ASHLAND — Welcome to Ashland Source’s 2025 high school football preview. Over the coming days, we’ll preview all the schools across the county. Each preview features key players, this season’s schedule and what fans can expect under the Friday night lights.
Today, we preview the Hillsdale Falcons. You can find all of our high school football previews here.
Graham Auto Mall is proud to back our area’s local athletes and help Ashland Source provide fans in-depth coverage of the upcoming high school football season.
Hillsdale Falcons 2025 Preview
Division: VII
Region: 27
Conference: Wayne County Athletic League
Coach: Trevor Cline
Last year: 14-2
Schedule 📅
Aug. 22 — at Black River
Aug. 29 — LUCAS
Sept. 5 — LOUDONVILLE
Sept. 12 — CHIPPEWA
Sept. 19 — at Dalton
Sept. 26 — SMITHVILLE
Oct. 3 — at Waynedale
Oct. 10 — at Northwestern
Oct. 17 — RITTMAN
Oct. 24 — at Norwayne
BY THE NUMBERS 📊
57
Career coaching victories in seven seasons for Trevor Cline, last year’s Division VII Ohio Coach of the Year. Cline piloted the Falcons to a school-record 14 wins and a berth in the state championship game last fall.
6
Returning All-Ohioans from a year ago, including first-team receiver Hayden McFadden. Coach Trevor Cline welcomes back second-teamers Owen Sloan (running back), Kael Lewis (quarterback) and Brady Heller (linebacker), third-team defensive back Brock Bower and honorable-mention kicker A.J. Brown.
1,369
Receiving yards for All-Ohio wideout Hayden McFadden, a single-season school record. The senior reeled in a school-record 18 TD grabs among his 62 receptions.
150
Tackles made by linebacker Brady Heller, a single-season school record.
PLAYERS TO WATCH 💪
RB Owen Sloan
Hillsdale’s workhorse running back, Sloan carried the ball 233 times for a single season-record 1,658 yards and 31 touchdowns last fall but the heavy workload caught up to him. The senior was limited to 37 rushing yards in a state semifinal win over Danville and had just 10 yards on eight carries in the loss to Marion Local in the state finals. He already is the program’s career leading in touchdowns scored (42) and set a single-game record when he rushed for 287 yards in a playoff win over Malvern.
QB Kael Lewis
A junior quarterback, Lewis re-wrote Hillsdale’s record book in his first season under center. Lewis completed 185-of-290 passes for 3,053 yards and 35 touchdowns. He set single-game records for passing yards (361 vs. Dalton) and touchdown passes (six vs. Black River). He also threw a 99 yard touchdown pass in a playoff victory over Windham.
CRYSTAL BALL 🔮
Expectations couldn’t be any higher after Hillsdale reached the 2024 Division VII state championship game with a roster full of underclassmen. The Falcons lost just seven seniors to graduation and coach Trevor Cline welcomes back six All-Ohioans. There’s no shortage of talent at the skill positions. The biggest concern is along the line of scrimmage. Hillsdale moved to Region 27 of Division VII, joining defending Region 27 champ Danville. The Falcons and Blue Devils met in the state semifinals last year. Don’t be surprised if they meet in the regional championship game this year.
Love high school football? So do we! 🏈
Stay ahead of the game with exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes coverage, and expert analysis from veteran sports reporter Curt Conrad.
