Several Great Games On Tap For Week 1
The opening few games of the regular season are typically the most intriguing. That’s because the better teams are stepping out of their comfort zones to challenge the perennial powers in order to both find and correct problems early and to see where their programs stand across the entire state. This year is no exception. There are at least ten games that draw interest state-wide, beginning with Massillon vs. Cleveland Glenville. Here are the big ones, along with last season’s records:
Cleveland Glenville (12-3) at Massillon (9-4) – Glenville is the defending Division IV state champion and will move this year to either DII or DIII depending on September’s enrollment count. Massillon won the Division II state championship three years ago and, with a loaded lineup this year, is expected to challenge for the state title once again. Glenville survived last year’s match, 22-17 in overtime.
Olentangy Liberty (8-5) at Lakewood St. Edward (11-3) – Liberty captured the Division I state title in 2024, but seems to have returned to normal. Last year they lost 21-17 to Olentangy Orange in the regional semifinals. Last season St. Edward lost to Orange 21-0 in the state semifinals. But they are a favorite to win the crown this year.
Avon (14-1) at Cleveland St. Ignatius (1-10) – Avon is the 2-time defending state champion in Division II. In last year’s title game, they defeated Cincinnati Anderson, 37-10. This year they are searching for a new quarterback and struggled against Massillon in the first scrimmage. Meanwhile, Ignatius is still trying to right the ship after mediocre results in recent years. Avon won last year’s encounter, 40-14.
Walsh Jesuit (11-2) at Medina Highland (12-1) – Walsh is the early favorite over Akron Hoban to capture Region 5 in Division II. Last year they advanced to the state semifinal game, only to lose 38-7 to Avon. Highland has been very good of late. After running the table last year, they stumbled against Avon in the Region 6 finals, losing 36-19.
Hudson (10-3) at Austintown Fitch (9-2) – Hudson is the annual favorite in the big-school division of the Suburban League. In 2025 they lost 35-3 to Hoban in the regional semifinals. Fitch, which has opted up to Division I this year, also fell in the regional semifinals, 42-21 to Walsh. Hudson won last year’s match, 28-14.
Youngstown Ursuline (2-0) at Columbus DeSales (9-3) – Ursuline will try to pick up the pieces after last year’s fiasco that resulted in the cancellation of most games. Last year DeSales, led by quarterback RJ Day, son of Ohio State Coach Ryan Day, lost in the regional semifinals to Massillon, 48-14. Day returns for his senior year.
Trotwood Madison (8-4) at Toledo Central Catholic (11-5) – Madison is a traditionally strong team in Division II. Although, last season they dropped a 38-7 decision to Cincinnati Anderson in the regional finals. Toledo Central, which plays most of their games against Detroit parochial schools, has returned to DII, where they won the state title in 2022. Last season they lost in the DIII state finals to Columbus Watterson, 30-0.
Cincinnati Moeller (8-4) at Cincinnati Princeton (9-3) – In last year’s playoffs Moeller lost 17-13 to Cincinnati St. Xavier, a team that they beat in the regular season, 30-13. Predicted to be a Division I contender this year, they hope not to repeat that performance. But they apparently have some issues to fix after being manhandled by Massillon in scrimmage action. Princeton fell 32-30 to Cincinnati Elder in the second round. In last year’s game Moeller defeated Princeton, 41-20.
Middletown (11-3) at Cincinnati Elder (12-1) – This will be a great opener for both teams. Last season Middletown lost 22-6 to Cincinnati St. Xavier in the state semifinals. Elder, one of the favorites this year in Division I, lost to St. X in the regional finals, 42-34.
Cincinnati St. Xavier (11-3) at Lakota West (7-5) – Always strong St. Xavier opens once again with Lakota West. Last year St. X advanced all the way to the state finals, where they lost to Olentangy Orange, 28-14. Lakota West, after several outstanding seasons, seems to have yielded the GMC torch to Princeton and Middletown. But that may change this year. Last season West lost to Moeller in the second round of the playoffs, 33-14. In the regular season, St. Xavier beat West in a close one, 14-7.
