Two Olentangy-area football programs learned their first-round playoff opponents after the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) released brackets on Sunday, Oct. 25, and both face Friday, Oct. 30, kickoffs at 7 p.m. with very different paths ahead.
Olentangy Orange, the defending Division I state champion, drew the No. 9 seed in Region 3 and will travel to No. 8 Columbus St. Charles (8-2). The Pioneers finished the regular season 5-5, according to the OHSAA bracket published by NBC4.
Olentangy Berlin earned the No. 5 seed at 8-2 and will host No. 12 Westerville Central (5-5).
Orange faces uphill road
Orange’s title defense begins on the road. A victory at St. Charles would send the Pioneers to top-seeded Gahanna Lincoln on Nov. 6. Orange could host a regional semifinal only if No. 12 Westerville Central advances through the opposite branch of its bracket. Regional finals and subsequent rounds are played at neutral sites. The Pioneers would need six playoff victories to repeat as state champions.
Berlin hosts a struggling Westerville Central
Berlin has won six straight and already beat Westerville Central 24-14 on Sept. 18. The Bears posted an 8-2 regular season and earned a home game. Westerville Central entered the playoffs at 5-5 after a 34-3 loss to New Albany on Friday, Oct. 23, according to MaxPreps. That defeat was the Warhawks' fifth consecutive home loss.
A Berlin win would send the Bears on the road to face No. 4 Olentangy Liberty (6-4) in the regional quarterfinal on Nov. 6. Liberty earned a first-round bye and will host the winner of the Berlin-Westerville Central game.
What's next
The OHSAA playoff bracket runs through early December. Regional quarterfinals are set for Nov. 6, regional semifinals Nov. 13, regional finals Nov. 20 and state semifinals Nov. 27. State title games are scheduled for Dec. 3-5.
Tickets are available through the OHSAA’s ticket website.
