If you’ve spent any time at a diner in Massillon or stood on the sidelines in cold November rain in Steubenville, you know that high school football in Ohio isn't just a game. It’s basically a civic religion. And honestly, the 2025 season just wrapped up with some of the most chaotic, bracket-busting results we’ve seen in years. Everyone wants the quick ohio playoff football scores, but the real story is in how the power shifted this winter.
Forget what you thought you knew about the "big three" powerhouse schools. This year, the script got flipped.
The Pioneers Finally Plant Their Flag
For years, if you talked about Division I football in Ohio, the conversation started and ended with Lakewood St. Edward or Cincinnati St. Xavier. But the 2025 state championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton felt different. Lewis Center Olentangy Orange didn’t just show up; they took over.
The Pioneers capped off a perfect 15-0 season by taking down the legendary Cincinnati St. Xavier with a 28-14 victory. It was their first-ever trip to the title game. Most people figured the bright lights of Canton would rattle a first-timer. Instead, Levi Davis looked like a seasoned pro under center.
Davis was everywhere. He went 10-of-18 for 177 yards through the air and two touchdowns, but it was his legs that really broke the Bombers' spirit. He added 93 yards on the ground and a rushing score. When St. Xavier tried to adjust, Lukas Fickel punished them with 133 rushing yards. It was a clinic in balanced offense.
The final score was 28-14, but it felt wider. St. X managed a late 92-yard drive to make things interesting in the fourth, but Orange simply recovered the onside kick and ran the clock out. That’s how you finish a championship.
Avon Goes Back-to-Back
Over in Division II, the Avon Eagles proved that 2024 wasn’t a fluke. They faced off against Cincinnati Anderson in a rematch that had the whole state talking. Last year was a 20-13 defensive grind. This year? A total offensive explosion.
Avon took it 37-20.
Blake Elder was dealing. He tied a Division II state championship record by throwing four touchdown passes. He finished 12-of-18 for 216 yards. But you can't talk about this game without mentioning Quiante Smith. The kid carried the ball 31 times for 180 yards. Think about that for a second. Thirty-one carries in a state final. That is sheer grit.
Anderson tried to mount a comeback, cutting the lead to 27-13 in the third quarter, but Jairel Fenton's diving interception for Avon basically slammed the door. It was a masterclass in opportunistic defense.
The Small School Giants: Kirtland and Glenville
If you follow ohio playoff football scores regularly, you know the name Tiger LaVerde. The Kirtland head coach is essentially a living legend at this point. Kirtland dismantled Bascom Hopewell-Loudon 41-6 to secure their eighth state title.
John Silvestro was the MVP of that one. He tied the Division VI record with four rushing touchdowns and put up a staggering 255 yards on the ground. When Kirtland gets that downhill run game going, there’s nobody in the state—and maybe the country—in that division who can stay on the field with them.
Then you have Cleveland Glenville. The Tarblooders are just a different breed of athlete. They beat Shelby 45-7 in the Division IV final. Jaquan Gibson set the tone early with a 92-yard punt return for a touchdown. That’s the longest in OHSAA state championship history across all divisions.
They’ve now won three titles in the last four years. It’s a dynasty. Period.
Why the Scores Don't Tell the Whole Story
People look at a score like Bishop Watterson’s 30-0 shutout over Toledo Central Catholic in Division III and think it was a boring game. It wasn't. It was a tactical suffocating of a very good Irish team. Watterson didn't just win; they deleted Central Catholic's offense from the playbook.
Then you have the heartbreakers.
Look at the regional finals from late November. St. Henry ending Marion Local’s legendary winning streak with a 24-7 win was the shockwave that moved through the entire Midwest. Marion Local is usually the safest bet in Ohio sports, but St. Henry found the crack in the armor. They eventually took that momentum all the way to a 37-3 win over Hillsdale in the Division VII state final.
2025 OHSAA State Championship Scoreboard
If you missed the action, here is the final tally from the December weekend in Canton:
- Division I: Olentangy Orange 28, St. Xavier 14
- Division II: Avon 37, Cincinnati Anderson 20
- Division III: Bishop Watterson 30, Toledo Central Catholic 0
- Division IV: Cleveland Glenville 45, Shelby 7
- Division V: Liberty Center 35, Wheelersburg 3
- Division VI: Kirtland 41, Hopewell-Loudon 6
- Division VII: St. Henry 37, Jeromesville Hillsdale 3
Making Sense of the Chaos
So, what did we actually learn from these ohio playoff football scores?
First, the "center of gravity" for Ohio football is shifting north and toward the Columbus suburbs. Olentangy Orange winning D-I is a massive statement for the OCC (Ohio Capital Conference). For years, the Southwest District (Cincinnati) dominated the big school division. Orange just proved the gap is closed.
💡 You might also like: Olentangy Liberty Football Roster: Why This Squad Overcame an 0-3 Start
Second, Northeast Ohio is still the king of depth. Between Avon, Glenville, and Kirtland, the Cleveland area is bringing home more hardware than anyone else.
Third, coaching matters more than stars. Look at Liberty Center. They aren't always the biggest team, but they absolutely dismantled a very physical Wheelersburg team 35-3. That’s preparation and execution.
Real Talk for Next Season
If you’re a fan or a parent looking at these results, don't just chase the scoreboard. The teams that won this year—Orange, Avon, Watterson—all had one thing in common: veteran leadership at quarterback.
Blake Elder and Levi Davis weren't just talented; they were composed.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for the 2026 season, start looking at the rosters for teams like Walsh Jesuit or Liberty Center. They're losing some big names, but their developmental programs are so deep that they’ll likely be right back in the hunt.
Also, keep an eye on the "Mr. Football" race. Grady Kinsey from Indian Valley took the honors this year, but with the way some of these juniors performed in the state finals, the 2026 race is going to be wide open.
High school football in Ohio is a moving target. These scores are in the record books now, but the weight rooms are already full again. That’s just how it works here.
Your Next Steps for Following the Offseason
Don't wait until August to start paying attention again. Here is how you stay informed:
- Check the All-Ohio Lists: The OHSAA and the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association (OPSMA) have released the All-Ohio teams for all divisions. This is where you find the under-the-radar names who will dominate next year.
- Follow the Transfer Portal (Yes, even in High School): Keep an eye on local news for coaching changes. A new head coach at a place like Massillon or St. Ed’s can change the entire landscape of a division in one summer.
- Review the Regional Brackets: Go back and look at the 2025 regional semi-final scores. Often, the "real" state championship happens in the regional final (like the St. Henry/Marion Local game). Those are the matchups that define the next season’s rivalries.