September 5, 2026
By Heath Scofield
The Pickerington North Panthers (2-1) defeated the No. 20 Pickerington Central Tigers (0-3) by a score of 27-0 at Tiger Stadium on Friday night.
Pickerington North has now won the last five games between the schools, stretching from September of 2023 to present.
The Tigers have been shut out their last two games — The last time they were shut out twice in a season was 2012, both times by the Panthers.
The Panthers entered the game at 1-1 after a heartbreaking, penalty-riddled Week 2 loss to St Ignatius, looking to maintain a streak started when this year’s seniors were freshmen.
Pickerington Central came into their home opener 0-2, looking to prevent the Tigers’ worst start since 1985 — A year where Pickerington High School went 1-9 — following a 28-0 loss to No. 4 Bishop Watterson at Ohio Dominican University.
Pickerington North started the game with recovering a Niko Agganis onside kick, setting up at midfield. The drive would fall short to a three-and-out, but a muffed punt would give the Panthers a fresh set of downs on the Tiger’s 11 yard line. Niko Agganis’ 20-yard Field Goal put North up 3-0 in the first quarter.
A pair of 3-and-outs later, Niko Agganis’ punt was downed on the Tiger’s 1-yard-line, limiting the field position and options to an already-struggling Central offense to a punt of their own.
A return by North’s Geo McKnight gave the Panther 1st-and-goal on the Tiger 9, however an Offsides and a sack by Pickerington Central’s RJ Bell forced a field goal attempt, which Agganis missed, leaving the Panthers up by a field goal going into the second quarter.
Another Agganis punt downed on the Tigers’ 1 would prove disastrous for Central as Winfried Garnett IV’s pass would fall into the hands of Panther sophomore Carter Frank, whose 10-yard return put North up 9. Agganis would tack on a PAT to make it 10-0 with 6:43 to go in the second quarter.
A 25-yard field goal by Agganis with two seconds in the half would make the Panther lead 13-0.
Pickerington North received the ball to start the half, with a 62-yard kickoff return by Noah Dumas putting the Panthers on Central’s 30.
On the ensuing drive, North QB Demetrius Neal-Nesbitt would break off to the left pylon and run in a 17-yard rushing touchdown accompanied by another Agganis PAT for the 20-0 lead.
Two drives later, the Tigers would get just their second first down of the game following a Pickerington North roughing the passer penalty. Pickerington Central would go on to earn just 69 yards — 54 rushing, 15 passing — during the game, while benefitting from 100 yards of North penalties.
Agganis would miss another field goal in the 4th quarter, but would add one more PAT after Jayden Preece’s 15-yard rushing touchdown in the final minute.
The Pickerington Central Tigers (0-3) next take the field at 7pm on the 11th as they travel to face the Logan Chieftains (1-2) in Divisional Play.
The Panthers (2-1) are home for Week 4 as they host the Dublin Coffman Shamrocks (1-2) in non-divisional play. Kickoff time is 7pm.