by Logan Andrew | FreeWire Magaine — Your News, Your Voice
It’s Week 13 of the high school football playoffs, and two Crawford County teams with strong traditions look to extend their seasons on Friday night. Colonel Crawford travels to top-seeded Centerburg, while Galion hosts Sandusky Perkins, with berths in their respective regional championship games at stake.
No. 5 Colonel Crawford (11-1) at No. 1 Centerburg (10-1) – Div. VI Region 23
Both teams advanced with convincing wins last week: Colonel Crawford rolled past Mount Gilead 42–8, and Centerburg defeated Ridgewood 28–14. The Eagles have been red-hot, while the Trojans enter on a nine-game winning streak after a lone Week 2 loss. Colonel Crawford’s only defeat came in league play against Carey, whereas Centerburg’s sole blemish was a 42–14 setback to Johnstown early in the season.
Coach Jake Bruner praised the Trojans as a fast, athletic team that “run[s] to the ball well” on defense. He knows upsetting the top seed on their home field will be difficult, saying, “They are the number one team in the region for a reason. 81 for them — 21 Div 1 offered 4 power 5 teams. And at their place they are picked to beat us by two scores. Tall task but let's go.”
Centerburg’s defense is anchored by junior tight end/defensive end Jackson Ballinger, a 6-foot-4 playmaker with 21 FBS scholarship offers, including multiple Big Ten and SEC programs. The Trojans have not given up more than 14 points in any game since Week 4, recording four shutouts in that span. First-team All-KMAC defenders like Ballinger, linebacker Aiden Gray, and lineman Tommy Hause have consistently swarmed to the ball to stifle opponents.
The Trojans also boast an explosive offense averaging roughly 40 points per game. Senior running back Miles Marshall powers the ground game with 1,548 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, while dual-threat quarterback Blane Ball – the KMAC Player of the Year – has passed for about 1,300 yards and rushed for 1,100 with 25 total touchdowns this season. Thanks to an all-conference offensive line, Centerburg averages nearly 300 rushing yards per game and an impressive 10 yards per carry.
Colonel Crawford’s offense can light up the scoreboard as well. Senior running back Connor McMichael leads the Eagles with 1,334 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on the year. The Eagles employ a balanced attack – quarterbacks Peyton Baker and Brayden Holt have combined for 24 touchdown passes this season – often striking with big plays. Top target Parker Weithman has 1,171 receiving yards on 55 catches, including a breakout four-catch, 187-yard, three-touchdown performance in last week’s victory. Overall, Colonel Crawford’s offense has averaged nearly 40 points per game behind its blend of power running and timely deep passes.
Defensively, the Eagles have been stout, yielding only about 220 total yards per game. All-Ohio defensive end Payne DeGray anchors the unit with 30 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks this season, spearheading a relentless pass rush. Sophomore linebacker Gabe Stratton leads Colonel Crawford in tackling with 78 total stops, while the defense as a whole has routinely held opponents to low point totals.
The winner of this semifinal will advance to face either West Jefferson or Fort Frye in the regional final next week.
No. 6 Sandusky Perkins (9-3) at No. 2 Galion (10-1) – Div. IV Region 14
Galion is enjoying a historic season, reaching the regional semifinals for the first time since its 1985 state championship campaign. The Tigers earned this berth with a 41-10 rout of Cloverleaf in last week’s regional quarterfinal. Galion’s only loss came in a Week 4 shootout against top-seeded Shelby, 45-34, a game in which the Tigers led early. Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Perkins is the defending Division IV state runner-up, having fallen by one point (37-36) in last year’s title game. The Pirates bring plenty of postseason experience and momentum into this matchup.
Perkins started the 2025 season just 1-3 but has since reeled off eight straight wins. Coach Jalen Santoro’s squad is firing on all cylinders, outscoring its two playoff opponents 82-7 so far (51-7 in the first round, 31-0 in the second). Senior quarterback Sam Schweinfurth directs a potent offense, having thrown for 2,340 yards, 26 touchdowns, and only one interception to date. His favorite target, Blake Parker, has amassed 1,174 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a big-play wideout.
The Pirates also boast a swarming defense that has held seven opponents under 10 points this year. In last week’s 31-0 win over Napoleon, Perkins forced four turnovers and got out to a fast start. Defensive back Bryce Davie grabbed his fifth interception of the season in that game, tying a school career record of 11 picks. “We’re playing good football at the right time, and this is when you want to be playing your best,” Santoro said of his team’s upward trend.
Galion’s offense is balanced and efficient. Dual-threat quarterback Ayden Schmidt has completed 106 of 183 passes for 1,792 yards and 20 touchdowns (against seven interceptions) this year, while also contributing as a runner when needed. The Tigers utilize a committee approach in the backfield – remarkably, seven different players rushed for over 100 yards during the regular season – which keeps the ground game fresh. Sophomore Braxton Stuckman stepped up with 79 rushing yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers’ quarterfinal victory, and he is one of several backs capable of making big plays behind Galion’s veteran offensive line.
The Tigers’ defense has been outstanding all season, posting four shutouts and not allowing more than 20 points in any game except the Shelby loss. Senior linebacker Cameron Kuehlman (130 tackles) is the leading tackler and tone-setter in the middle, while defensive back Kane Hay has a team-high five interceptions in the secondary. On the edge, junior defensive end Zach Sallee has recorded 13 sacks to bolster the pass rush. “It’s a fun crew to watch. The whole defense is fun to watch,” Galion head coach Matt Dick said of his unit.
With a stingy defense and a versatile offense, Galion has reached heights not seen in decades – and one more win could set up a much-anticipated rematch with Shelby in the regional final (Shelby faces Lima Bath in the other semifinal).
Sources: High school football playoff coverage by Crawford County Nowcrawfordcountynow.comcrawfordcountynow.com, Your Ohio News and local mediayourohionews.comyourohionews.com, Richland Sourcerichlandsource.comrichlandsource.com, and Sandusky Register reportingcrawfordcountynow.comcrawfordcountynow.com. Each outlet provided game recaps, coach quotes, and analysis that informed this preview. All statistics and records are as reported through the regional quarterfinal round of the 2025 OHSAA playoffs. The stage is set for an exciting Friday night of high school football, with regional championship berths on the line in both Division VI and Division IV. Good luck to all teams involved – no predictions, just an anticipation of great competition under the lights.
