Morgan’s Tanner Bankes (22) waits for a play call from the sidelines during a game earlier this season against Marietta at Don Drumm Stadium. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

COAL GROVE — The Morgan Raiders qualified for the playoffs for the third time in four seasons and now have their sights on advancing when they open the Division V, Region 19 playoffs at Dawson-Bryant Friday evening.

The Raiders last advanced to the playoffs back in 2023 when they lost to Sheridan 49-28. They’ve never won a playoff game, but are hoping to change that.

The 2025 campaign started very well for Morgan head coach Seth Brown and his Raiders as they downed both Marietta and Warren in their first two games.

Losses to New Lexington and Tri-Valley followed but the Raiders got the job done down the stretch as they reeled off five wins in their final six games, including last week’s 21-12 win over arch-rival Philo that secured the playoff berth.

The Raiders come into the game averaging just under 25 points per game while yielding 21.

Running back Tanner Bankes fuels the Morgan offense. He has 178 carries, 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. Quarterback Haiden Pauley has enjoyed a productive senior year, passing for 1,154 yards and seven TDs while completing 64.7% of his attempts. Casen Foley, McGwire Winner, Hayden Bankes and Arlis Ponchak are some of his top targets.

The Hornets come into the game with an 8-2 mark and will be making their sixth consecutive appearance in the post season.

Last year Dawson-Bryant fell to Harvest Prep 40-6 in their playoff opener.

The Hornets are averaging just under 30 points per game while allowing their opponents to score 14.4 points per contest.

Key players for Dawson-Bryant include quarterback Rylan Smith and all-purpose backs Kaden Murphy and Caden Turner.

After losing two of their first three games of the season the Hornets finished the regular season with a seven-game winning streak.

The winner will advance to take on No. 1 seeded Wheelersburg.

No. 10 Caldwell at

No. 7 Grove City Christian

GROVE CITY — The Caldwell Redskins hope that their outstanding finish to the 2025 regular season carries over into the postseason Friday night when they visit the Grove City Christian Eagles in a Division VI, Region 23 playoff opener.

The Chance Rucker-coached Redskins finished the season with a solid 7-3 mark including wins in six of their final seven games.

In their regular season finale, Caldwell picked up a 19-14 win over their arch-rivals the Shenandoah Zeps in the “Noble County Super Bowl,” played for the very first time this season on the Redskins’ brand new field.

The season got off to a bit of a tough start for the Redskins as they lost to Waterford and Tuslaw in weeks two and three to begin their season with a 1-2 record.

The ‘Skins recovered with back-to-back wins over Monroe Central and Edison and, after a week-six loss to Fort Frye, ran the table the rest of the way to punch their tickets to the postseason for the sixth consecutive year.

Caldwell comes into the game averaging just under 30 points per game offensively while yielding just over 15 to their opponents.

Quarterback Izic Cool, running back Gavin Leake, receiver Brody Chandler and linebacker Jonah Moracco are among the key contributors for the Redskins, whose playoff run ended in the first round last year to Northmor (42-0).

The two teams played one common opponent in 2025 as they both picked up lopsided wins over Bishop Rosecrans.

The Eagles blanked the Bishops 38-0, while Caldwell rolled to a 63-28 win.

Among the key players for GCC are quarterback Douglass Housley, receiver Josiah Harmeyer and running back Giovanni Cotton.

The Eagles come into the game averaging 37.1 points on offense while surrendering an average of 9.5 points per game.

Grove City Christian blanked four of their opponents on their way to an 8-2 regular season record.

The Eagles were also eliminated in their playoff opener last year as they suffered a 23-14 defeat by Newcomerstown.

The winner will advance to play at Fort Frye on Nov. 7.