ROCKY RIVER AT NORMANDY

What: Great Lakes Conference game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 12 Where: Byers Field, 7600 Day Drive, Parma Records: Rocky River 4-3, Normandy 3-4 Last time: 2016 — 44-7, Rocky River

For the record: The Pirates have new life. A win against Valley Forge in Week 7 put them right back in the hunt for a playoff spot, and a win against Division II Normandy can further the Pirates’ cause. Rocky River looked sharp in Week 7, with running back Matt Popovich finding the end zone twice for the first time this season. That is a key for the Pirates’ offense. When Popovich and Dameon Crawford are on top of their games, Rocky River is a tough team to stop. As for Normandy, the Invaders are in a slump. After a 3-0 start, Normandy has dropped its last four games. To be blunt, it’s not a surprise. The GLC offers a tough slate of games — much tougher than the hodge-podge of D-V and D-VI teams that Normandy opened its season with. Take nothing away from Normandy. It earned those wins to end its 41game losing streak. But topping Rocky River will take the game of Normandy’s life. The way we see it: Rocky River — Paul Barney, Jon Behm, Chris Coon, Robert Fenbers, Gridiron Guru, Matt Lofgren, Marissa McNees, Fuad Shalhout, Scott Sommers; Normandy — None; Consensus — Rocky River, 9-0