Gahanna Lincoln takes a 9-0 record to Pickerington North on Friday, Oct. 23, for the regular-season finale.

Kickoff is 7 p.m. at Pickerington North, where the Panthers will host their Cheer Senior Night, according to the Pickerington North athletics website.

The Lions entered the week ranked No. 1 in the OHSAA's Division I, Region 3 computer ratings with a 27.3875 rating, more than four points ahead of No. 2 Upper Arlington, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Pickerington North sat third at 21.725. Those ratings were released Oct. 13, before both teams played Week 9 games on Oct. 16.

The top 12 teams in each region qualify for the OHSAA playoffs, and the top four seeds earn a first-round bye. The final computer ratings come out Oct. 25, two days after this game. A win would give Gahanna Lincoln a perfect 10-0 regular season heading into the postseason.

Week 9 momentum

Gahanna Lincoln beat Grove City 31-7 on Oct. 16, piling up a season-high 438 total yards, according to MaxPreps.

Quarterback Grey Kegley threw for a season-high 224 yards and one touchdown while averaging 10.7 yards per attempt. He added a rushing score. Running back Carter James carried 10 times for 101 yards and a touchdown.

The Lions have now won six of their nine games by 20 or more points.

Defense sets the tone

Gahanna Lincoln's defense has held opponents under 20 points in nine consecutive games. Before the Grove City game, Fox 28 Columbus reported the streak at eight, the fifth-longest active in Ohio.

"Our defense is the consistent one and the one that kind of keeps this engine rolling," head coach Bruce Ward told Fox 28 before the Oct. 16 Grove City game.

Ward said the team has found ways to win both close games and blowouts, crediting the Lions' fight regardless of the situation or opponent.

Pickerington North reeling

The Panthers enter at 7-2 overall and 3-1 in the Ohio Capital Conference after losing to New Albany 5-3 on Oct. 16, according to the Columbus Dispatch. That game featured no touchdowns.

Before that loss, Pickerington North was 7-1 and ranked third in Region 3. The defeat could affect the Panthers' seeding.

What's next

Regional playoffs open Oct. 30, hosted by the higher seed. State championship games are scheduled for Dec. 3-5 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.