective divisions.
Not to be lost in all of that – the Northwest Conference was one of the stronger small school conferences in the state this season. In addition, the Knights had to replace more than 90 percent of their offensive output from the 2025 season.
“We knew our schedule was going to be difficult coming into the season, especially with so many unknowns on the offensive side of the ball,” head coach Cole Harting said. “But I can’t say enough about the resiliency of our kids. They never stopped competing and continued to prepare each and every week with the expectation that we were going to win.”
While the offense tried to find its rhythm, three different players were called on to line up behind center – Cooper Miller, Calin Balliet and Cash Hammons. All three showed flashes. Balliet was the quarterback in Crestview’s wins over Spencerville and Delphos Jefferson and because of injuries, Hammons closed out the season at quarterback, completing 38-of-64 passes for 391 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions. Balliet completed 51-of-75 tosses for 376 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions. Miller completed 39-of-109 attempts for 575 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions. Miller and Hammons are juniors while Balliet is a freshman.
“Ideally you don’t want to have too much movement at such a vital position but that was the hand we were dealt this season,” Harting said. “Despite the struggles and injuries, we are in a better position moving forward than where we were coming into the season. All three quarterbacks gained a ton of experience and I hope they will continue to grow and push themselves as well as each other. There is so much potential and upside with those guys, it will be fun to see what they can do next fall.”
Whichever quarterback takes snaps next season, they’ll have reliable hands to throw to. The top two targets were a pair of freshman receivers – Beau Lichtensteiger (45 receptions, 500 yards, five touchdowns) and Harper Perrott (27-342). Lichtensteiger was named honorable mention All-NWC.
(more…)POSTED: 10/27/26 at 9:36 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
The Crestview Lady Knights celebrated after winning a nailbiter over rival Lincolnview in the Division VI volleyball district semifinals at Lima Sr. on Tuesday. The match went the full five sets with Crestview posting a 25-13, 25-29, 27-29, 18-25, 16-14 victory. Lincolnview’s season ended at 15-9, while Crestview improved to 15-9 and will face Tinora in the district championship match at 6 p.m. Thursday at Lima Sr. Wyatt Richardson/Van Wert independent
POSTED: 10/27/26 at 9:34 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
Submitted information
COLUMBUS — Week 10 of the 2026 high school football season is in the books.
Football players from all over Ohio put up some amazing performances in the tenth week of the season. Here, the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association compiles the best of the best with the OPSMA High School Football Notebook.
Let’s take a look.
Best of the Best
-Ottawa-Glandorf completed a turnaround rarely seen in Ohio football as the Titans went from 0-10 in 2025 to unbeaten at 10-0 in 2026 under first-year head coach Ben Kaufman. O-G beat Lima Shawnee 50-20 to close the regular season undefeated for the first time since 2012 and joined Circleville Logan Elm (2007-08) and St. Clairsville (2023-24) as the only teams since 1972 to go from 0-10 to 10-0 in consecutive seasons.
-Leipsic completed its first 10-0 regular season since 1981 with a 42-0 shutout of Toledo Waite on Friday. Marc Kirkendall threw for 183 yards and four touchdowns on 14-of-21 passing and rushed for 33 yards. Avery Paris caught five passes for 56 yards and two touchdowns, while Aaron Hazelton rushed for 68 yards and a score and added two receptions for 29 yards and another TD. Kirkendall broke two school passing records Friday night, setting new marks for touchdown passes in a season and career. Kirkendall finished the regular season with 32 touchdown passes, breaking the previous record of 29, while increasing his career total to 80, surpassing the previous mark of 77.
-Bellbrook finished 10-0 for the fourth time in program history after getting four total touchdowns and 180 yards rushing by Jack Kosins in a 35-0 win against Hamilton Ross.
-Owen Scalf from Anderson was a perfect 17-for-17 in the air for 372 yards and five touchdowns as Anderson beat Loveland 69-7.
-Already with an impressive resume of 55 straight regular season wins, Liberty Center capped off another unbeaten regular season in convincing fashion as the D-VI No. 1 Tigers routed D-V No. 3 Archbold 42-10 for a fifth straight Northwest Ohio Athletic League title. With a 50-50 raffle total of $5,000 adding to the hoopla, LC broke open a 21-10 halftime lead before Ethan Gray returned the third-quarter kickoff 97 yards for a score and after a turnover on downs, Garrison Kruse (24 rushes, 157 yards, two TDs) scored a 78-yard TD run.
-Carter Breedlove was unstoppable for Trenton Edgewood against Monroe. He ran 31 times for 413 yards and seven touchdowns, including runs of 55, 78 and 59. Brody O’Banion also ran for 151 yards and two TDs in the 62-35 win by the Cougars. All five Monroe TDs were scored by Prince Mabasa.
-Graham won its first Central Buckeye Conference title in 16 years with a 35-21 win over North Union thanks to 161 yards and two touchdowns rushing by Dnany Hoke and another 123 yards and a TD for Jakob Hoke.
-Woodmore won a league crown for the first time since 1997 with a championship in the Sandusky Bay Conference. The Wildcats were unbeaten in the regular season for the second time in program history, joining the team from 1995.
-Vandalia Butler’s Kash Jordan nearly single-handedly willed the Aviators past Fairborn 49-35. Jordan had three touchdowns on offense, three interceptions on defense, including the game-clincher, led all players in tackles, and had a kick return TD called back due to a penalty. Drew Suess passed for a career-high 530 yards and five TDs for the Aviators, with Lucas Miller (189 yards) and Landon Thompson (153 yards) having big nights. Fairborn’s Wesley Rohler made seven catches for 158 yards and two TDs.
-Springboro’s Brandon Birdsong ran 18 times for 213 yards and five touchdowns, four occurring in the third quarter, during a 50-17 win against Miamisburg.
-Waterford Senior Running Back Hayden Jones rushed for 193 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 65-6 Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division victory over Belpre. Quarterback Avery Pottmeyer completed nine of ten passes for 193 yards and three TDs as the Wildcats claimed the outright TVC Hocking title. The Golden Eagles’ 72-yard TD run in the second quarter was the only points the Wildcats (8-2) allowed in TVC Hocking Division action (294-6) this season, and ended a string of 18 consecutive scoreless quarters by the Waterford defense.
(more…)POSTED: 10/27/26 at 10:49 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
This week’s installment of Random Thoughts included a sneak peak at a startling stat, No. 5 seed vs. No. 12 seed history, predictions vs. reality and a season wrap up.
Landlocked
A Van Wert vs. Otsego game preview feature will appear on Wednesday’s Sports page but here’s an advance tidbit. The Knights have thrown the ball just 22 times all season. That’s it. But they’ve been incredibly efficient when they do pass. The ground game is the preferred method of ball advancement for Otsego. The Knights average over eight yards per carry and have scored 49 touchdowns on the ground this season. Check back Wednesday for more numbers.
No. 5 seed vs. No. 12 seed rewind
Otsego is the No. 5 seed in Division IV, Region 14, while Van Wert is the No. 12 seed. How have No. 5 seed vs. No. 12 seed matchups gone in previous seasons across the board, 28 regions in seven different divisions?
- 2025: No. 12 seed teams were 0-28 vs. No. 5 seeded teams
- 2024: No. 12 seed teams were 2-26 vs. No. 5 seeded teams
- 2023: No. 12 seed teams were 6-22 vs. No. 5 seeded teams
- 2022: No. 12 seed teams were 2-26 vs. No. 5 seeded teams
- 2021: No. 12 seed teams were 0-28 vs. No. 5 seeded teams
So No. 5 seeds are 130-10 vs. No. 12 seeds. Of course, there’s no guarantee it will happen again this year, but history isn’t exactly on the side of No. 12 seeds.
(more…)POSTED: 10/26/26 at 10:16 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Crestview defensive lineman Will Sheets has been named first team All-NWC in balloting done by conference coaches. The All-NWC team was released late Sunday night.
In addition, Sheets and teammate Kale Lichtensteiger, both seniors were named second team All-NWC offensive linemen. After catching 45 passes for 500 yards and five touchdowns, freshman wide receiver Beau Lichtensteiger was named honorable mention All-NWC. He was the only freshman to receive all-conference honors.
First team All-NWC honors largely went to Lima Central Catholic and Columbus Grove, although a pair of Bluffton players shared Co-Offensive Player of the Year honors: quarterback Tayte Giesige and running back Parker Lovell. Giesige completed 85-of-118 passes for 1,633 yards, 20 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions and rushed for 594 yards and seven touchdowns on just 65 carries. Lovell led all conference runners with 149 carries for 1,411 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Columbus Grove linebacker Brady Basinger was named NWC Defensive Player of the Year and Lima Central Catholic’s Colin Stolly was named NWC Coach of the Year. Stolly led the Thunderbirds to a 10-0 regular season, an outright NWC championship and a No. 2 ranking in the Associated Press poll.
First team
Offensive line – Mason Shank, senior, Bluffton
Offensive line – Dom McKee, senior, Lima Central Catholic
Offensive line – Jayden Williams, senior, Lima Central Catholic
Offensive line – Michael Thompson, junior, Columbus Grove
Offensive line – Lucas Warmbrod, senior, Columbus Grove
Tight end – Brady Basinger, senior, Columbus Grove
Receiver – Gavin Baxter, junior, Columbus Grove
Receiver – Tanner Eilerman, sophomore Fort Loramie
Receiver – Michael Quatman, senior, Lima Central Catholic
Running back – Parker Lovell, senior, Bluffton
Running back – Miles McDorman, senior, Allen East
Quarterback – Tayte Giesige, senior, Bluffton
Specialist – Brevan Stolly, senior, Lima Central Catholic
(more…)POSTED: 10/26/26 at 7:37 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports/submitted information
COLUMBUS — Following the conclusion of the football regular-season Saturday night, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced the final computer ratings, playoff qualifiers and regional first-round pairings on Sunday afternoon. Unless otherwise noted, all regional first-round games will be played on Friday, October 30, with kickoffs set for 7 p.m.
The top four seeds in each region receive a first-round bye. In the first round, the No. 5 seed will host the No. 12 seed, the No. 6 seed will host the No. 11 seed, the No. 7 seed will host the No. 10 seed, and the No. 8 seed will host the No. 9 seed.
The better seeded team will serve as the host through the first three rounds of the playoffs. The regional playoffs will follow bracket format. Rebracketing will occur for the state semifinals.
The Western Buckeye League has five teams in the playoffs – Van Wert, Ottawa-Glandorf, Celina, Wapakoneta and St. Marys Memorial. The No. 12 seed Cougars (5-5) will travel to Wood County to face No. 5 seed Otsego (7-3 Friday night.
The Northwest Conference has six teams in – Lima Central Catholic, Columbus Grove, Bluffton, Allen East, Fort Loramie and Delphos Jeffereson.
From the Green Meadows Conference, Paulding, Wayne Trace and Fairview are in and from the Midwest Athletic Conference, Marion Local, Minster, Coldwater, New Bremen, Fort Recovery, Versailles and St. Henry qualified for the postseason.
Seeds and pairings are listed below. Area teams are in bold.
Division I
Region 1
No. 1 Lakewood St. Edward (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9
No. 2 Austintown-Fitch (8-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10
No. 3 Mentor (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11
No. 4 Massillon Jackson (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 5 vs. No. 12
No. 12 Euclid (4-6) at No. 5 Hudson (7-3)
No. 11 Solon (5-5) at No. 6 Strongsville (7-3)
No. 10 Brunswick (6-4) at No. 7 Canton McKinley (7-3)
No. 9 Berea-Midpark (6-4) at No. 8 Cleveland St. Ignatius (5-5)
Region 2
No. 1 Toledo Whitmer (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 8 vs. No. 9
No. 2 Springfield (8-2), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 7 vs. No. 10
No. 3 Perrysburg (9-1), first-round bye, hosts winner of No. 6 vs. No. 11
(more…)POSTED: 10/25/26 at 2:25 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
COLUMBUS GROVE — What a day Saturday was for Van Wert County cross country runners and their teams.
Van Wert, Crestview and Lincolnview all competed at the district level and the three teams combined for two individual champions, three team championships, five regional qualifying teams and three other individuals who advanced on to regionals.
Division III
As a whole, Van Wert runners simply dominated on Saturday, as the Cougars brought home boys’ and girls’ Division III district championships.
Van Wert finished with 45 team points, a comfortable margin ahead of runner-up Elmwood (67 points). Bryan placed third (61) at the 10-team district.
The Cougars finished with five runners in the top 13. Freshman Oliver Scott led the way with a sixth place finish (16:20.4), while teammate Calvin Byrum placed seventh with a time of 16:29.9. Alex Bauer finished ninth overall (16:38.7), Harrison Sloan 10th (16:42.5), and Quintin Parrish rounded out the scoring for Van Wert (13th, 16:53.1).
“The consistent preparation by all 38 of our athletes propelled our eventual top boys and girls to race personal bests for 7 of our 14 athletes racing Saturday,” Van Wert head coach Bob Spath said. “I like our confidence and believe our boys can win their first regional championship since 1998 and if we stay healthy, we can have both teams advance onto state.”
Elmwood’s Henry Good was the individual champion (15:41.1), while Colton Sheline of Bryan was the runner-up (15:42.1). Elmwood and Bryan had the top five individual runners.
On the girls’ side, the Cougars had the runner-up in Noelle Byrum and Van Wert had five runners place in the top 15 to clinch a district championship.
Byrum recorded a time of 19:05, just behind champion Abby Alig of Coldwater (19:03.8). Symphony Schuerman finished fifth (19:41), followed by Jasleen Sharma (eighth, 20:10.2), Ruby Dicke (12th, 20:32.3), and Faith Stoller (15th, 20:51.3).
“The culture of working hard at practice and caring about each other throughout the season has lead to athletes holding each other accountable,” Spath said. “We are dedicated to giving each other our best effort during practices and at meets.”
Van Wert won the team title with 42 points, while Coldwater was the runner-up (58) at the 9-team district.
Division IV
The Crestview boys delivered a dominant performance, claiming a Division IV district championship and advancing to the regional meet as a team.
(more…)POSTED: 10/25/26 at 2:24 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
VW independent sports
Here are this week’s football broadcast schedules for 99.7FM WKSD and WERT 1220AM/104.3FM. Both stations will air high school playoff football games, along with Ohio State’s game against USC.
Friday, October 30
WKSD – Division VI Region 22 opening round: Paulding at Allen East, 6:30 p.m. pregame, 7 p.m. kickoff.
WERT – Division IV Region 14 opening round: Van Wert at Otsego, 6:30 p.m. pregame, 7 p.m. kickoff.
Saturday, October 31
WKSD and WERT – Ohio State at USC, 6 p.m. pregame, 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
POSTED: 10/25/26 at 2:23 pm. FILED UNDER: Sports
SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports
KENTON — Entering Friday night’s regular season finale, Van Wert needed a win over Kenton for a shot at a playoff spot in Division IV, Region 14. The Cougars, who had lost four straight, earned the much-needed victory in dominating fashion, 55-28 over the Wildcats.
The win clinched the 12th and final playoff spot in Region 14. The Cougars (5-5, 4-5 WBL) will head to Wood County to face No. 5 seed Otsego in the opening round on Friday.
Just how dominating was Van Wert on Friday night? The Cougars:
- Intercepted five Kenton passes and returned two of them for touchdowns.
- Sacked quarterback Xavier Gammon three times, twice by Zach Crummey and once by Maddox Workman.
- Forced Kenton into two 4th and 40 situations
- Had 26 first downs, compared to 18 by Kenton
- Outrushed the Wildcats 327-133.
“Our efficiency the first half was as good as you could ask for,” Van Wert head coach Keith Recker said. “48 points in a half is phenomenal and we did it through the run and pass. Defensively we really stepped up, especially getting some stops in the second half.”
Both teams scored on their first possessions, with Van Wert taking the opening kickoff and marching 67 yards in nine plays and scoring on Xavier Kelly’s 1-yard run. Kenton (2-8, 2-7 WBL) responded on its first possession and drove 70 yards in seven plays, capped off by a 2-yard touchdown pass by Gammon to Maddox Hommel. Both kickers missed their respective PATs.
Van Wert’s next possession ended with a punt but on Kenton first play after that, Micah Cowan stepped in front of a Gammon pass and returned it 11 yards for the score. Kenton’s next possession ended on downs and Van Wert moved 74 yards and scored on a 1-yard pass from Crummey to Kelly, making it 20-6.
Six touchdowns were scored in the second quarter, including four by Van Wert. A 5-yard run by Kelly gave the Cougars a 27-6 lead, then after Gammon connected with Wyatt McKenzie for a score, Van Wert added a pair of touchdowns – a 28-yard pass from Crummey to Kelly and a 55-yard sprint on an option run by Kelly, who finished with 170 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 20 carries, putting him over 1,100 yards on the season.
(more…)POSTED: 10/24/26 at 12:23 am. FILED UNDER: Sports
