Top OHC Teams All-Time
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This list is computed using a formula designed by our expert. There are 5 categories each team is given points based upon. The first is regular season wins (max 10 pts, one for each win), secondly is playoff wins (3 pts per playoff win, max 15 pts), thirdly is strength of schedule (total combined wins of opponents beaten, multiplied by .15), fourthly is the offensive category (based upon pts scored) and finally is the defensive category (based upon pts allowed).
This list was initially completed on 11/21/12. It will be revised each season if applicable.
#1 - 2007 Catholic Central 13-1 (7-0)
2007 Catholic Central Schedule/Results
Backstory: Making it out of the Region in High School football is a rarity for most teams. As a matter of fact, it has only happened once in OHC history. The #1 team in our countdown of Top OHC Teams of All-Time made league history in 2007 with their trip to the State Semifinals. Our #1 team of all-time is the 2007 Catholic Central Irish. The 2007 Irish obliterated their opponents all season long in 2007 en route a perfect 10-0 regular season. The offense, led by running back Brian Wagner, scored 436 points in the regular season (43.6 per game). In 7 of Catholic Central's 10 regular season games, the Irish scored at least 40 points. The defense pitched 4 shutouts and allowed just 49 points (4.9 per game) in the regular season. 2007 Catholic Central had the highest point differential of all-time in OHC history, outscoring opponents by an average of 38.7 points per game in the regular season. All together, the 2007 Irish defeated 5 playoff teams. Come playoff time, the Irish continued to peak. They knocked off Waynesfield-Goshen in Round 1, Mechanicsburg in Round 2 and drilled Lehman in the Regional Finals 48-14. Up next for the 2007 Irish was the eventual State Champion, Newark Catholic. Despite an epic battle, the 2007 Irish fell in the State Semifinals to the Greenwave by a mere touchdown, 21-14. It's easy to see how good the 2007 Irish were on paper, but if you watched them in person, you already know how good they were. Despite having the 2nd lowest strength of schedule out of any team on our list, 2007 Catholic Central scored a perfect score on offense, a perfect score on defense and had the highest points total in the playoff wins category with the deepest trip in league history. The best team in OHC History is a clear winner, the 2007 Catholic Central Irish made league history and fully deserve the title.
Team Scoring
Wins: 10 pts
Playoff Wins: 9 pts
Strength of Schedule: 5.7 pts
Offense: 10 pts
Defense: 10 pts
Total Average: 8.94
#2 - 2015 Mechanicsburg 12-1 (7-0)
2015 Mechanicsburg Schedule/Results
Backstory: The 2015 Mechanicsburg Indians were a special team that did things no other Mechanicsburg team has ever done, despite the Indians' tradition as a football powerhouse. The 2015 Indians will go down as having the greatest defense in the history of the conference. In 2015, the Indians pitched 4 shutouts and allowed an OHC record 42 points total. In their other 6 regular season games, Mechanicsburg did not allow any more than one touchdown. In all 10 games, the Indians gave up no more than 10 points (and many of the 42 points that were scored that season were when the starters had been pulled, or weren't offensive touchdowns at all). The playoffs in 2015 saw little change, the Indians gave up 14, 12 and 9 points in their 3 games. Led by quarterback Kaleb Romero (a junior at the time), the Indians offense also flourished. It could also be argued that the offense for the Indians in 2015 was the greatest of all-time, putting up an astounding 473 points. The Indians scored 40+ points in 8 of their 10 games and 60+ points in 2 of their games. In the playoffs, the Indians scored 40+ in the first 2 rounds. The Indians season ended at the hands of the eventual state runners-up, Marion Local. An OHC team has never beaten a MAC team; however, the Indians were winning the regional championship against the Flyers until late in the game when Marion Local kicked a go-ahead field goal to win 9-7. Had the 2015 Indians won that game, they would have been #1 on our list, no matter what happened the remainder of the way. The 2015 Indians also had the 3rd lowest strength-of-schedule of any of our top 10 teams, but that doesn't make this Mechanicsburg team any less special. Many would argue that their #2 spot is one spot too low.
Team Scoring
Wins: 10 pts
Playoff Wins: 6 pts
Strength of Schedule: 6.15 pts
Offense: 10 pts
Defense: 10 pts
Total Average: 8.43
#3 - 2006 Mechanicsburg 11-2 (7-0)
2006 Mechanicsburg Schedule/Results
Backstory: It's hard to be recognized in a list of "top teams of all-time." It's especially hard in small school Ohio football to make the top 10 in two consecutive years. Coming in at #3 on our countdown of Top OHC Football Teams of All-Time is a team that exceeded expectations from the year prior, 2006 Mechanicsburg. And doing that was no easy task as 2005 Mechanicsburg locked up the #10 spot on our countdown. Coming into the 2006 season, Mechanicsburg returned a plethora of talent, and it showed as the Indians finished 9-1 (7-0) that year. After suffering a 13-10 opening game loss at the hands Division 5 Regional Finalist West Jefferson, the 2006 Indians rattled off 11 consecutive "dominating" wins. Until the Division 6 Regional Finals, no one came within 2 scores of the 2006 Indians. Mechanicsburg scored 40.5 points per game in the regular season (405 total) which gave them a perfect score in the offensive category. The Indians defense allowed just 5.2 points per game (52 points total) which also gave them a perfect score in the defensive category. The 2006 Indians pitched 5 shutouts in the regular season, and more impressively pitched 2 more in the opening 2 rounds of the playoffs. In Round 1, the Indians dismantled fellow OHC rival Triad 61-0, before drilling Hardin Northern 34-0 in Round 2. Led by 7 All OHC players in 2006, the Indians stormed in the Regional Semifinals to meet a familiar foe, Marion Local. The Flyers went on to win the State Championship that season, no one in the playoffs came as close as Mechanicsburg did to beating them. It was a valiant effort by the Indians; many still consider Mechanicsburg the 2nd best team in the state in Division 6 that season. A perfect offensive score, a perfect defensive score, a trip to the Regional Finals and the 4th strongest schedule in league history notches 2006 Mechanicsburg the #3 spot on our countdown.
Team Scoring
Wins: 9 pts
Playoff Wins: 6 pts
Strength of Schedule: 6.9 pts
Offense: 10 pts
Defense: 10 pts
Total Average: 8.38
#4 - 2016 Mechanicsburg 12-1 (7-0)
2016 Mechanicsburg Schedule/Results
Backstory: After falling short of making it to the state semifinals in 2015, the 2016 Mechanicsburg Indians their eyes set on a State Championship in 2016. The Indians returned much of their team from 2015, including all-state quarterback Kaleb Romero. The regular season didn't disappoint as the Indians scored 43.6 points per game and allowed just 5.7. The 2016 Indians pitched 3 shutouts on defense and only allowed more than 1 touchdown once in the regular season (in Week 1 they beat West Jefferson 49-18). The Indians did not score less than 30 points all the way up to the Region Finals in 2016, a game that was a rematch of the previous year's Region Final against Marion Local. Unfortunately for the Indians, history repeated itself and Mechanicsburg fell to Marion Local 26-15 in that game - Marion Local would go on to win a second consecutive state championship. While it was a disappointing finish for a team that many feel is indeed the best OHC team of all time, it's hard to argue that the 2016 Indians are one of the greatest OHC teams of all time. A low strength of schedule in the regular season is what cost the 2016 Indians a higher spot as they played 7 of 10 games against teams who finished .500 or lower. Nonetheless, the 2016 Mechanicsburg Indians are worthy of their #4 spot.
Team Scoring
Wins: 10 pts
Playoff Wins: 6 pts
Strength of Schedule: 5.85 pts
Offense: 10 pts
Defense: 10 pts
Total Average: 8.37
#5 - 2019 West Jefferson 12-2 (5-1)
2019 West Jefferson Schedule/Results
Backstory: West Jefferson became one of a just a handful of teams to make it to the state semifinals in 2019. Led by running back Gabe Jones, the Roughriders offense averaged 49.5 points per game in the regular season. Their lone regular season loss was to the #6 team on our list, a loss they avenged in the regional finals. West Jefferson's defense in 2019 gave up 20.7 points per game, giving up 8 less points would have bumped them to #4 on our list.
Team Scoring
Wins: 9 pts
Playoff Wins: 9 pts
Strength of Schedule: 6.6 pts
Offense: 10 pts
Defense: 4 pts
Total Average: 7.72
#6 - 2019 West Liberty-Salem 11-2 (5-1)
2019 West Liberty-Salem Schedule/Results
Backstory: West Liberty-Salem's 2019 team may very well have been their best in school history. The team was led by a strong senior class and reached the regional finals. Their lone regular season loss was a 26-20 loss to Fairbanks. The Tigers bounced back later in the season to beat #5 West Jefferson and a strong Mechanicsburg team to claim a share of the OHC title. The Tigers had a balanced offensive attack that scored 44.5 points per game in the regular season. The defense was equally as impressive, allowing just 10.8 points per game. Had the Tigers given up 9 less points, they would have had a perfect defensive score and climbed to #5 on our list. Had they done that and beaten West Jefferson in the regional finals, they would have been our #2 team on the list.
Team Scoring
Wins: 9 pts
Playoff Wins: 6 pts
Strength of Schedule: 6.3 pts
Offense: 10 pts
Defense: 7 pts
Total Average: 7.66
#7 - 2004 West Liberty-Salem 11-1 (7-0)
2004 West Liberty-Salem Schedule/Results
Backstory: There is always something special about making the playoffs for the first time. What makes it even more special is when on paper, the team that makes it is rated as the best team in school history. Coming in at #4 on our countdown of Top OHC Football Teams of All-Time is the team that clinched West Liberty-Salem's first ever playoff berth and playoff victory, the 2004 Tigers. Led by one of the most athletic players in OHC history, quarterback Lee Yoder, the Tigers dominated on both sides of the ball in the 2004 season. On offense, WLS averaged 33.7 points per game. Defensively the 2004 Tigers shined even brighter, allowing just 6.2 points per game in the regular season (62 points total), which is the 4th lowest in league history. After a 24-14 victory over Bethel in Week 1, the Tigers allowed no more than 7 points in Weeks 2-10. Anchored by a solid defensive core of 1st team all OHC players including Yoder, Nate Lowe and Josh Lewis; the Tigers only game allowing more than 2 scores was in their 21-10 Regional Semifinal loss to East Clinton. In 2004, the Tigers placed a total of 7 players on the All OHC Team. The dominance that season wasn't against weak opponents either. The 2004 Tigers beat 5 teams with at least 7 wins, including 4 playoff teams; which notched them a perfect score in the Strength of Schedule category (2nd highest overall all-time). The Tigers also notched a perfect score in the defensive category, which all added up to the #7 spot on our countdown.
Team Scoring
Wins: 10 pts
Playoff Wins: 3 pts
Strength of Schedule: 7.2 pts
Offense: 7 pts
Defense: 10 pts
Total Average: 7.44
#8 - 2017 West Jefferson 12-1 (5-0)
2017 West Jefferson Schedule/Results
Backstory: West Jefferson ran the table their first season in the OHC, going a perfect 10-0. The Roughriders were a dynamic offense scoring 46.1 points per game in the regular season. The defense was strong too, they allowed just 12.2 points per game (3 touchdowns less and they would have had a perfect defensive score. West Jefferson advanced to the regional finals in 2017, being knocked out of the playoffs by Middletown Madison.
Team Scoring
Wins: 9 pts
Playoff Wins: 6 pts
Strength of Schedule: 4.95 pts
Offense: 10 pts
Defense: 7 pts
Total Average: 7.39
#9 - 2001 Southeastern 12-1 (7-0)
2001 Southeastern Schedule/Results
Backstory: There are always some uncertainties when a new league forms. There was one thing certain when the OHC formed in 2001, there was a newcomer to the league that was a force to be reckoned with. Coming in at #7 in our countdown of the Top OHC Teams of All-Time is the 2001 Southeastern Trojans. While the offense wasn't the most stellar in our countdown (the 2001 Trojans scored a countdown low 27.8 points per game and had the lowest score in the offensive category), the defense was arguably the best in OHC history. The defense pitched 5 shutouts in the regular season (6 if you count a 44-2 win over Greeneview where the Rams' only score was a safety) and gave up just 43 points in the regular season (merely 4.3 points per game, good for second lowest of all-time). The only loss in 2001 for the Trojans came at the hands of the eventual state champions, Marion Local in the Regional Finals. Making the 2001 Trojans team even more remarkable is the fact that 2001 is the only year two teams made it into our countdown, and the Trojans took down a very strong Cedarville team that season, 13-12. While the Trojans have had some up and down success since 2001, one fact remains; this was the best Southeastern team in OHC history. A stellar defense, a deep trip into the playoffs and a strong strength of schedule notches the 2001 Southeastern Trojans the #9 spot in our countdown of the Top OHC Teams of All-Time.
Team Scoring
Wins: 10 pts
Playoff Wins: 6 pts
Strength of Schedule: 6.6 pts
Offense: 4 pts
Defense: 10 pts
Total Average: 7.32
#10 - 2009 West Liberty-Salem 11-1 (7-0)
2009 West Liberty-Salem Schedule/Results
Backstory: If you ask most coaches or football fanatics, the key to success on the gridiron starts with a solid defense. The 2009 OHC Champions had that covered in dominating fashion. The 2009 West Liberty-Salem Tigers allowed 7 points or less in 8 of their 10 regular season games, which explains why they come in at #8 on our countdown of the Top OHC Teams of All-Time. Not only did the team go on to finish a perfect 10-0 in the regular season, they stormed into the playoffs and flexed their muscles, shutting out a West Jefferson team that was averaging 33.3 points per game (3-0 final score) that many thought were a favorite to win. The 2009 Tiger offense averaged 33.4 points per game, but the defense allowed just 70 points total (7.0 per game); giving them a perfect score in our defensive category. Colin Link, the 2009 OHC Football Website Player of the Year, anchored a defense that is unarguably one of the greatest in OHC History. In 2009, WL-S placed 11 players on the All-Conference team. In the end, West Liberty-Salem ran into St. Henry in the Regional Quarterfinals and uncharacteristically gave up 42 points (more than half of what they had given up all season). Even with that loss, a strong regular season schedule and an iron clad defense notches the 2009 West Liberty-Salem Tigers the #10 spot on our countdown.
Team Scoring
Wins: 10 pts
Playoff Wins: 3 pts
Strength of Schedule: 6.45 pts
Offense: 7 pts
Defense: 10 pts
Total Average: 7.29
Best of the Rest
#11 2008 Mechanicsburg - 7.11 average.
#12 2012 West Liberty-Salem - 7.05 average.
#13 2017 Greeneview - 7.02 average.
#14 2003 Triad - 7.00 average.
#15 2019 Mechanicsburg - 6.95 average.
#16 2001 Cedarville - 6.94 average.
#17 2014 Greeneview - 6.88 average.
#18 2005 Mechanicsburg - 6.87 average.
#19 2014 West Liberty-Salem - 6.82 average.
#20 2002 Mechanicsburg - 6.73 average.
#21 2018 Greeneview - 6.67 average
#22 2011 West Liberty-Salem - 6.66 average.
#23 2013 Mechancisburg - 6.53 average.
#24 2010 Catholic Central - 6.49 average.
#25 2006 Catholic Central - 6.43 average.
*Updated 11/9/20