Olentangy Liberty opens its home schedule Aug. 28 against Glenville in a matchup of state champions looking to rebound from Week 1 losses.
Both teams dropped their openers on Aug. 21. Liberty fell 15-12 at No. 2-ranked St. Edward in Lakewood, while Glenville, the defending Division IV state champion, lost 31-18 at Massillon.
The game pits third-year Liberty head coach John Sansbury's Patriots against Ted Ginn Sr.'s Tarblooders, who won their third title in four years last season. It's the second straight year the teams have met; Glenville beat Liberty early in the 2025 season.
"We'll know in the next week or two if we learned something," Ginn told cleveland.com after the Massillon loss, referencing his team's upcoming road trip to Powell.
What Liberty brings
The Patriots return a loaded senior class from last year's 8-5 squad. Senior running back Grayson Davis, a Columbia University commit in his third year as a starter, headlines the offense alongside quarterback Alex Leonard, the younger brother of 2024 title-winning signal-caller Andrew Leonard.
Sansbury told the Delaware Gazette on Aug. 11 that his team embraces the gauntlet: "We have one of the toughest schedules in Ohio, and we like that … We have to bring our best every week."
Receiver Carter Nelson and offensive linemen Keagan Ryan and Brock Allen anchor the rest of the offense. Defensively, linemen Ben Rucker and Jackson Lane lead a deep unit Sansbury has said he plans to rotate to keep fresh.
What Glenville brings
Glenville managed just 146 total yards against Massillon and was flagged 10 times for 71 yards. Senior quarterback LaMarques Greenwood II left the Massillon game with cramping. His availability Friday is uncertain.
If Greenwood can't go, backup Elvis Koutsakis would step in. James Madison commit Da'Von McDougle anchors the ground game, while 6-foot-4 junior receiver Emiere Lemons and speedy senior DeAnthony "Duke" Crittenden give the Tarblooders big-play potential on the outside. Colorado commit Kaylon Bailey has moved from defensive end to middle linebacker.
Ginn cited missed tackles and execution errors after the Massillon loss. A defeat Friday would give Glenville its first 0-2 start since 2021.
Tickets and season passes
The Liberty football program announced on X on Aug. 25 that season tickets, branded as the Patriot Pass, are on sale with reserved seating available for the home opener and beyond.
Up next
After Friday's game, Liberty hosts Gahanna Lincoln in Week 3. Glenville travels to Columbus to face defending Division III state champion Bishop Watterson.
