Northwest Ohio Preseason Top 10 Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Preseason rankings provide a starting point, but they do not decide what happens under the lights. Returning production, recruiting talent, and playoff experience look good on paper, but every team must prove its ranking on Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is my Northwest Ohio preseason Top 10 entering Week 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Central Catholic</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central has reached four consecutive state championship games and remains the standard in Northwest Ohio. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='321724' first='Ali' last='Beydoun'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1631427' first='Jeremiah' last='Fuller'] return to lead the offense. Cincinnati commit [player_tooltip player_id='1687378' first='Jalen' last='Webb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1594745' first='Max' last='Koback'] provide size up front, while Miami commit [player_tooltip player_id='2078100' first='Keyon' last='Robinson'] leads the secondary. The Irish lost six college players and moved into Division II, but their talent and championship experience keep them at No. 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 Trotwood-Madison; 8/27 Portage Central; 9/4 at Walsh Jesuit; 9/11 at St. Francis; 9/18 St. John's; 9/25 at Lumen Christi; 10/3 at Detroit Catholic Central; 10/9 Brother Rice; 10/16 St. Mary's Prep; 10/23 at De La Salle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Liberty Center</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Division V state champions return 11 starters from a 15-0 team. Garrison Kruse rushed for 1,319 yards and 22 touchdowns, while Ohio State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1647030' first='Kellen' last='Wymer'] anchors the offensive line. Penn commit [player_tooltip player_id='2081639' first='Jaxton' last='Lawniczak'] returns after producing 80 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and seven sacks. Liberty Center moves into Division VI with enough proven talent to make another championship run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 Tinora; 8/28 at Eastwood; 9/4 at Otsego; 9/11 Swanton; 9/18 at Bryan; 9/25 at Patrick Henry; 10/2 Evergreen; 10/9 at Delta; 10/16 at Wauseon; 10/23 Archbold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Whitmer</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whitmer finished 9-3 and captured the NLL Buckeye Division championship during Justin Keller's first season. Western Michigan commit [player_tooltip player_id='1676132' first='Jamon' last='Holmes'] returns after scoring 18 total touchdowns. Brock Duvall and Tim Pettaway will lead a defense replacing several accomplished seniors. With only six starters returning, Whitmer's new quarterback and young offensive line will be tested early.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 Reynoldsburg; 8/28 at Detroit King; 9/4 at Southview; 9/11 Fremont Ross; 9/18 Springfield; 9/25 at Anthony Wayne; 10/2 Northview; 10/9 at Findlay; 10/16 Clay; 10/23 at Perrysburg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Perrysburg</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perrysburg returns 15 starters and approximately 30 seniors from last season's 9-3 team. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='313561' first='Brady' last='Maxwell'] accounted for 2,562 total yards and 28 touchdowns. Highly recruited tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1207692' first='Reed' last='Gerken'] gives the Yellow Jackets an excellent foundation up front, while Michael Duvall leads the defense. Perrysburg has enough experience to win the Buckeye Division, but must prove it can get past Whitmer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 at Bowling Green; 8/28 Olentangy; 9/4 at Fremont Ross; 9/11 Springfield; 9/18 Southview; 9/25 at Northview; 10/2 at Findlay; 10/9 Clay; 10/16 at Anthony Wayne; 10/23 Whitmer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Perkins</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Perkins finished 9-4, won the SBC Lake championship, and reached the Division IV regional semifinals. The Pirates have built one of the area's most consistent programs around defense, physical play, and postseason preparation. They must replace several key offensive contributors, making the development of their next group of playmakers important. A demanding nonconference schedule should prepare Perkins for another postseason run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 Villa Angela-St. Joseph; 8/27 at Scott; 9/4 St. Francis; 9/11 Harvest Prep; 9/18 at Bellevue; 9/25 at Clyde; 10/2 Sandusky; 10/9 at Norwalk; 10/16 at Huron; 10/23 Tiffin Columbian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. Liberty-Benton</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty-Benton enters the NLL Cardinal Division after completing an undefeated regular season and finishing 12-1. All-Ohio quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1313608' first='Connor' last='Barbara'] can affect games as a passer, runner, and defensive back. [player_tooltip player_id='1951913' first='Karson' last='Griffin'] returns as an experienced receiving option, but the Eagles must replace all five starting offensive linemen. Barbara's versatility should keep Liberty-Benton in the division race while the new line develops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 at Ottawa-Glandorf; 8/28 Columbus Grove; 9/4 at Northview; 9/11 Anthony Wayne; 9/18 Clay; 9/25 at Fremont Ross; 10/2 Bowling Green; 10/9 at Southview; 10/16 at Springfield; 10/23 Napoleon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7. Anthony Wayne</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1922447' first='Porter' last='Brungard'] enters the season with offers from Toledo and Miami University. Ball State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1643628' first='Dayvion' last='Parker'] provides a big, athletic target, while the Generals return four starting offensive linemen. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='2166739' first='Mateo' last='Harmon'] leads a defense that must become more consistent against the Buckeye Division's top teams. Anthony Wayne has a high ceiling but opens against defending Division III state champion Bishop Watterson.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 Bishop Watterson; 8/28 at St. John's; 9/4 Napoleon; 9/11 at Liberty-Benton; 9/18 at Bowling Green; 9/25 Whitmer; 10/2 at Clay; 10/9 at Northview; 10/16 Perrysburg; 10/23 Findlay.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8. St. Francis</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Francis won seven games and shared the CHSL AA Division championship before returning to the league's highest division. [player_tooltip player_id='2123325' first='Noah' last='Edwards'], [player_tooltip player_id='2207889' first='James' last='Krebs'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1922477' first='Tyler' last='Gullatt'] have all earned multiple MAC offers. [player_tooltip player_id='2120910' first='Thomas' last='Nowowiejski'] takes over at quarterback, while Bedford transfer Damion Hart adds physicality at running back and linebacker. The Knights are young, but their line talent and defensive experience make them dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 Waite at the Glass Bowl; 8/28 Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger; 9/4 at Perkins; 9/11 Central Catholic; 9/18 at St. Mary's Prep; 9/25 De La Salle; 10/2 at Brother Rice; 10/9 at Lumen Christi; 10/16 Detroit Catholic Central; 10/23 at St. John's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">9. St. John's Jesuit</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. John's returns eight offensive starters and six on defense for coach Joe Horn. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1615742' first='Reid' last='Berry'] holds offers from Toledo and Bowling Green, while Ramon Mays Jr. rushed for a school-record 306 yards and five touchdowns in one game last season. [player_tooltip player_id='2181597' first='Keegan' last='Short'], Sam Harshman, and Jarrell Terrell give the Titans experience and physicality in the front seven. St. John's has the talent to climb these rankings if it handles its difficult CHSL schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/20 at Scott; 8/28 Anthony Wayne; 9/4 Euclid; 9/11 at St. Mary's Prep; 9/18 at Central Catholic; 9/25 Detroit Catholic Central; 10/2 at Divine Child; 10/9 De La Salle; 10/16 at Brother Rice; 10/23 St. Francis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">10. Napoleon</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Napoleon finished 8-3 and went unbeaten in the NLL Cardinal Division. Hayden Groll returns after rushing for more than 1,600 yards, scoring 19 touchdowns, and earning second-team All-Ohio recognition. The Wildcats also return 6-foot-5 tackle Spencer Durham in front of their record-setting back. Napoleon lost several important seniors, but Groll gives the offense a dependable identity every Friday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 schedule:</strong> 8/21 Defiance; 8/28 at Maumee; 9/4 at Anthony Wayne; 9/11 Clay; 9/18 Northview; 9/25 at Southview; 10/2 at Springfield; 10/9 Bowling Green; 10/16 Fremont Ross; 10/23 at Liberty-Benton.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->