Four Ohio High School football matchups to watch in the fifth round of the playoffs

COLUMBUS – Week Five and the state semifinals round of the OHSAA State Tournament kicks off on Friday. What was originally hundreds of Ohio high school football teams is now down to 28. Those teams will play this week for a spot in the OHSAA State Championships.

Lettermen Row has found a few matchups to watch in Week Five of the OHSAA State Tournament. Here are the four matchups that Ohio high school football fans should be watching on Friday.

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No. 2 Avon vs No. 5 Archbishop Hoban

Division II had the toughest OHSAA State Tournament bracket. Three of the top five teams in the state of Ohio are in Division II and two of those teams will play this week with a spot in the state championship on the line. No. 2 Avon (Ohio) vs No. 5 Akron (Ohio) Archbishop Hoban is perhaps the best game in the state of Ohio on Friday night.

Avon is one of the best all-around teams in the state of Ohio. 2025 Kent State quarterback commit Nolan Good calls the shot for the Eagles high-flying offense that has scored at least 28 points in 13 of 14 games this season. Defensively, Avon has 2026 four-star athlete and Ohio State target Jakob Weatherspoon in the secondary. He primarily plays safety for Avon and is an impact player in the backend.

Archbishop Hoban hangs its hat on a strong defense. 2025 Ohio State linebacker commit Eli Lee sets the tone for the Knights defense. Hoban also has 2026 four-star cornerback and Ohio State target Elbert Hill, the No. 1 cornerback in the On3 Industry Rankings, in the secondary. Offensively, the Knights want to run the ball behind 2026 four-star offensive and Ohio State target Sam Greer.

The Knights beat the Eagles 17-14 in the state final four last season.

Score Prediction: Archbishop Hoban 28, Avon 22

Win Probability: Archbishop Hoban 59%, Avon 41%

No. 10 Toledo Central Catholic vs No. 13 Ursuline

There are also three top-15 teams at the Division III level in the state of Ohio. No. 10 Toledo (Ohio) Central Catholic and No. 13 Youngstown (Ohio) Ursuline face on Friday in what should be a strength-on-strength matchup.

Central Catholic is in search of its third straight state championship and second at the Division III level. The Irish have a star-studded defense that features 2026 four-star cornerback and Ohio State target Victor Singleton, the No. 6 cornerback in the On3 Industry Rankings, in the secondary. They have only surrendered 21 points or more in one game this season. Central Catholic also has a few player makers on the offensive side of the ball in 2026 three-star tight end Preston Fryzel and 2026 wide receiver Sharad Vaughn.

Ursuline has a high flying offense. The Irish have scored 24 or more points in all 14 games this season and are coming off a 54-0 win over Cleveland (Ohio) Gilmour Academy in the regional final last week. 2026 wide receiver Devonte Taylor is the name to know for Ursuline. The 6-foot-2 and 185-pound Taylor has 44 receptions for 728 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Score Prediction: Central Catholic 28, Ursuline 21

Win Probability: Central Catholic 62%, Ursuline 38%

No. 25 Glenville vs Perkins

There are a few games this week that feel like state championship games in the state semifinals. No. 25 Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville vs No. 34 Sandusky (Ohio) Perkins feels like one of those games in the OHSAA Division IV State Tournament bracket.

Glenville has won two straight Division IV State Championships and are two wins away from a third. The Tarblooders have one of the best defenses in the state. They have only allowed 20 or more points in three times this season and have only allowed six points combined in the three previous games. The man in the middle of it all for Glenville is 2026 four-star linebacker and Ohio State target Cincere Johnson.

Perkins is another well-round team. Offensively, the Pirates have scored 28 or more points in all but one game this season. 2025 three-star wide receiver and Michigan State commit Braylon Collier is their top playmaker outside but they have several weapons. 2025 Harvard linebacker commit Mikey Young sets the tone for Perkins defensively. They have only allowed 21 or more points in three games this season and two of those times were in the previous two games.

Glenville knocked out Perkins 36-26 in the regional finals last season.

Score Prediction: Perkins 22, Glenville 20

Win Probability: Perkins 53%, Glenville 47%

No. 9 St. Edward vs No. 18 Olentangy Liberty

The game to watch in the OHSAA Division I State Tournament bracket is No. 9 Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward vs No. 18 Powell (Ohio) Olentangy Liberty. St. Edward has won three straight Division I State Championships but Olentangy Liberty could stop that streak. 

The Eagles snuck into the playoffs at 5-5 after losing a lot of talent from last season’s team including three Division I offensive linemen. Regardless, St. Edward has found its stride in the playoffs with four straight double-digit wins. The Eagles do not have the talent that they have had in the past but they are still one of the best teams in Ohio.

Olentangy Liberty has a lot of similarities to St. Edward. The Patriots do not have a plethora of Division I prospects but they are a sound football team. They have only allowed 20 or more points in three games this season while averaging over 20 themselves.

Score Prediction: St. Edward 34, Olentangy 13

Win Probability: St. Edward 90%, Olentangy 10%