Caldwell faces big challenge against unbeaten Galion Northmor in playoffs

By Jeff Harrison

  The Caldwell Redskins will make their 14th appearance in the OHSAA Football Playoffs on Friday with a big challenge awaiting the Noble County squad.

  Caldwell (5-5) qualified as the No. 15 seed in Division VI, Region 23 and will travel more than two hours to Galion in Morrow County to face the unbeaten Northmor Golden Knights (10-0), seeded No. 2 in the region behind unbeaten Grandview Heights (9-0).

  Coach Chance Rucker’s Redskins, who are coming off a memorable five-week run to the Division VII State Semifinals in 2023, have had an up and down season with victories against Waterford (26-14), Wellsville (43-0), Fort Frye (34-27), Shadyside (63-7) and Shenandoah (37-0) – the most notable against 8-2 Waterford and 7-3 Fort Frye who are seeded fifth and fourth, respectively in Region 23. The CHS losses were to Buckeye Trail (21-19), Monroe Central (42-13), Edison (34-15), Barnesville (44-0) and Toronto (28-21) – all playoff teams with combined 39-11 record.

  Northmor, ranked No. 5 in the AP Division VI state poll, has outscored its opponents by a whopping 395-79 total. The Golden Knights’ wins have come against Upper Sandusky (48-14), South Central (49-0), Mapleton (47-7), Centerburg (34-26), Danville (41-6), Fredericktown (19-6), East Knox (42-0), Mount Gilead (16-14), Cardington-Lincoln (49-6) and Loudonville (50-0).

 Caldwell, which is 11-14 all-time in the playoffs, made its first postseason appearance in 1985 and recorded its first win in 2013 against Malvern. The ‘Skins won two games in both 2015 and 2022 while the five-game journey to the state semifinals in 2023 included wins over Bridgeport (41-14), Portsmouth Notre Dame (50-0), Waterford (20-13) and Reedsville Eastern (2019) before losing to Dalton (55-7) to fall one game short of the state championship game.

  The Redskins’ offense revolves around senior quarterback Ethan Crock, who’s transition to a new position resulted in a combined 1,900 yards of offense. He’s completed 60-of-138 passes for 715 yards and nine touchdowns while collecting 1,211 yards rushing on 163 carries with 14 TDs. Junior Gavin Leake is the top receiver with 20 catches for 340 yards and five TDs and he’s also had 63 rushes for 325 yards and five scores.

  On defense, Crock and junior Owen Hunt are the top tacklers, Crock with 90 total stops including 10 tackles for loss and Hunt with 85 tackles and four TFLs. Leake adds 50 tackles while junior Guiler Preston has 25 stops, four TFLs and a pair of ‘pick-six’ interceptions.

  Northmor’s quarterback is senior AJ Bower, who has completed 94-of-133 passes for 1,891 yards with 25 touchdowns and three interceptions. Three players have 20-plus receptions – senior Jaxson Wenger with 24 catches for 594 yards and nine TDs; senior Bo Landin with 21 catches for 531 yards and four TDs; and senior Cowin Becker with 28 catches for 503 yards and nine TDs.

  The Golden Knights’ leading rusher is Becker with 87 carries for 783 yards and 11 TDs while junior Carson Campbell isn’t far behind with 106 rushes for 620 yards and 16 scores.

  Defensively, junior Garrett Deisch leads the way with 75 total tackles including 33 solos and 6.5 tackles for loss while senior Ashton Clark has 65 total stops (15 solo) with 11 tackles for loss and senior Cameron Goldbach has 60 total (21 solo) and 10.5 tackles for loss. Clark and Goldbach each had four quarterback sacks; Wenger has three interceptions and senior Vance Johnson has blocked two punts.

  The survivor of the Caldwell-Northmor contest will play the winner of No. 7 seed Reedsville Eastern (8-2) and No. 10 seed Centerburg (7-3) on Friday, Nov. 8. Northmor would again host in the next round while Caldwell would be on the road as the lower seed.

Other first round games in Region 23 include No. 16 Marion Elgin (5-5) at No. 1 Grandview Heights (9-0); No. 14 Mechanicsburg (7-3) at No. 3 Ridgewood (9-1); No. 13 Buckeye Trail (6-4) at No. 4 Fort Frye (7-3); No. 12 Milford Center Fairbanks (7-3) at No. 5 Waterford (8-2); No. 11 Newcomerstown (8-2) at No. 6 Grove City Christian (8-2); No. 10 Centerburg (7-3) at No. 7 Reedsville Eastern (8-2); and No. 9 North Robinson Colonel Crawford (8-2) at No. 8 Monroe Central (9-1).