NEO High School Football Playoff Week 1: Avon Lake upsets Avon

The Ohio High School playoffs are underway and it was a great week of action to kick off the road to Columbus! Week 1 of the playoffs saw some great performances mixed in with a few huge upsets that have changed the landscape moving forward. No. 1 seeds went down to No. 8 seeds, opening up the region for other teams. But, the cream of the crop showed their talent and took care of business. It was a great and a fun week of football.

So, what happened in Week 1 of the Ohio high school football playoffs? Let’s take a look at what went on this week in the high school football in Northeast Ohio.

NEO HS Football Recap: Season Preview, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Playoff Preview, Playoff Wk 1

Notable Scores from Northeast Ohio

Division I

St. Ignatius 35 Massillon Jackson 0

Dublin Jerome 42 Findlay 7

St. Edward 42 Euclid 7

Lorain 34 Lewis Center Olentangy 14

Medina 38 Toledo Whitmer 31

Olentangy Liberty 24 Olentangy Orange 17

Solon 39 Canton GlenOak 10

Stow 35 Canton McKinley 10

Division II

Aurora 40 Barberton 13

Avon Lake 27 Avon 26

Chardon 56 Bedford 6

Dublin Scioto 31 Massillon Washington 21

Hudson 29 Copley 25

Massillon Perry 21 Uniontown Lake 7

Olmsted Falls 31 Midview 28

Warren Harding 56 Brecksville 48

Westlake 48 Holland Springfield 41

Anthony Wayne 21 Glenville 7

Division III

Akron East 50 Marlington 37

Archbishop Hoban 37 Howland 0

University School 49 Bowling Green 45

Lexington 29 Clyde 28

New Philadelphia 17 Buckeye 14

Sandusky 42 Ashland 7

St. Vincent-St. Mary 42 Dover 7

Toledo Central Catholic 41 Bay 7

Division IV

Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 28 Crestwood 27

Woodridge 18 Struthers 6

Perry 49 Holy Name 35

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 27 Hubbard 9

Division V

Canton Central Catholic 28 Manchester 7

Garrettsville Garfield 31 Canfield South Range 21

LaBrae 29 Wickliffe 26

Black River 48 Grand Valley 24

Division VI

Cuyahoga Heights 24 Hillsdale 7

Kirtland 21 Dalton 0

St. Thomas Aquinas 21 David Anderson 18

Springfield 40 Columbia 39

Division VII

Arlington 21 Lucas 19

Crestview 54 Tiffin Calvert 20

Hicksville 33 Leipsic 16

McComb 56 Lakeside Danbury 8

Mogadore 55 Jackson-Milton 6

Monroeville 55 Windham 6

Norwalk St. Paul 56 East Canton 20

Warren JFK 38 Toronto 0

Best Performance

Olmsted Falls beats Midview, 31-28

Coming into the game, Midview was 9-1 and the No. 3 seed in Division II, Region 6, while Olmsted Falls was 7-3 and the No. 6 seed. The Middies had beaten the Bulldogs earlier in the regular season, 28-21. But, Olmsted Falls led a lot of the game, taking a 17-14 lead at halftime and then gaining the biggest lead of the game midway in the fourth at 31-20. Olmsted Falls had an outstanding performance from their senior running back, Spencer Linville. Linville rushed for 229 yards and two touchdowns. Olmsted Falls was able to hold the Middies offense, led by star quarterback Dustin Crum, to just 28 points, which is tied for their lowest point total this season. Midview almost came back to win, but the Bulldogs were able to thwart two possible touchdown passes to seal the victory. It was an impressive revenge victory by Olmsted Falls to beat Midview.

Biggest Surprise

Avon Lake upsets Avon, 27-26

Avon Lake taking down Avon was the biggest upset and surprise of the week. Avon came into the game at 10-0 and the No. 1 seed in Division II, Region 6, while Avon Lake walked into the game at 7-3 and the No. 8 seed. What made this an even bigger upset was that in Week 2 this season, Avon cruised past Avon Lake, 31-7. In Friday night’s game, Avon Lake started the game in a big hole, trailing the Eagles 23-7. But, a 20-point third quarter helped Avon Lake rebound from the deficit and overtake Avon. The fourth quarter was a defensive fight, with neither team scoring a point in that the final stanza. Senior quarterback Mark Pappas, who threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns, led the Shoremen in the victory. It was a huge monumental win that will change the landscape of the Division II playoffs.

Best Individual Performance

QB Jayden Cunnigham, University School

Quarterback Jayden Cunningham had a game for the ages, leading his University School Preppers to a 49-45 win over Bowling Green. Cunningham threw for 347 yards, while rushing 37 times for 288 yards and four touchdowns. He led his team back from a 14-point deficit to beat Bowling Green.

Final Regular Season Top 10

10. Medina– Win

9. Cuyahoga Heights– Win

8. Chardon– Win

7. Midview– Loss

6. St. Edward– Win

5. Avon– Loss

4. Solon– Win

3. Stow– Win

2. St. Ignatius– Win

1. Archbishop Hoban-Win

5 Big Game Picks for Week 2 of the Playoffs

St. Ignatius over Solon

Stow over St. Edward

Aurora over Hudson

Warren Harding over Chardon

Archbishop Hoban over St. Vincent-St. Mary

Last Week’s Results and Overall Game Pick Record

St. Ignatius over Massillon Jackson- Correct

St. Edward over Euclid- Correct

Stow over Canton McKinley- Correct

Hudson over Copley- Correct

Chardon over Bedford- Correct

Overall Record: 5-0

All stats come from Cleveland.com