Highland has already wrapped up a Suburban League National Conference share but the Hornets (8-1, 6-0) can win it outright with a win over Hudson on Oct. 23.
The Explorers (7-2, 4-2) can a first round bye with some help. It all goes down at Hudson Memorial Stadium.
Follow along here for live updates and scores:
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What's at stake in the Highland-Hudson game
The Explorers hold a 20-7 series edge but the Hornets have won the last two meetings. … Highland is first in Division II, Region 5 and has clinched a first round bye. They can finish no lower than third and can clinch the top seed with a win or a loss and help. Hudson is fifth in Division I, Region 1 and can go as high as second with a win and seventh with a loss. … The Hornets clinched at least a share of the Suburban League National Conference in their first year in the big school division and can win it outright with a win over Hudson.
Players to watch for Highland
Highland is coming off a 29-28 walk off win against previously unbeaten Wadsworth. … Jake Weber (22 catches, 462 yards, four TDs) scored twice last week and caught the game-winner from Colton Wadle (68-for-93 passing, 1,328 yards, 12 TDs). Ben Radigan (16 catches, 372 yards, three TDs) is the other big name at wide receiver. Anthony DePompei (70 carries, 332 yards, six TDs), Evan Foust (51 carries, 274 yards, seven TDs), Levi Clark (31 carries, 245 yards, four TDs), Colton Winston (42 carries, 205 yards, two TDs) and Wadle (54 carries, 168 yards, five TDs) make it difficult to key on one player in the rushing game.
Highland Hornets football starting lineup
| Jersey | Name | Position |
| Offense | ||
| 17 | Colton Wadle | QB |
| 29 | Colton Winston | RB |
| 7 | Jake Weber | WR |
| 3 | Anthony DePompei | WR |
| 1 | Ben Radigan | WR |
| 5 | Evan Foust | H-B |
| 58 | Spencer Marquis | LT |
| 71 | Jacob Cirino | LG |
| 77 | Wyatt Sitz | C |
| 65 | Nolan Farley | RG |
| 50 | Ethan McCarthy | RT |
| Defense | ||
| 42 | Isaac Demming | DE |
| 58 | Spencer Marquis | DT |
| 53 | Jacob Arvanetes | DT |
| 11 | Lukas Grillis | DE |
| 5 | Evan Foust | LB |
| 6 | Nathan Capotosto | LB |
| 7 | Jake Weber | CB |
| 1 | Ben Radigan | CB |
| 22 | Chatham Phillips | FS |
| 13 | Nate Painter | SS |
| 8 | Ryan Haney | MB |
| Special teams | ||
| 3 | Anthony DePompei | KR |
| 7 | Jake Weber | KR |
| 7 | Jake Weber | PR |
| 40 | Jonah Kowza | K |
| 5 | Evan Foust | P |
Highland football season results
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Aug. 21 | Walsh Jesuit (6-2) | L, 34-0 |
| Aug. 28 | at Strongsville (6-3) | W, 31-27 |
| Sept. 4 | Avon Lake (4-5) | W, 55-20 |
| Sept. 11 | Nordonia (8-1) | W, 23-21 |
| Sept. 18 | at Medina (2-7) | W, 47-0 |
| Sept. 25 | at Stow (2-7) | W, 42-7 |
| Oct. 2 | at North Royalton (3-6) | W, 52-14 |
| Oct. 9 | Solon (4-5) | W, 51-7 |
| Oct. 16 | Wadsworth (8-1) | W, 29-28 |
Players to watch for Hudson
The Explorers have Hayden Lipinski (56-for-89 passing, 616 yards, nine TDs) back in the fold as their starting quarterback for the third week in a row. Anthony Paolucci (22 catches, 288 yards, three TDs) and Mark Salem (17 catches, 130 yards) are his primary receivers. Reno Ferri (144 carries, 1,143 yards, 18 TDs) is a monster in the backfield.
Hudson Explorers football starting lineup
| Jersey number | Name | Position |
| Offense | ||
| 6 | Hayden Lipinski | QB |
| 44 | Reno Ferri | RB |
| 3 | Anthony Paolucci | WR |
| 12 | Keswick Ritley | WR |
| 11 | Mark Salem | WR |
| 9 | Carter Markey | TE |
| 73 | Otto Grill | LT |
| 55 | Scott Hartfelder | LG |
| 66 | Joey Lyons | C |
| 50 | Cooper Sulliivan | RT |
| 71 | Liam Wearley | RG |
| Defense | ||
| 50 | Cooper Sullivan | DE |
| 71 | Liam Wearley | DT |
| 8 | Ted Pawelec | DE |
| 28 | Aiden Rengers | LB |
| 32 | Alden Samouk | LB |
| 9 | Carter Markey | LB |
| 15 | Trent Smtih | OLB |
| 2 | Lucas Orr | CB |
| 5 | Evan Wolenski | CB |
| 10 | Jack Williams | S |
| 3 | Anthony Paolucci | S |
| Special Teams | ||
| 7 | Xavier Pallo | P |
| 7 | Xavier Pallo | K |
| 11 | Mark Salem | LS |
| 6 | Hayden Lipinski | H |
| 44 | Reno Ferri | KR |
| 10 | Jack Williams | KR |
| 3 | Anthony Paolucci | PR |
| 18 | Ryan Miller | PR |
Hudson football season results
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Aug. 21 | at Austintown-Fitch (7-1) | W, 24-19 |
| Aug. 28 | at Jackson (7-2) | W, 55-35 |
| Sept. 4 | St. Vincent-St. Mary (1-8) | W, 54-13 |
| Sept. 11 | North Royalton (3-6) | W, 42-7 |
| Sept. 18 | at Nordonia (8-1) | L, 23-9 |
| Sept. 25 | at Solon (4-5) | W, 38-3 |
| Oct. 2 | Medina (2-7) | W, 41-7 |
| Oct. 9 | at Wadsworth | L, 24-22 |
| Oct. 16 | Stow (2-7) | W, 48-12 |
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Highland vs. Hudson High School football score, live updates
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