Season Opener Preview
The Pickerington North Panthers will open the 2026 high school football season against the Troy Trojans on August 21, kicking off at 7 p.m. at Troy Memorial Stadium.
It marks the first meeting between the two programs since August 2023, when the Panthers edged the Trojans 39‑35 in a back‑and‑forth contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Both squads finished the previous campaign with 9‑3 records, but their postseason paths diverged — Pickerington North advanced to the Division I regional quarterfinals before falling to Upper Arlington, while Troy celebrated its first playoff victory since 2000 before succumbing in the regional semifinals to the Wayne Warriors.
The matchup promises a fresh clash of talent, with the Panthers’ senior running back Andyriq Thomas expected to anchor the offense and Troy’s standout Jayden Lucky poised to make big plays through the air and on the ground.
Key Players to Watch
Thomas, a senior back who has been lauded as one of central Ohio’s premier rushers, will look to exploit gaps in Troy’s defense and sustain a ground attack that proved decisive last year.
Lucky, meanwhile, combines speed and sure‑handedness, making him a dual threat who can stretch the field and turn short catches into substantial gains.