by Logan Andrew | FreeWire Magazine — Your News, Your Voice
Conference play kicks off for most Crawford County teams Friday night. Below is an overview of each matchup, focusing on player milestones, team trends and the keys to watch.
Buckeye Central (2-1) at Bucyrus (1-2)
Redmen offense: Freshman quarterback Isaac Makeever has completed 31 passes for 440 yards and six touchdowns while helping end Bucyrus’s 22-game losing streak. While Makeever likes to spread the ball, his top target is Christian Neal, who has 17 catches for 170 yards and three scores.
Bucks playmakers: Buckeye Central’s senior quarterback Jack Phillips is a true dual threat; he has 350 passing yards and four TD passes and also 247 rushing yards with four rushing touchdowns. His younger brother Alec Phillips is a reliable receiver with 14 receptions for 177 yards.
Storyline: Bucyrus has shown offensive potential but still allows big plays, while Buckeye Central’s ground game can control the clock. This non-league game is a measuring stick for two rebuilding programs.
Seneca East (2-1) at Wynford (1-2)
Tigers defense: Seneca East has been stingy, giving up just 164.7 yards and 9.7 points per game. Quarterback Nicholas Parks adds balance; he has thrown for 339 yards and rushed for 311 yards, accounting for four total touchdowns.
Royals ground attack: Wynford features the league’s leading rusher Bryce Locker, who has 407 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Braden Campbell has completed 22 of 44 passes for 208 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. Wynford’s offense struggled in a 46-0 loss to Western Reserve and must sustain drives.
Storyline: This is the Northern 10 opener for both teams. Wynford must run the ball effectively against a disciplined Seneca East defense. If the Royals limit turnovers and keep the Tigers’ spread offense off the field, they could pull the upset.
Colonel Crawford (3-0) at Mohawk (3-0)
High-powered offenses: Mohawk enters as the league’s top offense (about 442 yards per game), while Colonel Crawford is close behind at 436.7 yards per game. Both teams have rolled through non-conference play.
Defensive contrast: Mohawk has allowed only 181.3 yards per game, the stingiest mark in the league. Colonel Crawford’s defense gives up 252 yards per game, still good but not as dominant.
Background: Last season Mohawk beat Colonel Crawford 35-7, but this fall the Eagles have looked like a contender. This matchup pits last year’s Northern 10 champion (Mohawk) against the team many expect to win the league in 2025. The winner will have an early lead in the conference race.
Galion (3-0) at Shelby (3-0)
Whippets stars: Shelby’s quarterback Brayden DeVito is rewriting the record book. The Air Force Academy recruit has accounted for 132 touchdowns in his first three seasons (85 passing, 47 rushing) and has thrown for 9,645 career yards. This season he’s continued his torrid pace with 599 passing yards and 323 rushing yards, totaling 13 touchdowns. Receiver Brady Bowman had 78 catches for 1,477 yards and 14 TDs last season, and Shelby boasts the MOAC’s top-rated pass defense from 2024 (allowing 132.3 yards per game).
Tigers playmakers: Galion quarterback Ayden Schmidt rushed for 388 yards and passed for 416 yards with five TDs last fall, averaging 9.9 yards per carry. This season he has thrown for 441 yards. Receiver Jacob Chambers is a game-breaker who caught 43 passes for 603 yards and nine touchdowns and recorded five interceptions on defense last year. Linebacker Trevor Shifley made 100 tackles and forced four fumbles.
Storyline: Galion has outscored its first three opponents 117-20, but Shelby is the defending MOAC champion and averages 8.8 wins per season under coach Rob Mahaney. The Tigers must protect the ball against a veteran Whippets defense and somehow slow DeVito.
Crestline (1-2) at Ashtabula St. John (1-2)
Bulldogs background: Crestline moved to Region 27 this year after reaching the Division VII playoffs in 2024. The Bulldogs have only five postseason appearances in program history, and last year’s berth was their first since 2005. The team snapped a 29-game losing streak last year.
Key players: Junior quarterback Kody Lawhorn threw for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Senior lineman Brett Cheney (6-foot-6, 320 pounds) anchors both lines. Crestline’s schedule lists road games at Vanlue, Mapleton and St. John before returning home. The Bulldogs beat Vanlue 48-6 but dropped games to Buckeye Central and Mapleton, showing that their young offense can score.
Heralds outlook: Ashtabula St. John started 0-2 but rebounded with a 35-0 victory in Week 3. Both teams sit outside the top 12 in their playoff regions and need a win to stay in contention.
Storyline: Crestline’s passing game will test St. John’s secondary, while the Heralds’ ground attack aims to keep the Bulldog offense on the sideline. With both teams sitting at 1-2, the winner can get back to .50
Editor's note: Stats and records are compiled from multiple public sources. FreeWire works to ensure accuracy, but game details and player totals may vary from official school or league reports.
