The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Week 9 >> Games to watch
AVON LAKE AT OLMSTED FALLS
What: Matt Medley Memorial Game of the Week When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Where: Charles A. Harding Memorial Stadium Records: Avon Lake 8-0 (7-0 SWC), Olmsted Falls 6-2 (5-2 SWC) Last meeting: 2017 — 21-20 (OT), Olmsted Falls
For the record: For all intents and purposes, this game is for the Southwestern Conference title. There is another week to go, but the moment the Shoremen defeated Avon, the checklist of teams to beat to secure the title was whittled down to Berea-Midpark, Amherst and Olmsted Falls. This is the last of those teams for Avon Lake. And it is by no means a guaranteed victory. Olmsted Falls has a lot to play for in this one, too. A win would keep its hopes (albeit slim) of sharing the SWC title alive. But more importantly, a win would help propel the Bulldogs into the Division II, Region 6 playoff scene. Olmsted Falls currently sits at No. 10, but the competitive nature of this region has it so that the Bulldogs are a bit over three points behind No. 7 Toledo St. John’s Jesuit. A win against undefeated Avon Lake should be more than enough to put the Bulldogs in a position to control their own destiny in Week 10. Don’t discount how much this game means to Avon Lake as well, though. The Shoremen may have already clinched a playoff berth according to Joe Eitel, but home field in Week 11 and even the No. 1 overall seed are up for grabs. And a win against Olmsted Falls should secure at least Week 11 at Avon Lake Memorial Stadium. But how do we get to a winner? A lot of running. Olmsted Falls picked up a Week 8 win against Midview without passing the ball, with Jack Spellacy leading the ground charge for the Bulldogs. Avon Lake, on the other hand, has a bit more of a balanced offense between running back Konner Riggs and quarterback Jack Mikolich. This one may come down to the wire.
LUTHERAN WEST AT CLEARVIEW
What: Patriot Athletic Conference game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Where: Tom Hoch Field
Records: Lutheran West 6-2 (2-1 PAC Stripes), Clearview 7-1 (3-0 PAC Stripes) Last meeting: 2017 — 28-7, Clearview
For the record: It’s only Week 9, but this one feels like a playoff game for both of these teams. And that’s because, in essence, it is. Besides this being the de facto Patriot Athletic Conference Stripes title game (a Clearview win either clinches the title outright when combined with Columbia loss or clinches a share, while a Lutheran West victory opens up the potential for a threeway tie), whichever team wins should be in the driver’s seat for a playoff berth, while the other could be all but eliminated. By now, teams know what to expect from Clearview — outstanding defense coupled with hardnosed running from Drew Engle and David Renftle, with the occasional Chase Christensen or Robert Davis pass sprinkled in. Engle, who last week became the Clearview career leader in yards gained, has 796 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns this season. The defense has allowed a Morning Journal area low total of 1,470 yards, or 183.8 yards per game, and is giving up an average of 12.9 points per game while keeping opponents under 10 points five times. The Longhorns possess an offense that can hit you from all directions and is rich with athletic players. Quarterback Austin Kim has developed into one of the top quarterbacks in the Journal area, and is arguably the best non-senior QB. He has completed 59 percent of his passes this season for 1,130 yards and a stellar 16-4 touchdown to interception
ratio. Adding to the dangerous Longhorn offense that is averaging 44.9 points per game is running back Parker Watson (84 carries, 660 yards, 13 touchdowns), wide receiver Shawn Naim (27 receptions, 457 yards, eight touchdowns) and all-around athlete Gerald McHenry Jr. (11 receptions, 248 yards, four touchdowns; 32 carries, 285 yards, four touchdowns). And defensively, the Longhorns like to pressure the quarterback often, as evidenced by Ryan Szczepinski and Kevin McLeeson’s 5.5 sacks a piece this season. These teams are evenly matched and this one will have the feel — and play — of a playoff game come early.
AVON AT AMHERST
What: Southwestern Conference game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Where: Mercy Health Stadium Records: Avon 7-1 (6-1 SWC), Amherst 5-3 (5-2 SWC) Last meeting: 2017 — 35-7,
Avon
For the record: This game has a bit of a do-or-die feel to it for Amherst. The Comets have dropped three straight. And with those losses, Amherst has fallen down the Division II, Region 6 playoff rankings. Entering Week 9, Amherst holds the final playoff spot, roughly 1.7 points ahead of the team that defeated it in Week 8, North Olmsted. And lurking behind the Eagles is Olmsted Falls, which is just under two points behind the Comets. In other words, a fourth loss could easily cause the Comets to drop out of the playoff spot, hoping to climb back in with a win in the final week. That is not to say that the game does not have importance for Avon as well. The Eagles are still fighting for a share of the Southwestern Conference title. Winning out is the only option as Avon hopes a team can knock off leader Avon Lake to force a tie. But beyond conference implications, the Eagles want a win to help keep Week 11 at Joe Firment Stadium. Avon is slotted at No. 4 at this point, and a win over Amherst would help distance the Eagles from No. 5 Valley Forge — the team that appears to be in the best position to swipe home field. As a result, don’t expect any letup in this one. It should be one of the more entertaining duels between running backs this season has offered, with Amherst’s Khennedy Scagliozzo (206 carries, 1,400 yards, 20 touchdowns) and Avon’s Nick Perusek (54 carries, 531 yards, seven touchdowns in four games), who is fresh off a return from injury.
BROOKSIDE AT WELLINGTON
What: Patriot Athletic Conference game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Where: Wellington Stadium Records: Brookside 1-7 (0-3 PAC Stars), Wellington 1-7 (0-3 PAC Stars) Last meeting: 2017 — 41-19,
Brookside
For the record: It has admittedly been a rough season for both teams. However, both teams have made significant strides as the season progressed. This is the week when they both get a true measuring stick of how far they have come. The Dukes will want to see how far their defense has come since a drubbing last season at the hands of the Cardinals. There have definitely been flashes of defensive success this season for Wellington, but sustaining that success for the entirety of the game has been an issue. The Cardinals will look to see where their offense stands. Brookside has the athletes to bust out big plays, but that ability has not been seen since Week 4, due in part to a daunting schedule the past four weeks that has forced the Cardinals into games against teams at .500 or better. These teams are not playing for a conference title. Or for a playoff berth. Or even for a .500 record. This one simply is a game that is all about pride, and sometimes those are the best games.