Are you ready for Week 7 football action?

Sports Editor Jon Behm breaks down the week’s best games, including Amherst at Avon Lake and Clearview at Columbia. Plus, Athletes of the Week.

What: Medley Memorial Game of the Week When: 7p.m. Oct. 6 Where: Avon Lake Memorial Stadium, 175Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake Records: Amherst 4-2, Avon Lake 4-2 Last time: 2016— 35-14, Avon Lake For the record: With both teams 3-2in the Southwestern Conference, chances are that title aspirations are out the door. However, this one is big when it comes to playoff potential. Amherst is No. 9in Division II, Region 6, while Avon Lake is No. 16. The winner of this one will get the point boost that could help it control its own destiny as the regular season winds down. And this one will be a grinder of a game. Both teams possess a strong run game with Amherst’s Khennedy Scagliozzo leading The Morning Journal area in both yards (1,145) and touchdowns (15), while Avon Lake’s Konner Riggs checks in at No. 7in the area for yards (710) to go with six touchdowns. The main offensive difference is the Shoremen’s QB Jack Mikolich, who has come on strong in recent weeks to total 897yards passing. The Amherst defense will be ready for interceptions, though, as Mikolich has thrown six this year. What: Patriot Athletic Conference game When: 7p.m. Oct. 6 Where: Columbia Raiders Stadium, 14168West River Road, Columbia Station Records: Clearview 5-1, Columbia 4-2 Last time: 2016— 30-21, Columbia For the record: The Raiders are marching on without top running back Brandon Coleman following his seasonending injury in Week 5, but Columbia still managed to best Lutheran West in Week 6by shifting the load to Jared Bycznski, Ben Alten and Cole Schwartz. Clearview has been a success on the ground as well, with Drew Engle averaging nine yards per carry en route to 915yards on 102carries. He has scored 10times. This Columbia team will be the hardest test of the Clippers’ run defense since a Week 1 loss to Amherst, while the Raiders’ run defense is battletested after facing Kirtland in Week 2and Buckeye in Week 5. Whichever team can stop the run should emerge as the victor in this one.