(8-25-26) We have all witnessed wild opening weeks in Ohio high school football. But this weekend, there were several scores that made me stop and make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

From dominant performances by traditional powers to teams announcing that 2026 may be very different from 2025, Week 1 gave us plenty to unpack.

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest surprises from across the state.

DIVISION I – GAHANNA LINCOLN 35, #9 PICKERINGTON CENTRAL 3

Pickerington Central had no answer for the Lions’ ground game Friday night. Junior running back Leon Cummings was a force, rushing 21 times for 178 yards and a touchdown in Gahanna Lincoln’s convincing win.

Fellow junior Taiwan Johnson spent much of the night in the Tigers’ backfield, racking up three tackles for loss as the Lions held Pickerington Central to just three points.

Gahanna Lincoln gets another tough test in Week 2 when the Lions host Springboro.

DIVISION II – EASTLAKE NORTH 51, NORTH OLMSTED 17

The Rangers haven’t posted a winning season since 2017, but things may be turning around in Eastlake.

Eastlake North opened 2026 by hanging 51 points on North Olmsted, fueled by a punishing ground game and a defense that produced two interception returns for touchdowns from senior Brand Bambrick.

One game doesn’t erase nearly a decade of struggles, but a 34-point road win certainly reshapes expectations for a program that has spent much of that stretch as an also-ran in the Cleveland area.

The Rangers travel to Valley Forge in Week 2 with a chance to prove opening night was more than a one-week surprise.

DIVISION III – CELINA 38, #2 (D-VI) ST. HENRY 35

It was either this or St. Marys’ 36-12 win over #5 (D-V) Galion, but Celina gets the nod after knocking off the defending Division VII state champions.

Trailing at halftime, the Bulldogs came out of the locker room and surged ahead 28-21 early in the third quarter. St. Henry continued to answer, but Celina fought off the Redskins throughout the fourth quarter to hold on for a 38-35 victory.

The result, however, was overshadowed by a serious spinal injury suffered by Celina senior quarterback Parker Wynk while attempting to recover a fumble late in the second quarter. Wynk remained motionless on the field before being transported for treatment.

Tuesday — Parker Wynk Update

His family has since reported encouraging signs of improved movement and sensation as the Grand Lake and Mercer County communities continue to rally around him and his family.

DIVISION IV – OTTAWA-GLANDORF 52, #3 (D-V) LIBERTY-BENTON 7

Staying in the Western Buckeye League, Ottawa-Glandorf may have produced the biggest reversal of Week 1.

One year ago, Liberty-Benton shut out the Titans 35-0 in the season opener. This time, O-G flipped the script completely, rolling to a 52-7 running-clock victory in Ben Kaufman’s debut as head coach.

The loss was Liberty-Benton’s first in the regular season since August 2024 and immediately makes Ottawa-Glandorf a team worth watching after a difficult 2025 campaign.

The Titans open WBL play Friday at rival Defiance.

DIVISION V – #6 WHEELERSBURG 63, PORTSMOUTH 0

Not an upset, per se. But the margin certainly raised some eyebrows.

Fans of both programs entered the opener expecting a more competitive game between the longtime Scioto County rivals. Instead, Wheelersburg looked like it was already in midseason form.

The Pirates scored on every possession, rolled up 473 yards of offense and received a nearly flawless performance from quarterback Jack Doerr, who completed 10 of 11 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns.

Wheelersburg entered the season as one of several challengers for the Division V state championship. After Week 1, the Pirates looked every bit the part.

DIVISION VI – PARKWAY 27, BROOKVILLE 14

If you’re looking for the truest definition of a Week 1 surprise, look no further than Rockford.

Parkway didn’t merely beat a historically rugged Brookville program, 27-14. The Panthers snapped an 18-game losing streak in the process.

That’s no small accomplishment for a program that has spent years fighting uphill in the gauntlet that is the Midwest Athletic Conference. Opening 2026 by physically controlling a perennial Southwest Buckeye League contender is the kind of victory that can change the expectations surrounding a program.

One Friday night doesn’t make a season, especially with the MAC schedule waiting. But for the first time in a while, Parkway gets to enter Week 2 with some momentum.

DIVISION VII – #11 DANVILLE 48, #9 DALTON 12

Week 1 delivered plenty of lopsided scores, but few made waves like Danville’s 48-12 dismantling of Dalton.

Against a Dalton program just three years removed from playing for a Division VII state championship, the Blue Devils didn’t merely win—they ambushed the Bulldogs.

Danville led 26-0 after the first quarter behind Cyren Wallace, who rushed for 130 yards and four touchdowns. By the time Dalton had a chance to settle into the season, the game was already getting away from them.

Danville entered 2026 with plenty of ambition. After one week, it is increasingly difficult to view the Blue Devils’ ceiling as merely another Knox Morrow Athletic Conference championship.