Ohio
These central Ohio high school football players had best second-round OHSAA playoff games
As the number of central Ohio high school football teams remaining in the playoffs dwindles each week, the definition of top performances expands.
Yardage, touchdowns, tackles and sacks take even more of a back seat to a simpler statistic – the final score.
Here is a look at which central Ohio players had the best games in the regional quarterfinal round of the playoffs.
This list was gathered from games covered by the USA Today Network and statistics submitted by area teams. Teams are encouraged to submit stats as soon as possible after games to sports@dispatch.com, dpurpura@dispatch.com and fdirenna@dispatch.com.
Blake Bogenrife, West Jefferson
Stats: The senior receiver caught three passes for 78 yards against No. 6 Toronto in Division VI, Region 23, none bigger than his 40-yard touchdown reception from Austin Buescher with 2:36 left as the third-seeded Roughriders (10-1) won 21-20. West Jefferson converted three third downs on the winning drive.
Next game: Nov. 14 vs. Beverly Fort Frye
Levi Davis, Olentangy Orange
Stats: The Pioneers’ senior quarterback helped break open a close Division I, Region 3 contest, scoring twice in the last 13 minutes and finishing with 342 all-purpose yards (255 rushing, 87 passing) as top-seeded Orange (11-0) went on to a 43-14 win over No. 8 Olentangy Berlin.
Next game: Nov. 14 vs. Olentangy Liberty
RJ Day, DeSales
Stats: The junior quarterback threw for a single-game program-record 482 yards and three touchdowns, including the winning score to Jordan Karhoff from 11 yards with 5 seconds left, to power the No. 2 seed Stallions (9-2) to a 33-29 win over No. 7 Ashland in Division II, Region 7.
Next game: Nov. 14 vs. Massillon Washington
Miles Marshall, Centerburg
Stats: The junior running back amassed 193 yards and all four touchdowns (17, 2, 38 and 4 yards) for the top-seeded Trojans on 26 carries in a 28-14 win over No. 8 West Lafayette Ridgewood in Region 23.
Next game: Nov. 14 vs. North Robinson Colonel Crawford
Edward Oakley, Upper Arlington
Stats: The junior kicker connected on field goals of 29 and 32 yards in the final minutes, the latter in the closing seconds, to turn a three-point deficit for the sixth-seeded Golden Bears (10-2) into a 30-27 win at No. 3 Pickerington North in Region 3. Oakley also kicked a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter.
Next game: Nov. 14 at Pickerington Central
Watch OHSAA football playoffs on NFHS Network
Ben Rucker, Olentangy Liberty
Stats: The junior defensive lineman returned a fumble 43 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, highlighting a defensive effort that saw the fifth-seeded Patriots (8-4) hold No. 4 Olentangy (8-3) to just 22 yards rushing in a 17-0 win in Region 3.
Next game: Nov. 14 at Olentangy Orange
Eli Stumpf, Big Walnut
Stats: The junior quarterback ran for a 16-yard touchdown and passed for scores of 44 and 8 yards to Brody Hatfield in the first half of a Region 7 game against Walnut Ridge, leading the Golden Eagles (10-1) to a 43-0 win. Stumpf completed 10 of 15 passes for 141 yards.
Next game: Nov. 14 vs. Canal Winchester
Nick Vanhoose, North Union
Stats: The senior running back had 121 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, scoring from 12 and 2 yards in the second quarter as the eighth-seeded Wildcats (8-4) blew out No. 1 Williamsburg 47-14 in Division V, Region 20. Griffin Osborne also ran for 106 yards and two touchdowns on six carries.
Next game: Nov. 14 at Carlisle
Cyren Wallace, Danville
Stats: The sophomore running back had eight carries for 118 yards and three touchdowns and returned a second-half interception for another score as the 11th-seeded Blue Devils (7-5) routed No. 3 Fisher Catholic 59-8 in Division VII, Region 27.
Next game: Nov. 14 at Waterford
High school sports reporter Dave Purpura can be reached at dpurpura@dispatch.com and at @dp_dispatch on X.