Olentangy Liberty tries to avoid an 0-3 start Sept. 4, when the Patriots host No. 5-ranked Gahanna Lincoln at 7 p.m.

Liberty (0-2) fell to Lakewood St. Edward 15-12 in Week 1 and Cleveland Glenville 34-13 in Week 2. The losses dropped the Patriots out of the Central Ohio Top 10 after they entered the season ranked No. 5. The slide mirrors 2025, when Liberty also opened 0-3 before rallying to finish 6-3 in the regular season, according to 270 Gridiron.

Head coach John Sansbury acknowledged the gauntlet before the season started. "We have one of the toughest schedules in Ohio, and we like that … We have to bring our best every week," Sansbury told the Delaware Gazette in August.

Gahanna (2-0) has allowed just 10 total points through two games. The Golden Lions beat Pickerington Central 35-3 in Week 1 and Springboro 24-7 in Week 2, cleveland.com reported. Gahanna used a balanced attack against Springboro with 157 yards rushing and 156 yards passing. The Golden Lions are also ranked No. 24 in the state by SI.

Liberty's returning backfield of quarterback Alex Leonard and running back Grayson Davis, a Columbia University commit and third-year starter, will need to carry the load against that defense.

Orange visits Olentangy in all-district matchup

Defending Division I state champion Olentangy Orange (1-1) travels to Olentangy (0-2) Friday in a crosstown game. Orange bounced back from a 21-6 Week 1 loss to Olentangy Berlin with a 33-0 shutout of Westerville North on Aug. 28. The Pioneers sit at No. 6 in the Central Ohio rankings and No. 16 in the state.

The Braves have been outscored 85-14 through two weeks, falling to Upper Arlington 40-7 in Week 1 and Perrysburg 45-7 in Week 2, according to the Columbus Dispatch.

Berlin heads to Centerville

Olentangy Berlin (1-1) travels to Centerville on Friday looking to rebound after a 24-0 loss to Upper Arlington in Week 2. The Bears opened the season with a 21-6 win over Orange, a result head coach Mark Nori valued after Berlin lost its first five games in 2025, according to the Dispatch's Week 1 takeaways. Berlin is ranked No. 9 in the Central Ohio Top 10.

Centerville lost to Oakland, Tennessee 50-20 in Week 2.

Friday's schedule

  • Gahanna Lincoln (2-0) at Olentangy Liberty (0-2), 7 p.m.
  • Olentangy Orange (1-1) at Olentangy (0-2)
  • Olentangy Berlin (1-1) at Centerville