Winning a regional championship is tough enough. Winning a regional championship you are expected to win is an even bigger challenge. Both Shelby and Hillsdale carried the weight of impossible expectations into the season. The Whippets returned a wealth of talent from a team that reached the third round of the playoffs last year. The […]
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Hillsdale tops Danville in another instant classic
WEST LAFAYETTE — Jesse Trevathan never doubted he would return, even during his darkest days. And there were plenty of dark days. Trevathan tore the ACL in his right knee during Hillsdale’s run to the Division VII state championship game last year. He suffered the injury in Week 12 and spent the final four weeks […]
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Attention local teams: OHSAA announces bracket pairings for football’s Final 4
COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association bucked tradition, and it’s relevant news for five schools around north central Ohio as each plays for a spot in the Final Four this weekend. While it’s easy, and fun, to get ahead of ourselves, Shelby, Galion, Colonel Crawford, Danville and Hillsdale each have regional assignments on […]
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Sloan’s huge home send-off pushes Falcons back to Elite Eight
JEROMESVILLE – Hillsdale’s senior football players had their last dance at home Friday night. Owen Sloan made sure it wasn’t a slow dance. Hosting fourth-seeded Symmes Valley in a Division VII, Region 27 semifinal, the top-seeded Falcons needed just one run from their record-breaking senior running back to set the tone for the game. Sloan […]
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Danville stuns Waterford to reach regional championship game
WATERFORD — The Danville Blue Devils are on what gamblers call a heater. Coach Matt Blum’s squad won its third straight game as a road underdog on Friday night by traveling nearly two hours south to defeat second-seeded Waterford 19-14 in a Division VII, Region 27 semifinal. The 11th-seeded Blue Devils (8-5) will advance to […]
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Final Friday: Three conferences to decide championships in regular season finale
I have been covering high school football in north central Ohio for the past 30 years and I can’t recall a Week 10 like the one awaiting area fans Friday night. Three conference championships will be decided on the final night of the regular season and two of them feature winner-take-all games. The Ohio Cardinal […]
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Lex will host playoff game, no matter the verdict in title tilt with Ashland
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 […]
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2nd-half barrage fuels Hillsdale’s pounding of Rittman
JEROMESVILLE — A week ago Hillsdale erupted for 49 points in the first half to subdue Northwestern. This week Rittman absorbed the Falcons’ charge in the second half. Hillsdale posted 28 points after intermission to pull away from a one-score game and earn a 49-13 victory over the Indians. Senior running back Owen Sloan ripped […]
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Ohio football notebook: Crestview’s Kuhn keeps Cougars on winning track
COLUMBUS — Week 4 of the 2025 high school football season is in the books. Football players from all over Ohio put up some amazing performances in the fourth 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 […]
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Lewis brothers connect, Hillsdale bounces Loudonville
JEROMESVILLE – Hopes were high Friday night that Ashland County’s “Backyard Brawl” rivalry game between Hillsdale and Loudonville could bring some suspense between two unbeaten teams. The Falcons, however, showed their talent and moxie is still soaring after a trip to the Division VII state championship game a year ago. Hillsdale quarterback Kael Lewis hit […]