Ohio high school football notebook: Week 8

The game with the most potential to impress in Week 8 was Anna at Marion Local, and the Flyers and Rockets delivered.

Marion Local absorbed Anna’s best shot, but the Flyers improved to 8-0 with a 28-27 overtime win with Press Pros Magazine there to see it all unfold.

It was Marion’s 72nd win in a row and one of the most difficult along the way.

While sophomore quarterback Brennan Hess’ emergence has been one of the stories of the season for the Flyers, tailback Kamden Eifert was the man Friday night.

The senior scored all four touchdowns, including the game-winner in the second overtime, and earned the admiration of his coach, Tim Goodwin.

I was there a few weeks ago when Anna took down defending state champion Coldwater, so I’m not surprised the Rockets gave Marion Local a game.

They have some impressive weapons on offense, including quarterback Logan Ziegenbusch and receiver Zeb Pleiman, but their defense might be more impressive.

Anna blitzed the heck out of Coldwater, and they had Hess running for his life all night, tool, so they seem to have a plan that travels.

Check out the full recap here.

The Rockets are a team to watch in the Division VI playoffs, where they won’t have to worry about running into Marion Local, although Anna is no lock to make it yet.

They need to beat Fort Recovery (5-3) this week and avoid an upset at Parkway (0-8) in Week 10.

And what about Marion Local?

A win is a win, no matter how many you have in the previous four years.

Goodwin told Press Pros publisher Sonny Fulks more than once he did not want to take anything away from Anna, and I believe that was more than coach-speak. The Rockets are good.

Marion Local is playing against their own standard as much as anyone else each game, and there is no doubt the Flyers have been tested more this season than last, which is not a negative nor all that surprising because they graduated a lot of great players.

The Flyers still seem to have plenty of firepower for another run to Canton in Division VII, but that’s why they play the games.

For some perspective, this was the Flyers’ third one-score game of the season after they had only one decided by less than 20 points last year (21-7 over Minster in the regional final) and two one-score wins each in 2023 and ’22.

The current Marion Local seniors were in eighth grade the last time the Flyers played this many close games — in 2021 they had three one-score wins and three more of less than two.

London helped make sure of that by destroying rival Jonathan Alder 38-0.

The Pioneers entered undefeated, but so far the Red Raiders have been untouchable.

Two early turnovers turned this game into a laugher as London led 28-0 at halftime.

The Raiders have allowed just 53 points in eight games, and their Double Wing offensive machine rolled on even without leading rusher Daquanne Parks, who sidelined by a residency issue according to Press Pros writer Steve Blackledge

They’ve still got Bryston Toronto, Ladainian McNeal and Kyler Russell (among others) for quarterback Blake Reay to hand off to when he’s not keeping it in himself.

London finishes with Tecumseh and Kenton Ridge but could be on a collision course with Tippecanoe in the Division III, Region 12 playoffs.

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Elsewhere in Central Ohio, Olentangy Orange rolled on with a 28-14 win over Upper Arlington.

The Pioneers stayed undefeated while the Golden Bears fell to 6-2.

No one is going to want to face Orange in the playoffs thanks to their QB-RB duo of Levi Davis and Lucas Fickel, who both committed turnovers Friday night but were too explosive to hold down when it mattered.

These teams could see each other again in the second round of the Division I, Region 3 playoffs as Orange is No. 1 and UA is No. 7 this week…

A few postgame thoughts on Ohio State-Illinois

Back in the MAC, Minster topped Versailles 14-12 in a slugfest that provided plenty of cautionary tales for coaches who want to drive him they importance of the running game, turnovers and executing on special teams.

The Wildcats and Tigers are both teams that will also be interesting to watch in the playoffs after emerging from the grind of the MAC schedule.

As noted by Alan Brads, Versailles is one of the better 4-4 teams you’ll come across, but in the biggest moments of the season to date, the Tigers have neither had the breaks go their way, nor made enough plays to overcome them. That includes a 14-13 loss to Marion Local two weeks ago.

Clinging to the 12th and final playoff spot in Division V, Region 20, they still have to face Coldwater (5-3) and St. Henry (7-1) to close out the regular season.

Minster is eighth in Division VII, Region 28 and controls its destiny, but the ‘Cats have Marion Local this week and before finishing with Fort Recovery.

Troy-Tipp and Preble Shawnee-Tri-Village are both titanic tussles this week.

The Miami Valley League Miami Division will be decided between the Red Devils and the Trojans, and the winner can also claim the overall MVL title since both already beat Xenia.

Both teams have dynamic quarterbacks and stingy defenses, so I’m excited to cover this one.

Ohio high school football notes: Week 7

In the WOAC, Tri-Village and Preble Shawnee are both undefeated and largely unchallenged so far this season. The Arrows have outscored opponents 378-103, which is impressive… but the Patriots have allowed only 59 points while scoring 464.

In St. Paris, Graham will be looking to take control of the CBC Mad River division. The Falcons have already matched their best win total since they went 7-4 in 2021.

Mechanicsburg is having a nice-bounce back season at 7-1 after slipping from their high standard the past two years. The Indians can clinch a share of the OHC North with a win over the Jets, whose only loss is in overtime at West Jefferson. These are also the top two teams in Division VI, Region 24 playoff points.