THE 10 BEST GAMES TO SEE IN OHIO - WEEK FOUR

By Kyle Holsinger

My apologies for getting this article out a few hours later than usual. The first three weeks of the season, I use some metrics from last season’s teams until enough data has built up to properly judge this year’s version of each respective school’s team. Starting this week, that switches and there’s a lot of work that goes into that switch. That being said, next week may come out on Tuesday as well, but then it will be back to the regular Monday publishing.

The Five Best Games in the Area

#5 Pleasant (1-2) @ Caledonia River Valley (1-2)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Pleasant was defeated at Whitehall-Yearling, 36-7; and River Valley lost at home to Buckeye Valley, 38-15.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; River Valley won at Pleasant, 35-0.

Intrigue: A cross-county and Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference rivalry that goes back decades.

Pleasant plays one of the toughest schedules in Division V this season.

Offensively, they Spartans have struggled—averaging 10 points per game. Defensively, they played well in their first two games before giving up 36 points last week to Whitehall-Yearling.

River Valley scored 42 points in week one before being stifled the next two weeks at home against Mansfield Madison and Buckeye Valley.

This game is must needed for each team if they’d like to earn a playoff berth.

#4 Calvert (1-2) @ Hopewell-Loudon (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Calvert lost to St. Paul at home, 22-20; H-L won at Milan Edison, 22-14.

Previous Meeting: Oct. 25, 2024; Hopewell-Loudon defeated Calvert on the road, 26-0.

Intrigue: Sandusky Bay Conference River Division matchup that will be a Northern 10 matchup next season.

Calvert plays one of the toughest schedules in Division VII.

After getting waxed by the Warriors of Mohawk, the Senecas upset Monroeville only to lose a close one to St. Paul last Friday.

Hopewell averages 22 points a game offensively while having a rock solid defense—giving up only 9.3 ppg.

The Chieftains dominated Carey in week one before beating their next two opponents, Pleasant and Milan Edison, by a touchdown.

Hopewell-Loudon also plays one of the toughest schedules in their division.

#3 Whitmer (2-1) @ Fremont Ross (2-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Whitmer defeated Southview at home, 48-0; Fremont Ross lost at Perrysburg, 31-0.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 13, 2024; Whitmer won at Ross, 38-14.

Intrigue: Northern Lakes League battle between two of Northwest Ohio’s most storied programs.

Whitmer has outscored Ohio opponents in two games this season, 78-0. They did suffer a week two defeat to top-tier Detroit (MI) King, 32-7.

After beating Tiffin Columbian and Sandusky, Fremont Ross’ winning streak came to an end last week at Perrysburg.

#2 Colonel Crawford (3-0) @ Mohawk (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Colonel Crawford beat East Knox at home, 42-18; Mohawk won at Ayersville, 40-15

Previous Meeting: Sept. 13, 2024; Mohawk won at Colonel Crawford, 35-7.

Intrigue: Matchup between last season’s Northern 10 Conference winner, Mohawk, and my ‘way too early’ pick to win the N10 this season, Colonel Crawford.

Colonel Crawford hasn’t had any close games this season, but they’ve faced three opponents with a combined record of 2-7.

Mohawk has done the same, but against opponents with a combined record of 3-6. This will be each team’s toughest opponent to date.

#1 Galion (3-0) @ Shelby (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Galion won at Norwalk, 41-0; Shelby won at Bellevue, 49-6.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 20, 2024; Shelby won at Galion, 35-6.

Intrigue: Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference matchup with tons of computer points on the line.

Galion has mowed through St. Marys Memorial, Carey, and Norwalk to a combined score of 117-20. Their opponents have compiled a 2-7 record.

Shelby has done similar; going 142-33, but against opponents with a 5-5 combined records.

Honorable Mention - Woodmore (3-0) @ Lakota (3-0) and Norwalk (1-2) @ Bellevue (2-1).

The Five Best Games in the State

#5 Trotwood-Madison (3-0) @ Archbishop Alter (2-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: T-M beat Springfield at home, 16-13; Alter won at Linton-Stockton (IN), 35-0.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 12, 2024; Alter won at Trotwood-Madison, 10-7.

Intrigue: Trotwood-Madison tuned up Cleveland Heights, 42-7, before two close calls with Fairmont and Springfield.

Alter also had a close game with Fairmont. In week two, the Knights lost to Taft in overtime, then beat an Indiana team, Linton-Stockton, 35-0 last week.

#4 Princeton (2-1) @ Lakota West (2-1)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Princeton won at Sycamore, 47-0; Lakota West won at Hamilton, 38-6.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 6, 2024; Princeton beat Lakota West at home, 14-6.

Intrigue: After their week one loss to Moeller, Princeton has blownout Colerain and Sycamore by a combined score of 79-2.

Lakota West lost a close game at St. Xavier, 14-7, in week one. Then, the Firebirds beat Mason and Hamilton by comfortable margins.

#3 Canfield (3-0) @ Poland Seminary (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Canfield defeated Cardinal Mooney at home, 24-14; Poland beat Mogadore Field at home, 50-6.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 13, 2024; Canfield defeated Poland at home, 17-10.

Intrigue: Canfield has won against stiff competition to start: beating West Branch in a five-point game; beating Walnut Ridge by a couple scores; then a ten-point win against Mooney.

Poland Seminary has beat their three opponents by a combined score of 140-38. Those three teams have had a 3-6 combined record though.

#2 Elder (3-0) @ La Salle (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Elder won at Springboro, 21-7; La Salle beat Fairmont at home, 24-23.

Previous Meeting: Oct. 25, 2024; La Salle won at Elder, 35-24.

Intrigue: Elder hosted two out-of-state opponents, Mt. Zion Prep of Maryland and Covington Catholic of Kentucky, winning by a combined score of 62-20. Last week, they went on the road for the first time this season, beating Springboro 21-7.

La Salle blew out Colerain and Northmont before winning a thriller with Fairmont.

#1 Glenville (2-1) @ St. Edward (3-0)

When: Friday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m.

Last Week: Glenville lost at Avon, 28-16; St. Ed beat Huber Heights Wayne at home, 63-27.

Previous Meeting: Sept. 26, 2024; Glenville won at St. Ed, 28-27.

Intrigue: This is likely the best game to see of the entire regular season. These are also possibly the two best teams in the state this season. Lots of stars and computer points flying around this Friday in this one.

Glenville had two tight games at Massillon Washington and Olentangy Liberty before they lost last week at Avon. The Tarblooders will be looking to get back in the win column this weekend.

St. Edward has handled all three of their opponents: Pickerington North, Delbarton (NJ), and Wayne. This will be their toughest competition to date.

Honorable Mention - Hillsboro (3-0) @ Williamsburg (3-0); Fairmont (0-3) @ Centerville (0-3); and Walsh Jesuit (3-0) @ St. Ignatius (0-3).