The 2024 high school football season is just around the corner, and to conclude our preview, we’re looking into the crystal ball and making some admittedly bold predictions.
To avoid obvious choices, high school sports reporters Frank DiRenna and Dave Purpura of the Dispatch went off the beaten path and compiled 10 guesses about how this fall might turn out for some Central Ohio teams.
Here are our bold predictions for this season:
1. Pickerington North fends off all challengers and wins the regional title
Expect North to battle through a challenging OCC-Ohio schedule en route to the league title, securing a deep postseason run. After sweeping rival Gahanna Lincoln in their league game on Oct. 25, the first meeting between the teams since both were 9-0 last season, expect the Panthers to take on Gahanna again in the Division I, Region 3 postseason. North will field quarterback Jarin Mock (Wisconsin commit), running back Michael Taylor (Ohio University) and wide receiver Preston Bowman (Kentucky).
2. A Columbus-area school ends Springfield’s dominance in Region 2
Springfield has won five consecutive Division I, Region 2 championships, and perhaps none of them were more impressive than last season, when multiple injuries and a grueling schedule led to a 3-5 start before the Wildcats reeled off seven straight wins. That led to the third consecutive state final between Springfield and Lakewood St. Edward, and like the previous two years, St. Edward emerged victorious.
The regional realignment means Dublin and Hilliard schools, with the exception of Dublin Scioto, are in Region 2. A newly formed Bradley team and the still-powerful Coffman have the best chances to end Springfield’s reign, and our preliminary prediction is that Bradley and Coffman will meet in the regional final, giving Central Ohio two teams into the Division I state semifinals.
5 burning questions about the 2024 season: Part 1
3. Westland celebrates first winning streak since 2006
With the signing of All-State senior running back Kentrell Rinehart and the return of junior defensive back Emoni Smith, the Cougars are set to post their first winning season since 2006, when they finished 7-4 and secured their only playoff berth.
Rinehart, who is committed to North Carolina State, rushed for 2,837 yards and 42 touchdowns on 341 carries last season to lead Ready. He was the Division IV District Offensive Player of the Year, the Central Buckeye League’s MVP and first-team All-State. Smith was the first-team All-OCC Ohio player and second-team All-District player.
4. New Albany reaches the final of Division II, Region 7
This is a time-honored truth in many sports: A Division II team is tested by the Division I schedule all year long. The team performs well, even if it doesn’t always win, and uses those experiences to perform strongly in the postseason.
You can put different classes there, but this fall it will be true again for New Albany, which returns to Division II for the first time since 2018. The Eagles made several such deep playoff runs in the 2010s, notably regional finals in 2013, 2016 and 2017 and a state semifinal in 2012. (New Albany also reached the Region 3 final in 2022.)
Several key players return, including linebackers Gabe Cofer and Will Olah and running back/defensive back Ashton Allen. Getting past defending state champion and powerhouse Massillon Washington will be a tall order, but New Albany could at least have a chance.
5. Northland wins third City North title in a row
Led by fifth-year coach Ryan Sayers, Northland will seek its third consecutive City League-North title, securing the championship with a narrow win over longtime rival Beechcroft in the final game of the regular season on Oct. 24. Northland, Beechcroft and East shared the league title in 2022.
The Vikings are coached by senior quarterback Alex Neff. Beechcroft is led by Stephen Ayers, a veteran assistant coach who will lead the Cougars in a positive direction.
5 burning questions about the 2024 season: Part 2
6. Hartley wins CCL and regional championships
Despite strong competition from several regional programs, Hartley will win both the CCL and Division III, Region 11 titles. The Hawks will beat DeSales and Watterson in the battle for the CCL championship and then defeat Bloom-Carroll and defending Region 11 champion Watterson to claim their first regional title since 2019. Key players for Hartley include seniors Denim Cook (WR/LB) and Bryson Winbush (WR) and juniors Matt Galich (QB) and Robert Lathon (RB).
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7. Central Ohio is well represented in Division IV, Region 15
To some extent, this region is wide open. Hartley, Licking Valley, 2023 regional champion Steubenville and runner-up Thornville Sheridan have all moved to Region 11.
St. Clairsville looks like a favorite on paper, as the Red Devils return 1,500-yard runner and first-team all-state honoree Dino Burk and 1,500-yard passer Brady Schafer from a 9-3 team. But Fairfield Union, Heath, Jonathan Alder and Logan Elm all bring a ton of experience, perhaps most notably Heath’s standout two-way player Connor Corbett (RB/LB), Fairfield Union’s three-way threat Owen Ruff (RB/DB/P) and Logan Elm’s quarterback Aaron Walters, who threw for 2,295 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall.
Don’t be surprised if one or all of them seriously compete for the regional title.
8. Harvest Prep wins first state title
Harvest Prep has won five regional titles and advanced to the postseason every year since 2014, but one major goal has eluded it. The Warriors have never won a state championship since the inaugural game in 1998. That looks set to change this season, as they will win the Division V, Region 19 title en route to the coveted state championship. Key players include juniors Jamarcus Jones (WR/DB) and Dezmond Porter (RB/LB) and sophomore Collin Boff (QB).
9. Danville returns to Division VII semifinals
The Blue Devils looked like a state championship contender last fall, starting 13-0 before facing powerhouse Dalton in the Region 25 final. Dalton won 31-8, continuing a season-long trend of lopsided wins that only ended with a 38-0 loss to Maria Stein Marion Local in the state final.
Dalton is in Division VI this year and with defensive stars Josh Byers, Carson Proper and Wesley Payne at the helm, Danville is a favorite if not The Favorite, in Region 27.
Fairfield Christian and Hannibal River will also compete for regional honors. Likely top-10 teams Berlin Center Western Reserve and Malvern could appear in a state semifinal, and of course Marion Local is a likely finalist.
10. Central Ohio will have two finalists for Mr. Football
Maybe that’s not the boldest prediction considering Central Ohio has had two finalists seven times in the last decade.
Our area had two of them last season: Hilliard Bradley quarterback Bradyn Fleharty and Watterson linebacker Dom Purcell, both of whom graduated. Whoever is nominated will be first in line to receive the award, and possible candidates include Pickerington North’s Bowman, Hartley’s Cook, Gahanna quarterback Brennen Ward and Westland’s Rinehart.
Several others will present their arguments over the next two months.
The last Mr. Football title in Central Ohio was Jeff Backes of Upper Arlington in 2000.
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