The Central Catholic Crusaders will open the 2026 high school football season on August 21, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m. The team enters the year looking to rebound from a difficult 2025 campaign that ended with a 1‑9 record.
A season of rebuilding
During the previous season the Crusaders dropped games to Perry, Mogadore, Orrville, Salem, Alliance, Louisville, Edison, Warren JFK and Triway, while their sole victory came against St. Thomas Aquinas, a 54‑0 shutout that offered a brief glimpse of potential.
The squad is placed in Division V, Region 17 for the upcoming playoffs, and the regular schedule calls for most games to begin at 7 p.m., though a few matchups may have different start times.
Postseason outlook
The 2026 Ohio High School Athletic Association playoffs are slated to begin on October 30, with the state championship games set for December 3‑5 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. The venue, located in the heart of the city, will host the final contests of the season.
Fans and players alike are hopeful that the early-season opener will provide the momentum needed to improve on last year’s record and perhaps guide the Crusaders deeper into the postseason.