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Week 1 of the 2025 Ohio high school football season is in the books. Check out the key developments, big performances and top teams in Greater Canton.

Ohio's 2025 high school football season is off and running.

Let's take a look back at the key developments and big stars from Week 1 in Greater Canton, and how the local teams stack up power-poll style. We'll also peek ahead at what awaits in Week 2.

Let's start with the headlines from the opening week.

Perry head coach Spencer Leno addresses his team at Central Catholic, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025.

Winning debuts for Perry's Spencer Leno and McKinley's Renzy Parnell

They weren't perfect performances. But Perry and Canton McKinley ended up impressing in the debuts of their respective coaches, the Panthers' Spencer Leno and the Bulldogs' Renzy Parnell. Both teams produced numerous big plays and showcased defenses that aren't shy about getting physical as Perry beat Central Catholic 41-14 and McKinley beat Warren Harding 43-25. The Panthers gained 400 yards of offense, including 182 through the air. McKinley's defense was rugged and provided the added bonus of scoring twice on a 92-yard interception return by Chris Crook and a 38-yard fumble return by Amare Mitchell.

Massillon’s Giorgio Jackson eludes Glenville’s Carter Yancy for a long gain in the first half at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.

Thriller in Tigertown: Massillon vs. Glenville

It was billed as one of the best Week 1 matchups in the state, and it lived up to the hype. A Tigers team working in a number of new players in key positions rallied in the second half but ended up falling short 33-27 in overtime to loaded Glenville. Massillon isn't the kind of program looking for moral victories, but it feels like this could be an experience it takes a lot of positives from going forward. Indiana recruit Ja'Dyn Williams made 17 tackles at linebacker. Savior Owens rushed for 131 yards and a score. Mandwell Patterson threw for three touchdowns in his first start at quarterback.

Louisville head coach Chris Kappas celebrates a play with Gabe Stoffer during a scrimmage against Jackson, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025.

Good first step for Louisville vs. New Philadelphia

They take football seriously in Louisville. For a program that was just 12-37 the previous five years, Friday's season opener was a good sign it could be returning to its winning ways. The Leopards' 24-0 road win against a quality Quakers team marked their first season-opening victory since 2016 and just their second shutout since the beginning of the 2017 season. Gabe Stoffer was 10-of-11 passing for 136 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. He added a rushing TD. Luke Seaman returned an interception 55 yards for a Leopards' score.

Stars of Week 1: Stark County area's top performers

Lake quarterback Ty DeGeorge looks to pass in a scrimmage with West Branch, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025

Ty DeGeorge, Lake

DeGeorge's impact was felt in a lot of ways on Lake's 49-13 win at South Range. The junior accounted for five touchdowns, including three rushing. He gained 118 yards on only six carries, with two of his TD runs going for 65 and 46 yards. He threw a 16-yard TD pass to Quinn Snyder and returned a punt 67 yards for another score. He added two receptions for 37 yards.

Marlington's Logan Kuhn, left, celebrates in the end zone with Cameron Evanich following Evanich's run for a touchdown against Warrensville Heights, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.

Cameron Evanich, Marlington

Evanich could prove to be one of the top playmakers in the area, and he got his season started in the right way. He gained 116 yards of offense and scored three touchdowns in the Dukes' 18-7 win against Warrensville Heights. The 6-foot-3 Evanich caught five passes for 68 yards and two TDs while adding two carries for 48 yards and one TD.

Jackson’s Carter Muhleman makes a cut in front of Chardon’s Andrew Cole, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.

Carter Muhleman, Jackson

There are multiple Polar Bears who could be mentioned here, including running back Chase Maurer and receivers Corey Jacobs and Max Cowles. We'll go with quarterback Carter Muhleman, who stepped in for injured starter Lucas Ecrement on short notice and was excellent in Jackson's 35-13 win vs. Chardon. Muhleman was 9-of-13 passing for 309 yard, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 25 yards on three carries.

Tyler Pappas, Manchester

Welcome to the Panthers, Tyler Pappas. All the Northwest transfer did in his first start with Manchester was set a single-game school record with seven touchdown passes in a 62-0 win vs. Coventry. Pappas completed 16 of 24 passes for 318 yards and no picks, hitting four different receivers for scores.

Kyelin West, Canton McKinley

The electrifying sophomore provided a much-needed jolt for McKinley's offense in a 43-25 road win vs. Warren Harding. West ran for 185 yards on 19 carries, highlighted by his 83-yard touchdown run that allowed the Bulldogs to start to seperate from the Raiders. He ripped off a 46-yard run midway through the first quarter that sparked a McKinley offense that was stuck in neutral at the time.

Greater Canton Power Poll entering Week 2

A snapshot look at how teams stack up in the Stark County area after one week:

Big Schools (Divisions I and II)

Massillon’s Savior Owens runs for a gain in the second half against Glenville at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.

1, Massillon (0-1)

Last week:Glenville 33, Massillon 27, OT
This week: vs. GlenOak (0-1)
What to know: An overtime loss to a loaded Glenville team is not enough to drop the Tigers out of the top spot. Bad news for GlenOak: Massillon hasn't lost consecutive games within the same season since 2015.

2, Canton McKinley (1-0)

Last week: McKinley 43, Warren Harding 25
This week: vs. St. Augustine Prep, N.J. (0-0)
What to know: A quality win against a quality program was a good first step for Renzy Parnell's Bulldogs. They'll need to keep improving with another good test coming this week. St. Augustine Prep ended last season at 7-4 and is ranked 17th in SI.Com's preseason poll for New Jersey high school football.

Lake head coach Dan DeGeorge works with his team in a scrimmage with West Branch, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025

3, Lake (1-0)

Last week: Lake 49, South Range 13
This week: at Boardman (0-1)
What to know: It's back to Mahoning County for the Blue Streaks to face a Boardman team that dropped its opener at home to Twinsburg 29-28. The 49 points are the most Lake has scored in a season opener since beating Columbus West 76-6 in 2018. South Range had won 39 of its previous 40 home games.

4, Jackson (1-0)

Last week: Jackson 35, Chardon 13
This week: at Fitch (0-1)
What to know: Losing your veteran starting quarterback to an injury the day before the season opener is not ideal. The young Polar Bears showed some resiliency and regrouped for an impressive home win. Now they must shift gears to deal with the athletes of Fitch, which lost at Hudson 28-14 last week.

5, Hoover (1-0)

Last week: Hoover 30, Buchtel 0
This week: vs. Medina (1-0)
What to know: John Collins and the Hoover offense looked sharp while the Vikings defense posted its first shutout since Week 3 of 2023. The challenge jumps up a notch this week against the Bees, who won at Stow 21-13 last week.

Small Schools (Divisions III, IV, V, VI and VII)

1, Manchester (1-0)

Last week: Manchester 62, Coventry 0
This week: at Sandy Valley (0-1)
What to know: The Panthers jump from No. 2 to the top spot after a dominating opener, with their 62 points being their most in a single game since beating Orrville 67-31 in Week 8 of 2018. Next up is a road trip to Sandy Valley, which allowed 50 points in its season-opening loss to Fairless.

2, West Branch (0-1)

Last week: Canfield 26, West Branch 21
This week: vs. New Philadelphia (0-1)
What to know: The Warriors, who drop from the No. 1 spot, had their 19-game regular season winning streak snapped thanks in part to allowing a pair of kickoff returns for touchdowns at Canfield. They look bounce back against a New Philadelphia team that lost 24-0 at home to Louisville last week.

Northwest coach John DeMarco talks to player in the second quarter of Marlington at Northwest football. Friday, August 30, 2024.

3, Northwest (0-0)

Last week: idle
This week: at Marlington (1-0)
What to know: Northwest, coming off a 9-3 season in 2024, gets its 2025 season started after having last week's opener cancelled because of an outbreak of hand, foot and mouth disease at Norton.

4, Canton South (1-0)

Last week: South 42, Field 16
This week: vs. CVCA (0-0)
What to know: The challenge grows significantly this week with the Royals coming to Brechbuhler Stadium, led by Rutgers commit Joey Kopec.

5, Alliance (1-0)

Last week: Alliance 25, Padua 3
This week: vs. Louisville (1-0)
What to know: The Aviators lost to Louisville 40-14 last year in Week 2. This will be a great measuring stick to see how far Alliance has come since 2024.