Five Quarterbacks Who Exploded in Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The opening week of the 2026 Ohio high school football season produced several eye-catching quarterback performances across Northwest and North Central Ohio.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some came from established starters, while others belonged to young quarterbacks stepping into major roles for the first time. These five signal-callers combined production, efficiency, and playmaking ability to immediately place themselves on the scouting radar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Gavin Brown, QB, Fairview — 2029</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairview entered the season needing to replace two-time All-Ohio quarterback William Zeedyk, but sophomore Gavin Brown quickly showed that the Apaches' passing attack remains in capable hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown completed 23 of 30 passes for an incredible 546 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-26 victory over Wauseon. He added 44 rushing yards and another touchdown, accounting for six scores in his first game as Fairview's starter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brown demonstrated the confidence to attack downfield and consistently gave his receivers opportunities to create explosive plays. He also remained efficient despite Fairview placing a significant portion of the offense on his shoulders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His ability to extend plays adds another dimension to his profile. Brown can escape pressure, keep his eyes downfield, and punish defenses when running lanes open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One performance does not define a young quarterback, but throwing for more than 500 yards in a starting debut is impossible to overlook. Brown immediately established himself as one of the most intriguing young quarterbacks in Ohio's 2029 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2127890' first='Zach' last='Crummey'], QB, Van Wert — 2028</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6-foot-7 and approximately 240 pounds, [player_tooltip player_id='2127890' first='Zach' last='Crummey'] possesses one of the most unusual physical profiles among Ohio's 2028 quarterback prospects.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Van Wert junior completed 22 of 26 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns during a 41-6 victory over Bryan. He also rushed for 54 yards and another score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crummey looked comfortable distributing the football and used his size to survey the field from inside the pocket. Completing nearly 85 percent of his attempts showed improved accuracy and decision-making from a player who already possessed impressive physical tools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crummey has attracted college interest as a tight end because of his size and overall athletic ability. However, his opening performance demonstrated that his quarterback development also deserves attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whether his eventual college position is quarterback, tight end, or another offensive role, Crummey is a prospect that programs should continue to evaluate. His combination of size, arm talent, and versatility gives him considerable long-term upside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1513371' first='Tayte' last='Giesige'], QB/DB, Bluffton — 2027</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1513371' first='Tayte' last='Giesige'] entered his senior season following a second-team All-Ohio junior campaign and immediately showed why he is one of Northwest Ohio's most productive quarterbacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Giesige completed 13 of 19 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns during Bluffton's 42-27 victory over Benjamin Logan. He added 101 rushing yards and another score while recording a team-high 15 tackles on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-2, 183-pound senior can pressure a defense in several ways. He throws accurately from the pocket, creates explosive plays with his legs, and has the toughness to handle a physical workload.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Giesige threw for more than 2,500 yards and established a school record with 34 touchdown passes in 2025. He also rushed for more than 700 yards and nine scores while contributing at defensive back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His Week 1 performance reinforced his value as a complete football player rather than only a productive system quarterback. Giesige's athleticism, competitiveness and two-way versatility should make him attractive to college programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Roen Thew, QB/DB, Colonel Crawford</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roen Thew introduced himself as Colonel Crawford's new quarterback by scoring on an 80-yard run during his first offensive snap of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished with 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries while completing 10 of 16 passes for 142 yards and three scores. They also contributed six tackles, an interception, and a forced fumble defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His five total offensive touchdowns showed how difficult he can be to defend when operating in space. They displayed immediate acceleration as runners but also remained composed enough to make plays through the air.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>His defensive production reveals additional parts of his athletic profile. He reads developing plays, closes quickly on the football, and is not hesitant to become involved physically.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thew's performance was one of the most complete starting debuts in Ohio during Week 1. If he continues developing as a passer, Colonel Crawford will have a dangerous dual-threat quarterback capable of impacting every phase of the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Liam Hubacher, QB/LB, Ashland — 2028</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Replacing one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in Ashland history was already a difficult assignment for Liam Hubacher. Suffering an apparent broken nose during the first quarter made his debut even more challenging.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior returned to the game and helped Ashland defeat Bay, 28-7. Hubacher completed 13 of 21 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown while rushing for 120 yards and two additional scores. Hubacher entered the season as Ashland's top returning tackler after recording 55 stops at linebacker in 2025. That defensive background shows in the toughness and physicality he brings to the quarterback position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is willing to lower his shoulder as a runner, but also has enough athleticism to escape pursuit and create explosive plays. His passing production should continue improving as he gains experience operating Ashland's offense. He will not need to become the previous quarterback to be successful. His own combination of toughness, mobility, and defensive mentality gives Ashland a different type of playmaker behind center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->