Final Four Firepower: Six Stars to Watch in the Final Four

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the Final Four hits Ohio, a handful of elite playmakers are positioned to shape who plays for a state championship next weekend. From Mr. Football finalists to Power-5 commits to small-school sledgehammers, these are the six athletes every coach, scout, and fan needs to know heading into Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>1. [player_tooltip player_id='824948' first='Grady' last='Kinsey'] — RB, Indian Valley (D-IV)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indian Valley's superstar back is one of the most productive players in the state, entering the Final Four with 2,585 rushing yards, 13.1 yards per carry, and multiple 300+ yard playoff games, including a 302-yard, 6-TD explosion in the regional semifinal. A 2025 Mr. Football finalist and owner of 8,489 career rushing yards, Kinsey has the rare combination of vision, burst, and big-game toughness that can single-handedly dictate tempo, and Glenville's entire defensive plan will revolve around slowing him down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>2. [player_tooltip player_id='402319' first='Cincere' last='Johnson'] — LB, Glenville (D-IV)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ohio State's next defensive enforcer headlines Glenville's athletic roster, bringing elite closing speed, violent tackling, and natural instincts that make him one of the most feared linebackers in the Midwest. A multi-year star and nationally recognized recruit, Johnson enters this matchup as the key to containing Indian Valley's powerhouse run game, and his ability to diagnose and blow up plays behind the line will determine whether Glenville can stop the Kinsey-led avalanche before it gets rolling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>3. [player_tooltip player_id='764214' first='Preston' last='Fryzel'] — TE, Toledo Central Catholic (D-III)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Notre Dame commit is a matchup nightmare at 6'4”, 220 pounds and comes into the Final Four as a First-Team All-Blade and Division III Northwest District Offensive Player of the Year, giving Central Catholic a dominant, all-around tight end who controls the middle. Fryzel's physicality as a blocker and his ability to win in traffic make him CC's most reliable third-down and red-zone weapon, and against undefeated CVCA, he's the player most capable of breaking coverages and creating mismatches deep into the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>4. [player_tooltip player_id='1153109' first='Victor' last='Singleton'] — DB, Toledo Central Catholic (D-III)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of Ohio's premier defensive backs, Singleton enters Friday as the Division III Northwest District Defensive Player of the Year after anchoring a dominant secondary that has thrived in tournament play. He's long, athletic, and disruptive in coverage, with a knack for timely interceptions and drive-stopping pass breakups, and his presence gives Central Catholic a true shutdown option who can erase a top receiver, tilt field position, and create game-changing turnovers at any moment.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>5. [player_tooltip player_id='1647030' first='Kellen' last='Wymer'] — OL, Liberty Center (D-V)</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wymer, a 2027 Ohio State commit, is the youngest star in the Final Four but already one of the most physically imposing, anchoring Liberty Center's punishing run game with his frame, leverage, and advanced technique. Though linemen don't get flashy stats, Wymer's dominance in the trenches has paved the way for LC's balanced rushing attack all season, and in a semifinal where controlling the line is everything, he's the catalyst who can wear down Indian Lake's front and dictate the entire rhythm of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>6. Ike Lake — RB, Cardinal Mooney (D-V</strong>)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lake is the engine of Mooney's offense, a physical senior tailback who carries the bulk of the Cardinals' workload and has been at the center of every meaningful postseason drive this year. While his school doesn't publish full statistical totals, local game reports repeatedly highlight him as the go-to red-zone finisher and tempo-setter, and if Mooney wants to keep Wheelersburg's explosive offense off the field, Lake's ability to grind out first downs and control the clock becomes their clearest path to staying competitive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->