2025 Playoff Outlook
The Dispatch’s annual preview shines a spotlight on ten central Ohio high school football programs that are projected to make deep runs in the 2025 postseason, with several squads carrying the momentum of recent successes into the new season.
Big Walnut High School enters the conversation with three returning three‑year starters and a senior‑laden roster of 23 players, positioning the Wolves to contend for a Division II, Region 7 championship and a potential showdown with Watterson.
At Columbus Academy, senior defensive‑line commit Reinaldo Perez and quarterback Michael Tishkoff headline a Vikings squad that hopes to capture a Region 19 title and break into the state semifinals for the first time in years.
Danville Blue Devils bring back nine starters, including sophomore quarterback Parker Proper and junior Cyren Wallace, establishing themselves as the clear favorites in Division VII, Region 27.
Harvest Prep, bolstered by senior quarterback Collin Boff and eleven returning starters, is chasing its first state semifinal appearance since the 2023 campaign, a milestone that would mark a turning point for the program.
Licking Valley’s Panthers are riding a 20‑game winning streak and could meet Watterson again in a Division III, Region 11 clash that promises another chapter in their recent dominance.
London High School relies on returnee Bryson Toronto and junior Colt Hughes at quarterback, aiming to secure its third state semifinal berth in the coming weeks.
Olentangy Liberty, fresh off a 2024 state championship, returns six starters, among them senior quarterback Alex Leonard, and now faces a new wave of regional title contenders.
Pickerington Central’s Tigers will lean on sophomore running back Edmund McAllister and quarterback Winnie Garnett, hoping to capture their first regional crown since 2020, while Pickerington North’s Panthers are led by junior quarterback Chase McKee and senior running back Andyriq Thomas with eyes on a Division I state title.
Finally, Watterson Eagles return ten starters, seven of whom hold Division I commitments, and are projected to claim a third straight state championship in Division II, underscoring their sustained excellence.