Ohio high school football scores, McKinley-Warren Harding live updates

CANTON — Canton McKinley vs. Warren Harding is the kind of matchup that gets the attention of high school football fans young and old. 

Dripping with enough hype and Division I college-caliber talent to grab the younger fan. Cemented in enough history and tradition to make the older fan care. 

The Bulldogs host the Raiders tonight, Aug. 21, in the 2026 season opener at Benson Stadium. Kickoff is at 7. McKinley comes off a 9-3 season, which was Renzy Parnell's first as the Bulldogs' head coach. Harding went 3-6 last year for head coach Matt Richardson, who begins his third year atop the Raiders program. 

Follow along below for live updates on tonight's game. 

Watch Ohio High School Football Live on NFHS Network all year 

Canton McKinley to receive opening kickoff

Warren Harding won the coin toss and chose to defer.

Canton McKinley vs. Warren Harding football series 

These former All-American Conference rivals are opening the season against each other for the fourth straight year. The Bulldogs have won the last three years and lead the all-time series 38-23-1. 

Last year's McKinley-Harding football game score

The visiting Bulldogs exploded for 35 second-half points in running away from the Raiders for a 43-25 win in Parnell's debut as McKinley head coach. Kyelin West ran for 185 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. All six of McKinley's touchdowns were 12 yards or more, highlighted by West's electric 83-yarder. LB/DE Amare Mitchell, a Ball State commit, had a 38-yard scoop-and-score for the Bulldogs. 

Canton McKinley football players to watch 

• Kyelin West: The First Team All-Ohioan has a kamikaze running style that netted him 1,504 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. West holds three MAC offers and one from Marshall. 
• Braylon Crook: Crook makes his debut as McKinley's starting QB. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior has a strong arm, savvy and some good mobility. And he has electric senior Darius Hill to throw to. 
• Antonio Stevens: The 5-11, 230-pound Stevens had a tremendous game against Harding last year and remains the sledgehammer of McKinley's defense at middle linebacker. 

Warren Harding football players to watch 

• Asa Burch: Burch is a 6-5, 231-pound defensive end with a who's-who collection of college offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Indiana, Oregon, Penn State and Notre Dame. He also can play some tight end on offense. 
• Matt Richardson: The son of Harding's head coach, Richardon is an impact wide receiver-defensive back who is committed to Central Michigan. 
• Makhai Brogdon: The running back Brogdon, now listed at 5-10, 195 pounds, is one of the many Raiders who have gotten bigger and stronger since last year. He holds offers from Toledo and Kent State. 

Potential X-factors for McKinley and Harding football teams

• McKinley: Safeties Shad Davis and Dwoyne Robinson literally are the safety valves of the McKinley defense. Smart, tough and supremely talented, Davis and Robinson make it difficult to break off big plays against the Bulldogs. Davis is a Second Team All-Ohioan who holds offers from three MAC schools and Youngstown State. 
• Harding: Jaron Edmonds returns as the Raiders' kicker after making four field goals — a single-game program record — against the Bulldogs last year. In other news, McKinley still was figuring out its kicking situation as this week began.

Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com

On X: @jweirREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Ohio high school football scores, McKinley-Warren Harding live updates

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