My apologies for being late this week. We'll be back to our normal schedule next week.
We’ll start with the local games first…
The Five Best Games to See in the Area
#5 Huron (6-2) @ Clyde (5-3)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Huron lost at Vermilion, 13-10; Clyde lost at Sandusky, 22-21.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 13, 2023; Clyde won at Huron, 28-6.
Intrigue: Huron QB Landon Hohler has 844 passing yards with 11 TDs and 445 rushing yards with seven TDs to lead their offense this year.
The Tiger defense is led by Jackson McNulty and Paul Maloney. McNulty has 92 tackles, five sacks, one interception, and a forced fumble; and Maloney has 86 tackles and a forced fumble on the year.
Offensively, Clyde is led by Brennan Wilson, who has passed for 944 with nine TDs, rushed for 177 yards with a TD; and has 24 receiving yards with an additional TD on the season. Adam Young has rushed for 509 yards and seven TDs so far in 2024.
The Fliers look to Hector Garza, Cedric Messer, and Zander Burroughs as leaders on defense. Garza has 70 tackles, a pick, a forced fumble and recovery; Messer has 51 tackles and a forced fumble; and Burroughs has 48 tackles, a sack, and an interception this season.
#4 Vermilion (7-1) @ Milan Edison (8-0)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Vermilion beat Huron at home, 13-10; Edison defeated Port Clinton at home, 41-7.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 13, 2023; Edison won at Vermilion, 34-14.
Intrigue: Vermilion’s Aaron Mathis is a dual-threat QB. Mathis is 33-of-74 for 419 yards with a TD an two picks on the year while also rushing for 660 yards and 15 TDs. Evan Kuhns has rushed for 644 yards with five TDs as well having 162 receiving yards with another TD so far this season. Cohen Mooney has 416 rushing yards with five TDs.
Mooney also has 64 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and an interception for the Sailors. Oliver Roy has 60 tackles and two interceptions on the year.
Edison’s Cy Finnen has 704 rushing yards with eight rushing TDs and an additional receiving TD on the year. Quarterback Abe Hermes has 792 passing yards with seven TDs and four picks while also rushing for 441 yards and six TDs. Bryson Wittmer has also rushed for 384 yards and seven TDs on the year.
The Chargers’ Ryder Kramb has 66 tackles, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, one sack, and one interception. Finnen also has 55 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble and recovery on the year.
#3 Sandusky (5-3) @ Perkins (7-1)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Sandusky beat Clyde at home, 22-21; Perkins won at Norwalk, 49-0.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 13, 2023; Perkins won at Sandusky, 31-14.
Intrigue: Sandusky’s Maky’Veon Lately has 481 rushing yards with seven TDs and 192 receiving yards with a TD. Jason Henlon has thrown for 960 yards with eight TDs and five picks. Henlon has also rushed for 123 yards with a couple TDs this season.
The Blue Streaks are led by Dennarius Walk, Rocco D’Amico, and Aa’ Zoryion Bonner defensively. Walk has 88 tackles, one sack, and a fumble recovery. D’Amico has 64 tackles and a sack. Bonner has 57 tackles, two picks, one forced fumble and recovery.
Perkins has Isaac Bunts to count on as a playmaker on offense. Bunts has 1,425 yards, 20 rushing TDs, 173 receiving yards, and two receiving TDs. Sam Schweinfurth has 1,411 passing yards with 17 TDs and four picks.
The Pirates defense is anchored by Dylan Crabtree, who has 64 tackles, two picks, and 1.5 sacks. Reagan Kaufman has 47 tackles, 3.5 sacks, a forced fumble and recovery.
#2 Eastwood (8-0) @ Oak Harbor (8-0)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Eastwood beat Otsego at home, 35-20; Oak Harbor beat Genoa Area at home, 38-7.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 13, 2023; Oak Harbor won at Eastwood, 35-21.
Intrigue: Eastwood QB Drew Luidhardt is 98-for-137 passing for 1,759 yards with 24 passing TDs, four INTs, and three rushing TDs on the season. Luidhardt’s top target is Andre Lewis, had three TD catches in five minutes in last week’s win. Lewis has 39 catches for 725 yards and 10 TDs. Kevin Lewis has 589 rushing yards for eight TDs and 97 receiving yards as well.
Sophomore RB/LB Cam Schumaker has 400 receiving yards with five TDs plus 137 rushing yards and three TDs this year. He also leads the defense with 46 tackles, three picks, two sacks, and two forced fumbles and recoveries this season.
Defensively, the Rockets only gave up 76 yards rushing and 169 passing for a total of 245 yards give up last week. They held Genoa Area to 2-of-8 on third downs and forced one turnover via interception.
#1 Ontario (8-0) @ Shelby (8-0)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Ontario defeated Marion Harding at home, 45-14; Shelby won at Clear Fork, 34-7.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 13, 2023; Shelby won at Ontario, 37-31.
Intrigue: Ontario’s Bodpegn Miller, a Ohio State commit, was 11-of-20 passing for 265 yards with two TDs last week. Miller also rushed for 186 yards and two TDs. Noah Poole had six receptions for 150 yards; Jon Mahon caught three passes for 111 yards and a TD; and Mason Vantilburg had 63 rushing yards and two TDs.
Shelby’s Brayden DeVito threw 22-of-30 completions for 476 passing yards and four TDs last week. Kaden Price had four receptions for 141 yards, and Brady Bowman caught seven receptions for 171 yards. Nic Eyster had five receptions for 53 yards.
Honorable Mention - Carey (4-4) @ Mohawk (6-2) and Norwalk (2-6) @ Tiffin Columbian (3-5).
The Five Best Games to See in the State
#5 Lakota East (6-2) @ Lakota West (7-1)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: East beat Sycamore at home, 56-12; West won at Oak Hill, 52-7.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 6, 2023; West won at East, 34-0.
Intrigue: East’s Jamison Kitna was 10-for-13 passing for 251 yards and three TDs last week. Jayden Seay caught four passes for 108 yards and a couple TDs, and Patrick MacFarlane had three receptions for 69 yards and a TD.
The Thunderhawks gave up 258 total yards of defense with 145 through the air and 113 on the ground. The defense was able to force a couple turnovers last week too.
West QB Sam Wiles was 10-of-14 for 171 yards and a TD in last week’s win. Wiles also rushed for 79 yards on five attempts for a TD as well. Trey Barnette had four catches for 79 yards and a TD.
The Firebird defense held Oak Hills to 133 total yards with 78 passing and 55 rushing yards. Lakota West also held their opponent to 3-of-10 third down conversions.
#4 Minster (7-1) @ Marion Local (8-0)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Minster defeated Versailles at home, 35-0; Marion Local won at Anna, 42-0.
Previous Meeting: Nov. 10, 2023; Marion Local beat Minster, 28-7 in the Region 28 semifinals at Lima Shawnee High School.
Intrigue: Minster is led by Brogan Stephey, who threw 16-of-20 completions for 213 yards, two TDs, one pick, and 64 rushing yards in last week’s win. Tyler Bergman caught four balls for 49 yards and a TD, Cole Albers had three receptions for 51 yards and a TD, and Dylan Heitkamp had three catches for 52 yards.
The Wildcat’s Conner Schmiesing had 7.5 tackles, 3 TFL, 1.5 sacks last week. The defense was able to pick off a couple passes in the victory as well.
Marion Local is currently on a 56-game winning streak. A win versus Minster would tie them for the state record for consecutive wins, held by Delphos St. John’s.
The offense gained 390 total yards. Justin Knouff was 8-of-10 for 144 yards for two TDs and he rushed for a third.
The Fliers gave up just 142 yards to Anna last week.
Side note - I was at the game where St. John’s streak ended against the Flyers on Nov. 24, 2000 in a Division VI state semifinal at Donnell Stadium in Findlay. It was unforgettable.
Minster’s coach Seth Whiting is the son of former Delphos St. John’s coach, Vic Whiting,who was part of that record-breaking win streak.
#3 Davidson (6-2) @ Olentangy Liberty (6-2)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Davidson won at Coffman, 42-14; Liberty beat Bradley at home, 37-14.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 13, 2023; Davidson beat Liberty at home, 10-6.
Intrigue: This game is to see who can stay in the Ohio Capital Conference - Central Division title. Liberty controls their own destiny with Davidson and frontrunner Olentangy Orange over the next two games.
Each of these teams need this game in order to clinch two home playoff games.
#2 St. Edward (5-3) @ Archbishop Moeller (7-1)
When: Saturday, Oct. 19 at 3 p.m.
Last Week: St. Edward defeated Mississauga [ON] Football North (via Clarkson SS) at home, 22-12; Moeller won at St. Ignatius, 44-0.
Previous Meeting: Oct. 14, 2023; St. Edward defeated Moeller at home, 28-21.
Intrigue: St. Edward receiver Zach Hackleman caught 11 passes for 141 yards and two TDs last week. Thomas Csanyi had 225 passing yards and three TDs. Luke Hess contributed four catches for 53 yards.
The Eagles defense only gave up 73 rushing yards and 175 passing yards for 248 total yards in last week’s victory.
Moeller QB Matt Ponatoski was 11-of-14 for 192 yards and four TDs in last week’s win. Deacon Simmons had 11 rushes for 97 yards and a TD. Matthew Fowler caught four balls for 112 yards and 2 TDs.
The Crusader defense gave up 68 passing yards and 69 rushing yards for 137 total defensive yards. They held St. Ignatius to 2-of-11 on third down conversions.
#1 Winton Woods (8-0) @ Anderson (8-0)
When: Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
Last Week: Winton Woods beat West Clermont at home, 12-7; Anderson won at Walnut Hills, 46-7.
Previous Meeting: Sept. 22, 2023; Anderson beat Winton Woods at home, 20-13.
Intrigue: Winton Woods has outscored opponents 239-35 this season including three shutouts and seven games holding opponents to seven points or less this year. Anderson will be the Warriors’ toughest test in the regular season.
Bryshawn Brown was 14-of-18 for 90 yards and a TD in last week’s win. Isaiah Garrett rushed for 60 yards and a TD.
The Warriors defense held West Clermont to just six first downs last week and 96 total yards of offense, all of which were on the ground.
Anderson QB Justice Burnam was 10-for-15 for 228 yards, two passing TDs and a rushing TD. Aiden McClanahan had three catches for 101 yards and a TD, Cooper Kathman had four receptions for 41 yards, and Trace Gallic caught two passes for 79 yards and a TD.
The Raptor defense held their opponent to 34 rushing yards and 143 passing yards for 177 total offensive yards last week.
Honorable Mention - Bishop Chatard [IN] (6-1) @ Elder (4-4) and McDowell [PA] (6-2) @ Steubenville (7-0).
Thanks for reading. I hope to see you next week.