Ohio High Schoolk Football: Olentangy overwhelms St. X, Avon repeats. Basketball season is here!

Olentangy Orange proved their undefeated season was no fluke, making decisive work of St. Xavier in the Division I Ohio State Championship game. On a frigid night in Canton, the two best teams in D1 football squared off in what many believed would be a true 50/50 matchup.

Both teams were loaded with star power — St. X featuring in my opinion, the best linebacker corp in the state, and Olentangy boasting a complete roster with no real weaknesses, led by quarterback Levi Davis, who some believe should have been Ohio’s Mr. Football. When the smoke cleared, Olentangy left no doubt — they were indeed, the best team in the state.

What stood out immediately was Olentangy’s ability to move the football. Levi Davis, an Ohio University commit and true dual-threat quarterback, presented a matchup problem St. X simply couldn’t solve. His ability to extend plays outside the pocket broke down the St. X defense, opening up lanes both through the air and on the ground. His legs consistently kept drives alive, and his deep ball was equally dangerous.

Davis finished the night 10-of-18 for 177 yards and 2 passing touchdowns, while adding 93 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. His connection with MC Walker was a major factor, as Walker hauled in 5 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Lucas Fickell was a workhorse all night, carrying the ball 31 times for 133 yards and a touchdown, helping control the tempo and wear down the St. X defense. And for the record, this kid is one of the most underrated RB's in the state.

On the other side, St. X’s offense struggled against an underrated and disciplined Olentangy defense. Quarterback Jackson Frey finished 9-of-14 for 65 yards with an interception, unable to find any rhythm against the Orange.

In the end, Olentangy Orange delivered a complete performance on the biggest stage — cementing their place as Ohio’s Division I state champions, their first in school history.

Division II Recap

In Division II, Avon vs. Anderson delivered another high-level matchup. Going into the game, I thought Anderson might be the team to break through this year. While I didn’t get a chance to watch Avon closely throughout the season, the stats told the story — they were special and entered the game as the defending state champions.

After watching Anderson match up against a fast, dangerous Winton Woods team earlier in the year, I believed they had the talent to be a top-three team in Ohio, regardless of division. However, when the two met on the field, Avon once again proved why they sit at the top of Division II.
Avon controlled the game and pulled away for a 37–20 victory, securing back-to-back Division II state championships. Anderson battled, but once again had to settle for second place as Avon reaffirmed themselves as the clear-cut No. 1 team in the division.

Overall, this was an outstanding season of Ohio high school football, and it was truly a pleasure to be part of it. Congratulations to all the teams, players, and coaches who made this year special. Best of luck to the seniors as they move on to the next chapter of their journeys.