COLUMBUS — Lexington will host a monster showdown on Friday night when undefeated Ashland comes calling. While that game will determine the outright Ohio Cardinal Conference champion, the Minutemen will open the postseason at home regardless of the outcome (8-1 overall, 5-0 in the OCC). Lex already has clinched a home playoff game, according to […]
Andrew Saris
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Shelby leads Mansfield-area football teams in playoff points chase
SHELBY — Shelby is No. 1 across the board. The Whippets are tops in Ohio’s Division IV AP football poll, and the MaxPreps state poll. But coach Rob Mahaney’s squad is far more interested in the computer poll, which determines playoff seeding. They’re doing just fine there, too. The Whippets are No. 1 in Division […]
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Caudill’s exploits spearhead Lexington’s stunning postseason run
LEXINGTON — Joe Caudill looked defeated as he left the field, his shoulders slumped and his gaze aimed downward. Lexington had just let an Ohio Cardinal Conference championship slip through its fingers in a 30-21 Week 10 loss at Ashland and Caudill, Lex’s junior quarterback, felt responsible. He had thrown two interceptions that were returned […]
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Late TD sends Lexington past Madison
LEXINGTON — Markale Martin and the Minutemen kept their championship hopes alive. Martin took a screen pass from quarterback Joe Caudill 33 yards for a touchdown with just 12 seconds remaining as Lexington thwarted Madison’s upset bid with a 14-7 Ohio Cardinal Conference win on Senior Night. Lex (5-4, 4-1) will play at Ashland (9-0, […]
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Promise made, promise kept: Lex QB Joe Caudill keeps his word to his coach
LEXINGTON — Lexington QB Joe Caudill looked at his coach Friday night with the game on the line in the fourth quarter and promised a touchdown. Promise made. Promise kept. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound junior strong-armed (and legged) the Minutemen down the field as the clock ticked away, scoring the game-winning TD on a 1-yard plunge […]
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You could see it in their eyes: Clear Fork was ready for Lexington on Friday night
BELLVILLE — Aaron Brokaw liked what he saw in his players’ eyes this week in practice. Coming off back-to-back losses to start the season against two powerhouse opponents, it would have been easy to see doubt creep into the minds of his young Clear Fork Colts. In his second year at the helm of his […]
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Shelby’s Brayden DeVito presents a perplexing problem for Lexington
LEXINGTON — Andrew Saris was blunt Friday night when asked how opposing teams could simulate Shelby QB Brayden DeVito in practice. “You can’t.” The third-year Lexington coach, an All-Ohio defensive back in his playing days at Smithville High School, marveled at DeVito’s efforts during Shelby’s 21-10 win Friday night. “It’s more just try to be […]
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North central Ohio teams revel in rivalry week to finish regular season
Editor’s Note: This story was compiled by Jake Furr of the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. Coaches are encouraged to contact him with their team’s respective highlights by Monday at 12 noon at jfurr@gannett.com or via text at 740-244-9934 COLUMBUS – The regular-season wrapped up on Saturday night and the 2023 OHSAA football playoffs are set. A […]
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Mansfield Sr.’s Bradley closes in on coaching milestone
When Chioke Bradley took over as Mansfield Senior’s football coach in the spring of 2010, his first order of business was to bring stability to a program that had lost its way. Job well done. A 1994 Senior High graduate, Bradley has led his alma to unprecedented heights in his 14 seasons in charge. A […]