The Ohio high school football regular season gathered momentum in Week 3 as several Akron-area programs produced notable performances Friday night and into Saturday. Walsh Jesuit — the region’s top-ranked team in the Beacon Journal power poll — held onto its unbeaten start with a 38-25 victory over Toledo Central Catholic, a Division III state finalist a season ago.
Top local outcomes and close finishes
Walsh Jesuit improved to 3-0 with the win, overcoming a slate that had included a canceled home opener last week after an illness impacted an out-of-area opponent. The Warriors’ triumph was among several decisive results in the Akron-area corridor, but the slate also included nail-biters that offered late drama for local fans.
- Walsh Jesuit 38, Toledo Central Catholic 25
- Nordonia 41, Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph 39 — a two-point game that swung late
- CVCA 20, Woodridge 14 — a rematch with revenge on the line after last season’s blowout
- Hudson 54, St. Vincent-St. Mary 13 — a lopsided show from Hudson
- Brunswick 44, Medina 36 — a high-scoring county rivalry
Some programs posted unusually large margins of victory, while others prevailed in tight contests that will linger in local conversations. Northeast Ohio teams were represented across the scoreboard Friday, with both expected outcomes and upsets shaping narratives heading into Week 4.
Selected scorecard
| Game | Score |
|---|---|
| Walsh Jesuit vs. Toledo Central Catholic | 38-25 |
| Nordonia vs. Cleveland VASJ | 41-39 |
| CVCA vs. Woodridge | 20-14 |
| Hudson vs. St. Vincent-St. Mary | 54-13 |
| Brunswick vs. Medina | 44-36 |
Regional context and storylines to watch
Walsh Jesuit’s win will be viewed as a reinforcement of its top billing in local rankings. The team has now navigated a disrupted schedule and better-quality opponents, and Friday’s game against a club that reached the Division III state final last season offered a measuring stick for the Warriors.
Nordonia’s 41-39 victory over Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph stands out for its swing-state playoff implications: close games between area powers can have outsized effects on conference standings and postseason seeding. That encounter provided a late-game atmosphere fans will recall as both teams continue through nonconference and league play.
Woodridge’s matchup with Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy had an added subplot: Woodridge began the season 2-0 for the first time in a decade, and the Raiders were hunting redemption after a 49-0 loss to CVCA last season. Friday’s 20-14 final was a competitive showing, even if it did not produce the reversal Woodridge hoped for.
Broader Friday results across the area
Beyond the Akron-area highlights, Friday and Saturday’s action delivered several other results impacting greater Northeast Ohio football landscapes. Notable margins included Hudson’s dominant 54-13 win and Brunswick’s 44-36 victory over Medina, a county rivalry that produced plenty of scoring and momentum swings.
Several other games across the region wrapped up Friday night; additional contests were scheduled for Saturday including matchups involving Firestone, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East, Mentor Lake Catholic and Buchtel. Fans can expect a full slate of league and nonleague tests through the next week as teams adjust to injury reports, depth questions and early-season formulating.
What this means for Week 4
The results will influence rankings, playoff outlooks and local narratives. Programs that earned decisive wins will look to build on scoring balance and depth, while teams on the losing end of close games will work to shore up late-game execution and special teams play.
With the season still in its early stages, coaches will emphasize consistency and health as they prepare for Week 4. Fans should watch for updates to local polls and area power rankings after this weekend’s results.
Coverage of upcoming games and developments will continue through the week. Results and stories from Week 3 provide a clearer sense of which teams are trending toward contention and which are still searching for answers.
