Two teams from the Columbus area won Ohio high school state championships on Friday.
Olentangy Liberty (Powell) defeated Mr. Football winner Matt Ponatoski and Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati) in the Division I state championship game, 28-14. Jake Struck, an Ohio State lacrosse commit, helped lead the Patriots to victory by running for 99 yards and a touchdown and catching four passes for 74 yards.
Bishop Watterson (Columbus) defeated Toledo Central Catholic, 19-14, in the Division III state title game. Watterson – whose roster includes several players with family ties to Ohio State including Greg Bellisari’s son Drew (the starting quarterback), Steve Bellisari’s son Carter and Jeff Uhlenhake’s sons Ben and Jake – completed a 16-0 season with the victory.
It’s the first time two teams from the Columbus area have won state championships in the same season since 2010, when Watterson and Bishop Hartley both won titles.
In other action, Avon – whose roster includes a priority 2026 Ohio State target in four-star cornerback Jakob Weatherspoon – defeated Anderson (Cincinnati) to win the Division II state championship in a snowy Thursday night game, 20-13.
Marion Local rolled to a 74-0 victory over Hillsdale in the Division VII championship on Friday morning.
