H.S. Football Notebook | Area football teams push for playoff contention

Lancaster High School's 2026 Homecoming queen announced

LANCASTER – Only three area teams – Fisher Catholic, Bloom-Carroll, and Fairfield Union - look to be in the running for the postseason. However, all three of those teams need to keep winning to keep their hopes alive.

If the playoffs began today, Fisher Catholic and Bloom-Carroll would both be in. The Irish are No. 8 in their region, while the Bulldogs stand at No. 12. The Falcons are No. 14, just on the outside looking in. They are travelling to Circleville for a huge game on Friday, Oct. 2. Both teams stand at 4-2 overall. A win by Fairfield Union should vault them into the top 12 of the computer rankings. The top 12 teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.

Fisher Catholic showed what it was made of during its 41-28 win over Miller last week. Leading 19-14 at halftime, disaster struck when the Irish turned it over on their first two offensive possessions to start the second half, and just like that, they found themselves trailing 28-19.

With time running out and things looking grim, Fisher Catholic didn't panic midway through the fourth quarter. Instead, the Irish attacked. The comeback started when Fisher Catholic was pinned back on its own 6-yard line with just nine minutes remaining. On first down, instead of playing it safe and running the ball, the Irish passed. Junior quarterback James Wilkinson connected with Damian Neal on a 94-yard touchdown pass. Wilkinson threw a perfect pass about 40 yards in the air and hit Neal in stride to cut the deficit to 28-26

After the defense got a stop, senior running back Sam Tencza raced 70 yards for a touchdown to give the lead for good, and three minutes later, Ethan O'Rielley sealed it with a 52-yard touchdown jaunt.

Fisher Catholic improved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in the Mid-State League-Cardinal Division. The Irish will host Millersport on Oct. 2 at Fulton Field.

Thanks to Eagle-Gazette contributor Eric Singer, who has compiled season stats, here is a list of the area's leaders.

Passing yards: Carson Kiger, Berne Union – 917 yards; Caiden Schooley – 674; Dean Clark – 662.

Passing touchdowns: Kiger - 13; Clark - 9; James Wilkinson – Fisher Catholic, 7

Pass receptions: Dillan Cornell - Berne Union, 16; Jack Pompey - Lancaster, 13; Chase Allen - Bloom-Carroll, 12; Camden Maynard - Fairfield Union, 12.

Receiving yards: Cornell - 301; Damian Neal, Fisher Catholic – 253; Allen, 249.

Receiving touchdowns: Cornell, 6; James Hocking, Berne Union, 5; Kohen Arnett – Fairfield Union, 4.

Rushing yards: Kyson Cline, Bloom-Carroll, 1,218; Lane Burkhardt – Fairfield Union, 576; Sam Tencza, Fisher Catholic, 525.

Rushing touchdowns: Cline - 13; Burkhardt - 9; Tencza, 6; Ethan O'Rielley, 6.

Tackles: Jackson Reynolds, Lancaster - 73; Cameron Routte, Amanda-Clearcreek - 64; Ethan O'Rielley, Fisher Catholic - 64.

Sacks: Isaac Boyden - Lancaster, 4; Tencza - 3; Jude Clum - Fisher Catholic, 2.

Interceptions: Damian Neal - Fisher Catholic, 3; Jackson Little - Berne Union, 3; James Hocking, Berne Union, 2.

Fairfield Union (4-2) at Circleville (4-2)

Liberty Union (0-6) at Hamilton Township (4-2)

Millersport (2-4) at Fisher Catholic (5-1)

Berne Union (3-3) at Grove City Christian (3-3)

Fairfield Christian Academy (2-4) at Miller (0-6)

Pickerington Central 40, Lancaster 7; Bloom-Carroll 34, Logan Elm 20; Fairfield Union 44, Liberty Union 0; Amanda-Clearcreek 13, Marietta 10; Worthington Christian 56, Berne Union 17; Fairfield Christian Academy 21, Zanesville Rosecrans 0; Fisher Catholic 41, Miller 28; Grove City Christian 42, Millersport 0.

Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @twil2323.