Live score updates: St. Edward beats Pickerington North in 2024 high school football opener

The No. 17 team in the country threw four interceptions, but the Eagles' defense was unbreakable in a 28-0 win over host Pickerington North

St. Edward takes the field before a football game in 2023, led by head coach Tom Lombardo. / Jeff Harwell, SBLive Sports

Welcome back, high school football. We missed you.

The Ohio high school football season kicks off today, and no game in the state is bigger than Pickerington North vs. St. Edward.

The Panthers from Central Ohio host the No. 17-ranked team in the country, Northeast Ohio's St. Edward Eagles, at 7 p.m. ET Friday, Aug. 23.

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St. Edward starts the season as the No. 2 team in the SBLive/SI Ohio Top 25, while Pickerington North checks in at No. 25.

Follow along below for live updates once the game starts.

You can also watch the game live on the NFHS Network.

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LIVE UPDATES: ST. EDWARD 28, PICKERINGTON NORTH 0

4TH QUARTER

FINAL: ST. EDWARD 28, PICKERINGTON NORTH 0 — Pickerington North won the turnover battle, but that was about it. The Panthers picked off St. Edward quarterbacks four times but couldn't get anything going on offense, gaining just 150 total yards. Recap every big play and score below:

INTERCEPTION! St. Edward QB Thomas Csanyi throws his third pick of the night, this time to Amar'e Miller. Pick North ball on its own 37, 7:04 left trailing 28-0.

Quarter starts in familiar fashion — with a Pick North punt. St. Edward ball with the Eagles leading 28-0 with just under 11 minutes left.

3RD QUARTER

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Pick North will start the fourth quarter with the ball on its own 40-yard line, 1st and 10 trailing St. Edward 28-0.

TOUCHDOWN ST. EDWARD! Thomas Csanyi fires a 40-yard dart to Mason Sak and it's getting out of hand now. 28-0 St. Edward with 1:05 left in the third.

TOUCHDOWN ST. EDWARD! After a quick Pick North three-and-out, Brandon White scores on a 12-yard run to make it 21-0 Eagles with 3:13 left in the quarter.

INTERCEPTION! Tyson Long gets his second pick of the game and Pick North takes over on its own 8, trailing 14-0 with 6:57 to go in the quarter.

Second half is underway! Pick North starts on its own 20-yard line, trailing 14-0 to St. Edward.

2ND QUARTER

HALFTIME: St. Edward 14, Pickerington North 0

TOUCHDOWN ST. EDWARD! On 4th and 7 from the Pick North 31, Joseph Saffold makes the touchdown grab from Thomas Csanyi. It's 14-0 St. Edward with two minutes left in the half. The drive started at the Eagles' 19 after Pick North punted on 4th and 1 from its 42.

TOUCHDOWN ST. EDWARD! Zach Hackleman grabs a 39-yard touchdown catch on a 50-50 ball in the end zone. 7-0 St. Edward, 9:46 left in the half.

Another punt to start the quarter. St. Edward ball on the Pick North 43, 0-0.

1ST QUARTER

END OF 1ST QUARTER: All defense so far. Pick North will start the second quarter with 2nd and long on its own 19, tied 0-0.

INTERCEPTION! Tyson Long grabs the pick on 4th and 7. Pick North ball on its own 37, 7:32 left in the quarter. 0-0.

Kickoff! The 2024 Ohio high school football season is officially underway. St. Edward starts on its own 21-yard line.

PREGAME

Pick North wins the toss and defers. St. Edward will start with the ball. Kickoff time is 7:12 p.m.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. Game time temperature is forecast to be 80 degrees.

St. Edward (0-0)

St. Edward is amid one of the most dominant runs in Ohio high school football history, having won the last three Division I football titles.

The Eagles are the first school to do so at the Division I level since their rival, St. Ignatius, won five straight from 1991 to 1995.

Despite losing six seniors to FBS programs, St. Edward has proven they are a team that reloads every year.

The Eagles’ bid for a fourth consecutive state title will hinge on junior tailback Brandon White, who ran for 1,236 yards and 17 touchdowns and caught 14 passes for 210 yards and a team-high five touchdowns last year.

Pickerington North (0-0)

The Panthers are coming off a highly successful 2023 season, going 11-2.

After going just 7-5 in 2022, the Tigers opened the 2023 season with a nine-game win streak, falling in double overtime at Gahanna Lincoln to end the regular season.

With a strong offense running through Ohio commit Michael Taylor, the Tigers could be the team to beat in Region 3 this season.

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports