Columbus area's best games in 2021

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Pickerington North linebacker Eli Coppess (26) hopes to have a big game against crosstown rival Pickerington Central.

After a chaotic 2020 soccer season that was hampered by shortened schedules, last-minute cancellations and a substantial amount of uncertainty, a full 10-game common season is on the docket for 2021.

With the Ohio Excessive Faculty Athletic Affiliation expanding the playoffs to 16 groups per area, the beginning of the common season moved up and begins this week. The primary spherical of the playoffs begins Oct. 29.

As groups throughout central Ohio make their ultimate preparations, here is a have a look at what ought to be among the finest video games every week all through the common season.

Week 1: Eastmoor Academy at Harvest Prep

In 2019, Harvest Prep and Eastmoor Academy performed within the season opener and Eastmoor got here away with a 13-12 win. Harvest Prep went on to succeed in the state semifinals in Division VII.

Two years later, Harvest Prep is in Division V and went 7-2 last season after transferring up two divisions. Eastmoor was the Metropolis League runner-up final yr, completed 5-1 and ought to be one of many teams to beat in the City-South this yr.

Week 2: Westerville South at Westerville Central

Each Westerville South and Westerville Central have excessive expectations after going 7-1 and 7-2, respectively, final yr. The groups did not meet final season, so this early-season matchup of crosstown rivals guarantees to be compelling.

Westerville South huge receiver Kaden Saunders is without doubt one of the most explosive athletes in central Ohio, and his expertise is certain to be on show on this sport.

Week 3: Jonathan Alder at Bloom-Carroll

After going 8-1 and reaching the regional semifinals final yr, Jonathan Alder has a brand new coach, Nate Snedeker. The Pioneers have been undefeated within the Central Buckeye Convention-Kenton Path division final season, and Snedeker is seeking to keep them playing at a high level.

Bloom-Carroll went 9-1 final yr, gained the MSL-Buckeye and gained a regional championship in Division IV. With a lot of the key defensive gamers returning to a group that posted 5 shutouts final season, this matchup of two sturdy groups in Week 3 might be a enjoyable one.

Week 4: Pickerington Central at Pickerington North

Pickerington Central expects to once more be one of the top teams in the state after ending because the Division I state runner-up to Cincinnati St. Xavier final season. However crosstown rival Pickerington North has the potential to problem the Tigers, with linebacker Eli Coppess, a Miami (OH) commit, main the way in which.

Week 5: Prepared at Columbus Academy

Final season, Columbus Academy gained the MSL-Ohio for its first league title since 2017. As an MSL-Ohio auxiliary member, Prepared performs all of the groups within the league however is not eligible to win the league title. Final season, the Silver Knights went 4-2 in opposition to MSL-Ohio groups on their strategy to a 6-3 general file, together with a 33-7 win over the Vikings.

Week 6: DeSales at Hartley

Till the 2020 season, DeSales hadn’t overwhelmed Hartley in three years. However the Stallions flipped the script final yr, beating the Hawks all 3 times they met, together with within the playoffs. It is secure to say that the Hawks might be seeking to get even this yr.

DeSales might be with out star linebacker and working again Jonathan Thompson for approximately half the season after he suffered an ankle damage in a scrimmage on Aug. 13, however that timeline means he might probably return round Week 6. The Stallions want to get him again in time for this sport, which can nicely determine who wins the Central Catholic League.

Week 7: Marysville at Dublin Jerome

Marysville linebacker Gabe Powers, an Ohio State commit, is one of the top defensive talents within the Columbus space and hopes to guide his group on a deep playoff run this season. The Monarchs went 6-2 final season and beat Dublin Jerome within the first spherical of the playoffs.

Jerome, below the course of latest coach Brett Glass, who moved over from Jonathan Alder, is seeking to enhance on final season’s 2-5 file and maybe precise revenge on Marysville after final yr’s playoff loss.

Week 8: Hilliard Darby at Olentangy

Olentangy gained the 2020 matchup 37-6 on its strategy to a 6-3 file. Hilliard Darby completed 4-4, although the Panthers did win their first-round playoff sport. Olentangy has some reloading to do, notably on offense, however the Braves have made the playoffs in eight of the previous 9 seasons.

Week 9: Higher Arlington at Dublin Coffman

Higher Arlington had a troublesome season final fall in Justin Buttermore’s first yr as coach, ending 3-5, however three of these losses have been by 10 factors or fewer to groups that made the playoffs. A type of was the Golden Bears’ loss to Dublin Coffman, which went 8-1 and beat Higher Arlington 24-14 within the common season.

Coffman might be seeking to proceed its success from final yr below new coach Geron Stokes, and this sport ought to be essential for the Shamrocks’ hopes of profitable the OCC-Central.

Week 10: Northland at Beechcroft

When ThisWeek Information predicted league champions, opinions have been break up between Northland (three votes) and Beechcroft (4 votes) within the Metropolis League-North.

Beechcroft gained 30-8 final season, however Northland expects to be more competitive in yr two below Ryan Sayers after ending 3-4 final yr. It is also yr two for Humphrey Simmons at Beechcroft, bucking a latest pattern of coaches lasting just one yr with the Cougars. The 2 packages determine to be on the prime of the league this yr.

There’s nothing fairly like a title-deciding sport within the final week of the common season, and this one might shut out the season with a bang.

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@baileyajohnson_

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