Two Olentangy football programs will meet in the OHSAA Division I, Region 3 regional quarterfinal Friday, Nov. 6, when No. 5 Berlin (9-2) travels to No. 4 Liberty (6-4) in Powell for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

The matchup pits a pair of conference champions against each other. Liberty clinched a share of the Ohio Capital Conference (OCC) Central Division title with a 21-15 win over Olentangy Orange on Oct. 23, according to the Olentangy Liberty student newspaper, the Patriot Press. Berlin, meanwhile, claimed the OCC Cardinal Division crown after running back Owen Miller rushed for a career-best 174 yards on 34 carries in an 18-6 win over Olentangy, the Delaware Source reported.

The Patriots earned the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye, according to the Columbus Dispatch's playoff bracket. Berlin entered the postseason as the No. 5 seed at 8-2 and won its first-round game to improve to 9-2.

Liberty's offense has leaned on quarterback Alex Leonard and running back Grayson Davis. In the regular-season finale against Orange, Leonard threw for two touchdowns and added rushing yards, while Davis contributed 156 total yards and a touchdown, the Patriot Press reported. The Delaware Source put Leonard's passing line at 18-of-24 for 201 yards with 57 rushing yards and a score.

Defensive lineman Jackson Lane has anchored Liberty's front. Lane told the Patriot Press the Orange game revealed both the team's strengths and its areas for improvement.

"The orange game was just a way to show how good of a team we were. It also showed our flaws and how we can work to overcome them," Lane said.

Lane said the bye week gave Liberty time to get healthy and prepare. "We can't get too comfortable or lose focus just because we have a week off," he said. "We know the playoffs are a different level, so we have to stay locked in and keep working."

Berlin brings a physical ground game led by Miller, who carried the ball 34 times in the regular-season finale. The Bears' two losses were a 24-0 defeat at Upper Arlington on Aug. 28 and the 27-17 loss against Liberty on Sept. 11.

Orange draws undefeated Gahanna

In the other Region 3 quarterfinal involving an Olentangy school, No. 9 Orange (6-5) travels to No. 1 Gahanna Lincoln (10-0) on Friday at 7 p.m., according to NBC4. Gahanna earned the top seed and a first-round bye after a perfect regular season.

As we reported Oct. 29, three Olentangy schools reached the OHSAA playoffs this fall.

Winners of Friday's quarterfinals advance to the regional semifinals on Nov. 13. Tickets go on sale at the OHSAA website the Monday before each game.