Week 7 >> Games to watch

MIDVIEW AT WESTLAKE

What: Matt Medley Memorial Game of the Week When: 7p.m., Oct. 5 Where: Lou Duchez Field at University Hospitals St. John Medical Center Stadium Records: Midview 0-6(0-5 SWC), Westlake 1-5(1-4SWC) Last meeting: 2017— 55-6, Midview For the record: This one is going to be exciting. Both of these offenses know how to strike and strike fast, and an argument could be made that two of the best passing offenses in The Morning Journal area are facing off. Midview quarterback Andrew Gooch is sitting at the top of the Journal area for passing yards with 1,573, while Westlake quarterback Jacob May comes in at fifth with 1,007. Gooch ranks sixth in touchdown passes with 11, while May is second with 13. Expect the ball to be aired out often in this one, which could make it one of the longer area games this week. Adding to the fun is that both teams have a defense that has been known to give up points, with Midview allowing an average of 44 points per game and Westlake coming in at 45.7. Perhaps, though, the best way to gauge just how close this game will be is to look at Westlake’s only win — a 34-33Week 5 win over North Olmsted. How did the Middies fare against the same opponent? A 33-27 overtime loss. Both teams played North Olmsted so evenly that after regulation, one point was the difference. Expect this to be one of the most evenly matched games of the week, one of the highest scoring games of the week and the game to be at.

AVON LAKE AT AMHERST

What: Southwestern Conference game When: 7p.m., Oct. 5 Where: Mercy Health Stadium Records: Avon Lake 6-0(5-0 SWC), Amherst 5-1(4-1SWC) Last meeting: 2017— 40-28, Avon Lake For the record: The good news for both teams? A loss in this one does not snuff out playoff chances by any means for either. The winner has an easier path and will most likely wind up with a home game barring an 0-3close to the season, but both teams already have a signature win that is giving them plenty of Level 2 points to stay in the thick of the race even with a loss. The bad news? A loss means serious Southwestern Conference title implications. For Avon Lake, a loss means the Shoremen forfeit controlling their own destiny when it comes to the SWC title. For Amherst, a loss all but eliminates the Comets from the title picture, as Amherst would be two games behind the Shoremen with possibly two other teams ahead of them at 5-1in conference play. The Comets are looking to rebound following a lopsided loss to Olmsted Falls in Week 6 where the Comets offense was shut down. Avon Lake is looking to continue the development of its passing game, which had its best performance of the season last week as quarterback Jack Mikolich threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns — three to wide receiver Cole Schraff — in a win over North Ridgeville. The passing game makes the Shoremen offense even more dangerous, as Konner Riggs is already established as one of the top running backs in the area. The question comes with the defense, which has been strong but subject to lapses so far this season. And a lapse is all that is needed for Amherst’s Khennedy Scagliozzo — The Morning Journal area’s leader in rushing yards and total points — to make them pay. This is a game that feels like a playoff showdown. Maybe on Nov. 2a Week 11 rematch will be in the cards.

ROCKY RIVER AT VALLEY FORGE

What: Great Lakes Conference game When: 7p.m., Oct. 5 Where: Byers Field Records: Rocky River 4-2(1-1 GLC), Valley Forge 4-2(2-0GLC) Last meeting: 2017— 31-14, Rocky River For the record: This game has a bit of a do-or-die feel for both teams. Valley Forge needs a win to either keep pace with Bay (pending the outcome of the Rockets’ Oct. 4game with Normandy) or retain sole possession of first in the Great Lakes Conference, while Rocky River needs a win to keep in the title picture, as no team has ever won the Great Lakes Conference with two conference losses. But GLC impact is not where this game ends. There’s a reason Fantastic50.net ranked this game as the fourth most important game of Week 6in terms of playoff impact. That’s because a final record of 7-3may not cut it for Rocky River in Division III, Region 10 or Valley Forge in D-II, Region 6. Both teams understand the impact this game has on the remainder of the season, and both teams will play as if their season depends on it. Expect a big game from Rocky River quarterback Michael Finnegan. The Pirates gunslinger has been outstanding this season, ranking third in the area for yards (1,196) and has a strong completion percentage at 60.5 percent. This one should be a game that comes down to the wire.

COLUMBIA AT CLEARVIEW

What: Patriot Athletic Conference game When: 7p.m., Oct. 5 Where: Tom Hoch Field

Records: Columbia 4-2(1-0 PAC Stripes), Clearview 5-1 (1-0PAC Stripes) Last meeting: 2017— 26-21, Clearview For the record: This is no knock on the other teams in the Patriot Athletic Conference Stripes Division, but this game is for the PAC title. Fairview is looking strong and could be tied for the division lead after a Week 7showdown with Oberlin, and Lutheran West should not be discounted, even with a conference loss already under its belt. However, as for as the PAC Stripes title goes, history has proven this game determines the champion. Of the 13 Stripes Division titles awarded, six have gone to Columbia, and five to Clearview. The Clippers enter as the reigning champion and have the better record this season, but Columbia boasts one of the best players in not just the PAC, but the entire Morning Journal area in Brandon Coleman and can make a fair argument for having the harder schedule at this point of the season. With all of the conference implications, though, don’t discount what this game means for the playoffs. Both teams need the win to make the playoffs. For Columbia, a 7-3record might not cut it in a Division VI, Region 21that features the likes of Mogadore, Kirtland, Rootstown and Creston Norwayne. For Clearview, a schedule that is not producing the desired number of Level 2points means that even at 8-2, the Clippers could be on the outside looking in at the D-IV, Region 14playoff field. Expect a masterful duel on the ground between Coleman (87 carries, 949yards, 15touchdowns) and Clearview’s Drew Engle (84carries, 554yards, nine touchdowns). Coleman and the Raiders appear to have the rushing advantage, but Engle appears to have found his footing over the past three weeks, averaging 116yards and three touchdowns per game. Defensively, both teams have been strong all season, but subject to costly lapses. And both teams feature a player that can make teams pay at a moment’s notice.

OLMSTED FALLS AT BEREA-MIDPARK

What: Southwestern Conference game When: 7p.m., Oct. 5 Where: George Finnie Stadium Records: Olmsted Falls 5-1 (4-1SWC), Berea-Midpark 4-2 (4-1SWC) Last meeting: 2017— 6248, Olmsted Falls For the record: This is going to be a high-scoring affair. Last year’s meeting saw the Bulldogs win a game in which 111 combined points were scored. It was one of the higher-scoring showdowns between the two, but not an anomaly. Since the merger of Berea High School and Midpark High School following the 2012season, the SWC showdown between the Bulldogs and the Titans has averaged 71.2points per game. Olmsted Falls currently holds the series advantage at 3-2, but Berea-Midpark holds a 182-174point advantage through five games. This year’s showdown has the potential to be one that sees a record number of combined points — if the OHSAA tracked that statistic. Through six weeks, Olmsted Falls is averaging 39.8points per game, while Berea-Midpark averages 47.3. That stat would appear to give the Titans the edge. However, keep in mind that the Titans have struggled to stop their opponents this year, with three of their six opponents posting either their highest or second-highest point total of the season against Berea-Midpark. For the season, the Titans are averaging 30.7points allowed per game. And that is where the Bulldogs’ advantage lies. The Olmsted Falls defense has not allowed more than 14points in a game since their only blemish of the season — a 52-14Week 2loss to Avon. The Bulldogs are allowing 20.7points per game this season, and are coming off their finest defensive performance yet in Week 6when Olmsted Falls held Amherst to 2points — a juggernaut of an offense that was averaging 45.4points per game to that point. Olmsted Falls has not faced a quarterback as good as Berea-Midpark’s Trevor Bycznski, so it will be interesting to see how the Bulldogs fare against a passer of his caliber. If this game comes down to which team can make the final stop, Olmsted Falls appears to have the advantage.

BRUNSWICK AT ELYRIA

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game When: 7p.m., Oct. 5 Where: Mercy Health Field at Ely Stadium Records: Brunswick 0-6(0-3 GCC), Elyria 0-6(0-3GCC) Last meeting: 2017— 38-23, Brunswick For the record: This one has a do-or-die feel for Elyria. As in, do get the win, because this is the best shot for the remainder of the season. And the same can be said for Brunswick. That’s the unfortunate reality of playing in the Greater Cleveland Conference. Following Brunswick, Elyria closes its schedule with Medina (2-4), Strongsville (3-3) and Mentor (6-0). Medina’s record is not indicative at all of how good the team is, as its opponents thus far boast a .861winning percentage (31-5) — and the Battling Bees are responsible for two of those five losses. Strongsville is on a threegame losing streak that came against Mentor (6-0), Solon (6-0) and Euclid (5-1). And Mentor is ranked No. 2in Ohio for Division I. The good news? This is a highly winnable game for the Pioneers. Elyria showed flashes of potential in its loss to Shaker Heights last week. And perhaps that potential is what was needed to get the Pioneers a win this week. The 22points the Pioneers scored were the highest offensive output for Elyria this year. While coach Sean Arno continues to try to find the right combination of players in the skill positions to make everything click, the obvious athleticism of Adaveon Drummer, Jaheim Atkinson, Jermele Nolen and others cannot be denied. There will undoubtedly be moments of this game that are rough to watch, but overall it should be a close game that could be won by the Pioneers’ ability to break off big plays.

BROOKSIDE AT KEYSTONE

What: Patriot Athletic Conference game When: 7p.m., Oct. 5 Where: Wildcat Stadium Records: Brookside 1-5(0-1 PAC Stars), Keystone 2-4(1-0 PAC Stars) Last meeting: 2017— 65-10, Keystone For the record: This is an intriguing matchup. Keystone has won two in a row, including an upset over Black River in Week 6. Are the Wildcats finally clicking and showing what they could have been all season, or if they are simply playing over their heads right now? Brookside appears to be a team that is not playing up to its potential and is better than its record indicates, having played one of the tougher schedules in the Patriot Athletic Conference so far. If the Wildcats continue at their torrid pace, led by juniors Jacob Shackleford and Dylan Naylor, and the Cardinals continue to under-perform, this one goes to Keystone by a wide margin. If the Wildcats come back down a bit and the Cardinals play to their potential, it could be interesting to see what happens. The first couple of drives will set the tone for what is to come for the remainder of the game. — Jon Behm