Ohio's top 10 high school football games in Week 8

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Here are the top 10 games for Week 8 of the high school football season across Ohio. All games are 7 p.m. Friday, unless noted:10. London (5-2) at Jonathan Alder (6-1)London is coming off a 56-7 win over Bellefontaine in which junior running back Bryston Toronto ran for 133 yards and five touchdowns on 21 carries.Toronto (141 carries, 785 yards, 16 TDs), Colt Hughes (56 carries, 397 yards, 4 TDs), Isaiah Near (332 carries, 382 yards, 3 TD) and Dreaux Prince (29 carries, 178 yards, 3 TD) lead the way on offense as London relies on its running game.Hughes has thrown the ball 33 times on the season, completing 16 passes for 288 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.Defensively, Jaydon Cooper has made 69 tackles with 4.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss, Near has 47 tackles with three sacks and six tackles for loss, Vance Moerch has 52 tackles with 1.5 sacks, Craig Beaver has 40 tackles with two sacks and Roysten Skaggs has 39 tackles with one sack and seven tackles for loss.In the last six games, London has allowed seven or fewer points in four games, 10 in a loss to Graham and 18 in a win over Urbana when the Red Raiders led 35-0 before allowing a score.Alder uses a more balanced attack on offense, throwing the ball 135 times and running it 146 times.Quarterback Drew Hughes has completed 71.6% of his passes (96 of 134) for 1,595 yards and 20 touchdowns and has run the ball 21 times for 327 yards and five scores.Christian Amann leads the Pioneers with 778 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 95 attempts. There are four players who have at least 15 catches and 200 yards receiving, led by Trey Bentley (37 catches, 669 yards, 8 TDs), Ben McCain (23 catches, 321 yards, 2 TDs), Danny Bentley (16 catches, 331 yards, 5 TDs) and Parker Bates (15 catches, 239 yards, 4 TDs).Ben Petzinger leads the team with 59 tackles, four sacks and six tackles for loss, Caleb Wiltshire has 47 tackles, Holdon Glick has 41 tackles and three tackles for loss and Trey Bentley has 25 tackles with four tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and two interceptions.London currently sits at No. 6 in Division IV, Region 16, while Alder is No. 2 in Division III, Region 11.Ranking the Ohio Mr. Football candidates after 7 weeks: Northwestern commits making a pushOct. 8, 2026, 5:00a.m.Ranking the top 10 high school football games to watch in Northeast Ohio for Week 8Oct. 7, 2026, 6:05a.m.Judge extends temporary restraining order for most of Massillon football transfers: reportOct. 6, 2026, 9:42p.m.9. Indian Valley (6-0) at Garaway (6-1)Indian Valley remained unbeaten with a 41-7 win over Tuscarawas Valley in Week 7, led by quarterback Ryker Williams who completed all six of his pass attempts for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Running backs Carsen Hostetler (2 carries, 95 yards, TD) and Xavier Watson (8 carries, 74 yards) led the rushing attack while Logan Burrier added a touchdown on the ground.On the season, Williams has completed 68.8% of his passes (44 of 64) for 869 yards and 14 touchdowns with four interceptions while also leading the Braves with 57 carries for 506 yards and four touchdowns. Reese St. Clair has run for 306 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries and Brett O’Connor has added 292 yards and three touchdowns on 38 carries while Bradley Barr is tied for the team lead in rushing touchdowns with four.Garaway is coming off a 55-21 win over Sandy Valley and has scored at least 35 points in each game since a 20-6 win over Canton South in Week 1, which includes 35 points in its only loss, a 41-35 setback to Girard.Dual-threat quarterback Grady Miller and running back Matthew Frey lead the offense.Both teams enter the week at 2-0 in the Inter-Valley Conference Southern Division, tied with Claymont. Indian Valley leads the way in Division IV, Region 15 and Garaway is currently third in Division VI, Region 23.8. St. Xavier (4-3) at La Salle (3-4)St. Xavier has alternated wins and losses this season, the latest a 41-0 loss to Trinity (KY) in Week 7.Senior Aidan Newdigate started the first five games at quarterback, completing 38 of 73 passes for 473 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions, with 104 rushing attempts for 527 yards and eight scores. Thomas George has started the last two games, completing 28 of 48 passes for 293 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.In a 31-29 win over Elder in Week 6, George was 14 of 22 passing for 192 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in his first start.Newdigate still leads the team with 540 yards rushing and nine touchdowns, while Aiden Graham has 449 yards and a score on 81 carries. The leading receiver is Logan Von Holle, who has pulled down 21 catches for 354 yards and six touchdowns.Linebacker Griffin Lyons (61 tackles, 2 sacks, 8 TFL, FR) and safety Graham Uran (60 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 TFL, 2 FR) lead the way defensively while Charlie Googins has five tackles for loss and Kyle Knueven leads the team with two interceptions.La Salle has lost two in a row and four of its last five after a 2-0 start to the season.Quarterback Garrett Fraley completes exactly 50% of his passes (45 of 90) for 612 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions and leads the team with 89 rushing attempts for 368 yards and a touchdown.This is the final conference game of the Greater Catholic League – South for both teams, with St. Xavier at 1-1 and La Salle at 0-2. In the OHSAAA playoff rankings, St. Xavier is currently No. 8 in Division I, Region 4 and La Salle is 11th in Division II, Region 8.7. Ursuline (5-2) at Walsh Jesuit (5-1)Walsh Jesuit has two more games at Conway Memorial Stadium, where they have remained since Week 2 during a long home stretch. The Warriors bounced back last week from their first loss to Archbishop Hoban, as David Ternosky and freshman Kinzy Shea took turns at quarterback during a 56-7 rout of St. Vincent-St. Mary.Ternosky threw for 135 yards and two TDs on 10-of-13 passing, but the senior was relieved by the freshman son of former Browns tight end Aaron Shea who threw two more TD passes in limited but productive work.Now, Walsh faces an Ursuline program it didn’t get to play last year when the Fighting Irish had their season canceled after hazing allegations. Ursuline has since bounced back under first-year coach Tony Stephens, whose team has won four straight games. None were bigger than last week’s 44-40 victory against Steubenville to establish the Irish back as Division III contenders in Region 9. Vinnie Fecko rushed for 239 yards and four TDs to lead Ursuline. He has 1,017 yards and 14 TDs on the season.When these teams last played, they opened the 2024 season with a memorable 37-35 victory for the Warriors in Youngstown.6. Colerain (4-3) at Lakota West (6-1)Colerain has won two games in a row and three of its last four.Quarterback Roman Garr has thrown for 1,925 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. In Colerain’s last three wins, Garr has completed 77.7% of his passes (87 of 112) for 961 yards and 13 touchdowns with three interceptions.Garr has hit five receivers at least 20 times for at least 290 yards, led by DeSean Flagg, Jr. (30 catches, 465 yards, 3 TDs), Aaron Jacobs (26 catches, 313 yards, 6 TDs), Trey Smith (25 catches, 285 yards, 2 TDs), Chaz Forrester, Jr. (23 catches, 335 yards, 2 TDs) and Tariq Evans, Jr. (22 catches, 291 yards, 3 TDs). While only making 12 catches, DeMonnie Dawson is second on the team with four touchdown receptions.Triston Von Rissen has made 46 tackles with four sacks and 10 tackles for loss, Bravon Gaffney has a team-high 4.5 sacks and Dawson leads the team with three interceptions.Lakota West has bounced back from a 27-24 loss to Princeton in Week 5 by winning two in a row by a 73-7 margin.Running back Kenyon Norman leads the offense, as the Northwestern commit has run the ball 147 times for 1,181 yards and 20 touchdowns and has added 16 catches for 107 yards.Quarterback Jackson Smith is completing 61.4% of his passes (70 of 114) for 914 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions, with leading receiver Karmelo Jordan making 27 catches for 584 yards and seven touchdowns.Junior linebacker Judah Blair paces the defense with 66 tackles, 3.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Purdue commit Roman Combs has a team-high four interceptions.Both teams are in Division I, Region 4, with Lakota West at No. 2 behind only Princeton while Colerain is tied for 11th and fighting for a playoff berth.5. San Antonio Cornerstone Christian (4-2) at Massillon (7-0)Friday probably can’t come fast enough for Massillon, which had another day in court this week after news came out that Brayton and Brydon Feister had been ruled ineligible for the second half of the season by the OHSAA.They will have another day in court Friday before this game, while junior tight end Da’Shun Williams has been approved by the OHSAA following his transfer from Euclid. Sophomore running back Gary Yeager III, junior tackle Micah Walker and sophomore defensive back Dey’Veair Adams had their temporary restraining orders extended Tuesday to remain eligible this week.Now comes one of the most talented teams on their already brutal schedule.Cornerstone Christian features three-star senior defensive lineman Ahzan Bacote, an Arizona commit, and four-star junior offensive tackle Jai’Storm Knight. Bacote has a team-leading 8.5 sacks and 11 TFL. Senior quarterback Seth Shuler (1,101 yards, 14 TDs to six interceptions) and junior running back Jaylen McKane (947 yards, eight TDs) lead the offense.The Warriors’ two losses have come against IMG Academy (6-0) and St. John’s College (5-1), the team that suffered its first loss two weeks ago against St. Edward.4. Archbishop Moeller (5-2) at St. Ignatius (4-3)Moeller has clinched the Greater Catholic League South, sweeping its three rivals in Cincinnati, and now heads to Cleveland to clash with the Wildcats.St. Ignatius returns to their home campus and Wasmer Field, where they played John Marshall in September for senior night. The competition will be much tougher this time, as Moeller comes in with several top prospects, including a pair of senior tackles in Kal-El Johnson (Georgia Tech commit) and Patrick O’Brien (Purdue) with four-star junior lineman Jace Montgomery.They have blocked for breakout sophomores Hunter McLaughlin (934 yards, 10 TDs, no interceptions) at quarterback and running back Juice Glover-Brown (718 yards, eight TDs). Senior receiver Reggie Watson III (468 yards, four TDs on 32 receptions) is a Louisville commit in baseball.That is what awaits the Wildcats, who get a two-week dose of the GCL with next week’s trip to St. Xavier (3-4). Moeller will get another Cleveland powerhouse in No. 2 St. Edward (6-1), which heads to Cincinnati on Saturday next week after its home game Friday against Clarkson Football North.St. Ignatius is coming off a 31-14 rivalry loss to the Eagles in which it did not score until the fourth quarter against their fierce defense, which harassed junior quarterback Jacob Mikin into 8-of-19 passing for 79 yards. Expect Moeller to try and mimic St. Edward’s attack, using GCL sack leader Kaden Lawson (4.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss) in similar fashion as the Eagles’ B.P. Paulozzi.Moeller beat the Wildcats last year, 42-10 in Cincinnati, but that was during a 1-10 season that prompted a change of leadership and the hiring of Tom Kaufman for this year’s revival.3. Keystone (6-0) at Columbia (7-0)One of the state’s best smaller school games will likely decide the Lorain County League championship, as Keystone heads to Columbia Station to challenge the Raiders and slow down senior Xavier Hendon.Coming off a 267-yard game against Warren JFK, Hendon has 1,538 yards and 21 TDs on the season. He had more than 500 yards in the last two weeks, lifting Columbia into the top four of the Division VI, Region 21 playoff standings.Keystone’s Wyatt McKee also has been big for the Wildcats. The senior has 969 yards and 14 TDs in six games, while junior quarterback Colton Cowling (1,444 yards, 16 TDs) has keep the Wildcats’ offense a balanced one. McKee also is their leading tackler at linebacker, so expect some confrontations on both sides of the football between him and Hendon, who is the Raiders’ second-leading tackler behind Ambrose Beach.Keystone sits in first place of Division V, Region 18 under first-year coach Brian Fox.2. Hudson (6-1) at Wadsworth (7-0)The Suburban League National Conference champion could be decided at Art Wright Stadium, where the Grizzlies’ grind to a fourth straight title kicks up with a visit from the Explorers.Wadsworth (4-0 Suburban) has Hudson (3-1 Suburban) this week, a trip to Highland (6-1, 4-0) next week and Nordonia (6-1, 3-1). The Explorers look to shake that up as they head in riding the play of senior back Reno Ferri (1,028 yards, 18 TDs), who had 138 yards and three TDs last week in a win against Medina.While Hudson has been a potent scoring machine for much of this season, Wadsworth’s defense has been equally stingy. The Grizzlies have given up one touchdown or fewer in five of their seven wins.Offensively, junior quarterback Brysen Hall has led Wadsworth with 1,578 yards and 21 TDs on the year. He already is the school’s all-time passing leader with more than 6,000 yards, a mark Hall exceeded in Week 6. Jay’len King (780 yards, 11 TDs on 42 receptions) has been Hall’s top target and will likely be a key focus for a Hudson defense that includes All-Ohio cornerback Anthony Paolucci.Wadsworth won this matchup last year, 35-17.Hoban's Jaiden Daniels (1) looks for running room Friday, Oct. 2, 2026, against Woodward in Akron.David Petkiewicz, cleveland.com1. Glenville (5-2) at Archbishop Hoban (3-4)Both Glenville and Archbishop Hoban have won three straight games, but Hoban’s streak has been an awakening from an 0-4 start against stiff competition.The Knights’ first four opponents a combined 20-3. Since then, they took down rival Walsh Jesuit with a 30-0 shutout and cruised last week against one-win Cincinnati Woodward, as junior quarterback Israel “Major” Cribbs hooked up with John Johnson on the first play of the game. Cribbs and the starters didn’t need to stay in that one for long, giving them plenty of rest for Friday’s showdown at Dowed Field.Glenville has won three straight games, all in Cleveland’s Senate League, where the Tarblooders have a 178-game win streak that spans back to 1997. Their two losses have come against Division II state powers in Massillon and Bishop Watterson.Hoban is proving to once again be in that discussion, especially with its shutout of Walsh. Cribbs ran for 137 yards with a touchdown and threw for 104 yards and a score in that one. The son of former Browns kick returner and Kent State quarterback Josh Cribbs, he is just beginning to carve his own path at Hoban.The Knights are still just ninth in the Division II, Region 5 playoff ratings, according to Joe Eitel’s projections. A win could serve as a big boost for them. The same goes for Glenville, which is seventh in Region 9 for Division III.This will be the fourth straight year these programs have met, all at Dowed Field and mostly with defensive battles. Hoban won last year, 12-9, as Brayton Feister flipped the field with a 99-yard touchdown run. Feister is now at Massillon for his senior year, while Cincere Johnson — who had a big game that night at linebacker for Glenville — is now a freshman at Ohio State.