High school football has a storied tradition in central Ohio. From the legendary exploits of East’s Chic Harley to the dominance of two-time reigning Division III state champion Watterson, the sport has been bringing communities together for more than a century.

Football is a fitting place to start the local component to All-America 250 for 250 – USA TODAY Sports’ celebration of the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time.

The Dispatch has selected 10 high school football players who we believe had a lasting impact on the sport in central Ohio. Their influence extends beyond championships and statistics, although in one case a state-championship-winning player’s statistics were impossible to ignore.

Later stories will focus on central Ohio basketball players and athletes.

To start, here are our selections for the football players who defined the sport in central Ohio. After reading about them, vote for your favorite in our poll, or enter a write-in candidate whom you think we may have overlooked.

A 2001 graduate of UA, Backes helped lead the Golden Bears (15-0) to central Ohio’s first Division I state championship in 2000, beating Solon 15-9. Backes was named Ohio’s Mr. Football, setting single-season program records for rushing yards (3,353), scoring (266 points) and touchdowns (44). He went on to play defensive back at Northwestern.

Carpenter remains renowned in his hometown as much for a 23-year coaching career at his alma mater as for his high school career (1969-72) as one of the Golden Gales’ greatest running backs and having a 10-year NFL career. Carpenter coached Lancaster to six league championships and nine playoff appearances from 1998-2020, including a 10-0 regular season in 2006.

A Parade All-American as a senior in 1991, the mention of Carter still stirs memories of his rushing for 2,747 yards and 34 touchdowns in his final two high school seasons. Most of that, 1,762 yards and 23 scores, came in his junior year before starring at Penn State and having an injury-shortened NFL career.

A 1952 graduate of Central, which closed in 1982, Cassady was a standout in football, basketball and baseball. He went on to play at Ohio State, where he was a two-way player, an All-American in 1954 and 1955 and the 1955 Heisman Trophy winner. He also helped lead the Buckeyes to the 1954 national title. Cassady played in the NFL for Detroit, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

Arguably the most beloved football player from central Ohio and still the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner, the first portion of Griffin’s legacy was cemented at Eastmoor. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior in 1970 and ran for 1,787 yards and 29 touchdowns at fullback as a senior, pacing the Warriors to the City League championship.

A 2001 graduate of Brookhaven, Hall rushed for 3,057 yards and 51 touchdowns as a senior, including a 411-yard, eight-touchdown performance against Briggs. He went on to play at Ohio State and was a member of the Buckeyes’ 2002 national championship team.

Given that Harley played at East before World War I, his statistics are lost to time. His impact is not. Harley’s high-school prowess reportedly drew more fans to Tigers games than to Ohio State at the time. East’s field is named for Harley, and Ohio Stadium was conceived largely because of his drawing power, although he graduated before it opened in 1922.

The linebacker was Ohio Mr. Football as a senior in 1995, a year after he helped lead South to the Division I state final – the Wildcats lost 20-3 to Cleveland St. Ignatius. Katzenmoyer went on to become an All-American at Ohio State. He played professionally for the New England Patriots.

Marshall was a football and track standout at East, winning the Class A state title in the shot put in 1955. He then played on the defensive line at Ohio State, helping the Buckeyes win the national championship in 1957 and earning All-American honors in 1958. Marshall played professionally in the CFL and later for 19 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

If not for Harley, perhaps East’s field would be named for Willis, who starred in football and track and was recruited to Ohio State by Paul Brown as a two-way lineman. Willis, a member of the college and pro football halls of fame, starred on Ohio State's first national championship team in 1942 and was the Buckeyes’ first Black All-American.

The Dispatch high school sports staff can be reached at sports@dispatch.com and at @DispatchPreps on X.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Vote for central Ohio high school football's best player ever