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From the commissioner:
On behalf of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, I would like to welcome everyone to the 2007-08 school year and wish the stu-
dent-athletes, support personnel and fans the best for a successful season.
Participation in interscholastic athletic programs enriches a student’s high school experience, so we should not lose sight of what is
learned during this opportunity. While we hope young people are playing because they’re having fun, participation in interscholastic ath-
letic programs also promotes citizenship and sportsmanship; instills a sense of pride in community; teaches lifelong lessons of teamwork
and self-discipline, and facilitates the physical and emotional development of our youth. In short, interscholastic athletic programs are vital
to our youth because they provide lessons that are as important as those taught in the classroom and they help prepare our sons and daughters for the next
level of life.
In most interscholastic athletic contests, there will be a winner and a loser, but athletic participation in itself produces winners. So let’s make sure our
focus — win or lose — is to recognize and celebrate the commitment, dedication and determination of the young people competing in the events. Let’s
represent our schools and communities in a positive and respectful manner by speaking and acting responsibly and showing courtesy and respect for our
fellow fans, officials and coaches, contest administrators and authority figures and, of course, our team and the opponents. Let’s remember to “Respect The Game!
I wish everyone the best of luck and a season full of great, great memories!
Sincerely, Dan Ross
Commissioner, Ohio High School Athletic Association

SEASON PREDICTIONS

Who will be league

champions this
season? Members
of ThisWeek’s
sports staff make
their picks:
Lee Cochran Joe Corley Patrick Dolan Brad Emerine Scott Hennen Jarrod Ulrey
Sports editor Assistant sports editor Sportswriter Sportswriter Sportswriter Sportswriter

OCC-Buckeye Hilliard Davidson Dublin Coffman Dublin Coffman Dublin Coffman Hilliard Davidson Hilliard Davidson
OCC-Central Marysville Marysville Marysville Marysville Westerville Central Marysville
OCC-Capital Dublin Scioto Big Walnut Big Walnut Big Walnut Big Walnut Dublin Scioto
OCC-Cardinal Kilbourne Olentangy Pickerington Central Kilbourne Olentangy Kilbourne
OCC-Ohio Hilliard Darby Gahanna Gahanna Gahanna Hilliard Darby Gahanna
MSL-Buckeye Amanda-Clearcreek Amanda-Clearcreek Amanda-Clearcreek Amanda-Clearcreek Amanda-Clearcreek Amanda-Clearcreek
MSL-Cardinal West Jefferson West Jefferson West Jefferson West Jefferson West Jefferson Fisher Catholic
MSL-Ohio Licking Valley Licking Valley Columbus Academy Licking Valley Licking Valley Licking Valley
CCL-Gold Ready Ready Hartley Ready Ready Ready
CCL-Silver Watterson Watterson Watterson Watterson DeSales Watterson
City League-North Northland Northland Brookhaven Northland Beechcroft Brookhaven
City League-South Marion-Franklin Eastmoor Eastmoor Eastmoor Marion-Franklin Independence

INSIDE
OCC-OHIO DIVISION OCC-CENTRAL DIVISION CITY LEAGUE-NORTH DIVISION MSL-OHIO
League overview..................................7 League overview................................34 League overview................................52 League overview................................62

Lancaster ...........................................7
Hilliard Darby.......................................8
Gahanna-Lincoln................................10
Groveport-Madison ............................11
Newark .............................................12
Westland ..........................................14
OCC-BUCKEYE DIVISION
League overview................................16
Hilliard Davidson ...............................16
Dublin Coffman .................................19
Grove City .........................................21
Reynoldsburg ....................................23
Westerville North...............................24
Upper Arlington .................................25
OCC-CARDINAL DIVISION
League overview................................27
Dublin Jerome ...................................27
Olentangy .........................................29
Worthington Kilbourne .......................30
Mount Vernon....................................31
Pickerington Central...........................32
Westerville South ..............................33
Delaware ..........................................34
Thomas Worthington..........................35
Central Crossing................................36
Marysville .........................................37
Westerville Central ............................37
Pickerington North.............................39
OCC-CAPITAL DIVISION
League overview................................41
Big Walnut ........................................41
Dublin Scioto ....................................42
New Albany .......................................44
Franklin Heights ................................45
Olentangy Liberty...............................46
Watkins Memorial..............................47
CCL
League overview................................48
Bishop Watterson..............................48
Bishop Ready....................................49
St. Francis DeSales ...........................50
Bishop Hartley ..................................50
St. Charles........................................51
Brookhaven.......................................52
Beechcroft ........................................53
Centennial ........................................53
Northland .........................................54
Linden-McKinley ................................54
Columbus East..................................55
Mifflin ...............................................55
Whetstone .......................................56
CITY LEAGUE-SOUTH DIVISION
League overview................................57
Marion-Franklin..................................57
Africentric Secondary.........................58
Independence ...................................58
Eastmoor Academy............................59
Briggs...............................................59
Walnut Ridge.....................................60
Columbus South................................60
Columbus West.................................61
August 22, 2007 • Central Ohio High School Football Preview ’07
Columbus Academy ...........................62
Bexley...............................................63
Granville ...........................................64
Heath ...............................................65
Lakewood .........................................65
Licking Valley.....................................66
Newark Catholic ................................67
Whitehall ..........................................68
MSL-BUCKEYE
League overview and roundup ............69
Canal Winchester .............................69
MSL-CARDINAL
League overview and roundup ............70
Grandview Heights.............................70
Licking Heights..................................71
OTHERS
Johnstown-Monroe.............................73
Northridge.........................................73

ON THE COVER: Photo by ThisWeek photographer Adam Cairns 3