Week 2 of the high school football season delivered a full slate of action-packed matchups across Ohio and Western North Carolina, as teams continued to shape their early-season destinies. With the Friday night lights shining bright on August 29, 2025, fans were treated to a series of dominant performances, nail-biting finishes, and even a few unexpected cancellations that added intrigue to an already electric weekend.
In Ohio, the Suburban League showdown between Highland and Hudson had been circled on calendars for months. Coming off a resounding 49-10 victory over McDowell (Pa.) in Week 1, Highland looked to keep their momentum rolling against a Hudson squad that had impressed with a 28-14 win over Austintown Fitch, a 2024 regional semifinalist. When the dust settled on Friday night, Highland had firmly stamped their authority, shutting out Hudson 32-0. The Hornets' offense clicked into gear after a scoreless first quarter, with Myser punching in two short touchdown runs and Gerding breaking away for a 17-yard score. Lazar added another rushing touchdown, while Kowza nailed a 34-yard field goal to round out the scoring. The defense, meanwhile, stifled Hudson at every turn, limiting them to just 56 rushing yards and forcing two interceptions. Highland moved to 2-0 on the season, while Hudson fell to 1-1.
Elsewhere in the Buckeye State, Aurora put on a clinic against Rocky River Lutheran West, cruising to a 47-0 win on Saturday, August 30. Board led the way with three rushing touchdowns, while Ziegler tossed two scoring passes to Harrell and McGovern. Aurora’s defense was nearly impenetrable, allowing just a single first down and three rushing yards all game. The Hornets’ total yardage dwarfed their opponents, 393 to 20, as they evened their record at 1-1 and left Lutheran West searching for answers at 0-2.
Manchester also made a statement in Week 2, dispatching Sandy Valley 48-13. The Panthers used a balanced attack, with Pappas throwing for two touchdowns, running for another, and even watching Carmichael take a punt return 58 yards to the house. Manchester’s defense held Sandy Valley to negative rushing yards, and the offense racked up 223 yards on the ground. With the win, Manchester improved to 2-0, while Sandy Valley slipped to 0-2.
The scoreboard lit up all over Northeast Ohio. Nordonia overwhelmed East 39-7, thanks to Fakult’s steady play under center and a defense that allowed just 61 yards on the ground. Perry blanked St. Vincent-St. Mary 36-0, with Foster making plays on both sides of the ball—hauling in a touchdown pass and returning an interception for another score. Rootstown flexed its muscles in a 44-6 rout of Springfield, with McEwuen’s 48-yard touchdown run setting the tone early. CVCA rolled past Canton South 42-14, led by Levak’s dual-threat ability, and Walsh Jesuit topped Clark County Springfield 30-6, thanks to a punishing ground game and a defense that forced a safety.
The drama wasn’t limited to blowouts, however. Painesville Riverside edged Green 16-15 in a back-and-forth contest that saw McCaleb break free for a stunning 91-yard touchdown run. Green mounted a late comeback, but Riverside’s defense stiffened in the final moments to preserve the win. Northwest shut out Marlington 35-0, Cuyahoga Falls handled North 33-12, and Mogadore earned a gritty 22-7 victory over Canton Central Catholic, powered by Lehner’s two rushing touchdowns and a defense that forced four fumbles.
Not every matchup went according to plan. The scheduled game between Garfield and Revere was abruptly canceled after Revere reported two confirmed cases of hand, foot and mouth disease. This marked the second consecutive week that an Akron-area contest was scrapped due to the illness, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the high school football season. Despite the setback, 24 games were played Friday, with two more following on Saturday, keeping fans and players alike on their toes.
Looking ahead, excitement is already building for the state finals, set for December 4-6, 2025, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio. With so many teams off to hot starts, the race for playoff spots is sure to be fierce. The Beacon Journal’s power poll and statewide Super 25 rankings provide plenty of fodder for debate, as fans weigh in on which squads have the best shot at postseason glory. The road to Canton is long, but every snap in these early weeks counts.
Meanwhile, in Western North Carolina, Week 2 of the NCHSAA season featured every team in action except for top-ranked Brevard. The spotlight shone brightest on a pair of marquee matchups: No. 2 West Henderson traveling to face No. 6 Hendersonville, and No. 4 Mountain Heritage squaring off with No. 5 Erwin in a highly anticipated rematch. While the full details of these showdowns were still emerging, the region’s football faithful followed along via live scoreboards provided by the Asheville Citizen Times and Hendersonville Times-News.
The Friday night action didn’t disappoint. A.C. Reynolds eked out a 27-26 victory over Maiden, while A.L. Brown rolled past Concord 38-3. Ashbrook put up a staggering 54 points in a rout of Berry, and Carver delivered a statement with a 60-0 demolition of Winston-Salem Prep. Central Davidson racked up 68 points against Atkins, and Christ School cruised past Providence Christian 44-14. Other notable results included Carson outlasting Mount Pleasant 35-32, Crest slipping by Shelby 31-24, and Croatan overwhelming Topsail 49-7.
The competitive spirit was alive and well across the region, with close contests and high-scoring affairs dotting the scoreboard. Lincolnton bested North Lincoln 48-35 in a shootout, Madison handled East Henderson 34-8, and Marvin Ridge dispatched Ballantyne Ridge 38-12. Mountain Heritage, looking to build on last season’s success, got the better of Erwin 30-15 in their much-anticipated rematch. The list of scores stretched on, reflecting the depth and passion of high school football in Western North Carolina.
With Week 2 in the books, teams across Ohio and North Carolina are now sizing up their competition, analyzing game film, and preparing for the challenges ahead. The early results have already reshuffled expectations and set the stage for more drama as the season progresses. There’s no telling which squads will rise, which will stumble, or which storylines will capture the imagination of fans in the weeks to come. But one thing’s for sure—Friday night football is alive and well, and the journey to December’s championships is just heating up.
As the season continues, all eyes turn to the next round of matchups, where new heroes will emerge and more rivalries will be written into the history books. The excitement, unpredictability, and sheer joy of high school football are on full display, promising plenty more thrills for players, coaches, and fans alike.