Three Olentangy football programs qualified for the OHSAA Division I, Region 3 playoffs this fall. Olentangy Orange and Olentangy Berlin play first-round games this week, while Olentangy Liberty earned a bye.

The Olentangy Braves finished 14th in the region. They did not qualify.

Orange at St. Charles

The ninth-seeded Pioneers (5-5) travel to eighth-seeded St. Charles (8-2) on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m., according to the Columbus Dispatch. The winner advances to top-seeded Gahanna Lincoln (10-0) on Nov. 6.

Orange went 15-0 last season on its way to the Division I state title. Only three players returned in the same positions this year, the Delaware Source reported.

One of those returners switched spots. Junior Colby Luling, the Pioneers' starting safety last season, is playing quarterback. He has completed 52 of 116 passes for 612 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also rushed for 571 yards and eight touchdowns on 106 carries.

Sophomore running back James Schuh had 106 carries for 571 yards and six touchdowns but missed the Pioneers' last game with an injury. Coach Wes Schroeder said he is hopeful Schuh will return against the Cardinals.

Senior receiver Jake Luling, Colby's brother, has 20 receptions for 264 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, senior safety Brock Miller leads with 75 tackles. Senior linebackers Brennan Kesler (64 tackles, six tackles-for-loss, four sacks) and Matt Pizzino (65 tackles, four tackles-for-loss) anchor the unit alongside him.

"Once you get into the playoffs, you just got to be the better team on one night," Schroeder said. "You just got to be better one time."

Berlin hosts Westerville Central

Fifth-seeded Berlin (8-2) hosts 12th-seeded Westerville Central (5-5) in the first round. The Delaware Source listed the game date as Oct. 31, while the Dispatch bracket listed all first-round games on Oct. 30. The winner travels to Powell to face Liberty.

Berlin has won six straight. The Bears started 2-2 before rolling off wins in each of their final six games, including an 18-6 victory over Olentangy on Oct. 23 that clinched their fifth consecutive league title. That result also knocked the Braves out of playoff contention.

Liberty earns bye

The fourth-seeded Patriots (6-4) earned a first-round bye and will host the Berlin-Westerville Central winner. Liberty opened the season with three consecutive losses to Lakewood St. Edward, Cleveland Glenville and Gahanna before recovering to share the OCC-Central title with Upper Arlington at 4-1 in league play. The Patriots' only conference loss came to Hilliard Davidson, 12-6, on Oct. 16.

A Berlin win in the first round would set up a rematch in Powell. Liberty beat the Bears 27-17 in Week 4 in Delaware.