The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Week 3 in football is ready for kickoff
Joe Magill previews the top games involving area teams. Plus, see who the Way See ‘Em panel picks to win, and this week’s players of the week.
ELYRIA CATHOLIC AT BAY
What: Great Lakes Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 13
Where: Bay Memorial Stadium, Bay High School, 29230 Wolf Road, Bay Village
Records: Elyria Catholic 2-0; Bay 1-1
For the record: These teams tied for the conference title last year, with Elyria Catholic winning the head-to-head matchup, 28-21. Expectations were that these two would be top dogs once again, but after Medina Buckeye’s eye-opening 38-7 victory last week over Bay, it appears the Bucks will have something to say about that as well. Led by quarterback Steven Navalinsky and tailback Chris Jackson, the Panthers scored 100 points in victories over Sandusky Perkins and Parma. The schedule has been much tougher for the Rockets, who edged Keystone, 2620, and fell to Buckeye. Don’t expect Bay, which has won or shared every GLC title since its inception in 2015, to go down without a fight.
AVON AT LAKEWOOD
What: Southwestern Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 13
Where: Lakewood High School, 14100 Franklin Blvd., Lakewood
Records: Avon 2-0; Lakewood 0-2
For the record: The area’s top-ranked team gets something of a breather, having opened with victories over rival Avon Lake and Lorain. Tailback Nick Perusek continues to be the go-to man for Eagles, but first-year quarterback Danny Zeh has emerged as a threat as well. Last week he completed 15 of 25 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns and he has passed for 349 yards on the season. Lakewood has won a total of three games since the 2015 season and appears headed toward more of the same.
AVON LAKE AT BEREA-MIDPARK
What: Southwestern Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 13
Where: Finnie Stadium, Baldwin Wallace University, 141 E. Bagley Road, Berea
Records: Avon Lake 1-1, Berea-Midpark 0-2
For the record: The Shoremen have opened the season with two nailbiters— a 13-12 loss to Avon and a 24-23 victory over Clarksville Clinton-Massie in which they thwarted a two-point conversion try with 39 seconds to play to secure the victory. They really need the chance to just take it easy and grind out a convincing victory, and it appears Berea-Midpark could be just the ticket. The Titans, who allowed points last year at an alarming rate, have opened the season by losing to Strongsville, 41-13, and Olmsted Falls, 36-21.
MIDVIEW AT AMEHRST
What: Southwestern Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 13
Where: Mercy Health Stadium, Marion L. Steele High School, 450 Washington St., Amherst
Records: Midview 2-0; Amherst 2-0
For the record: Midview has played the better schedule, with victories over Elyria and North Ridgeville while Amherst counters with victories over two winless teams, Lakewood and Firelands. The emergence of sophomore quarterback Ethan Surdock has sparked the Midview offense, although coach D.J. Shaw says there needs to be fewer penalties and more consistency in the running game. Amherst also has a first-year quarterback in junior Tyler Brezina, who threw for 176 yards and three scores in a 41-0 blanking of Firelands. The Comets also were plagued by penalties last week.
OLMSTED FALLS AT WESTLAKE
What: Southwestern Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 13 Where: Westlake High
School, 27830 Hilliard Blvd., Westlake
Records: Olmsted Falls 2-0; Westlake 0-2
For the record: The Bulldogs seem to have picked up where they left off from last year’s playoff season despite the fact that 18 starters graduated. The schedule gets much tougher as the season progresses, but this appears to be a season when a new person steps in and just takes over, demonstrating the strength of the program. Westlake has struggled in its first two games with losses to Rocky River and North Olmsted. A highlight has been the play of quarterback Travis Monken, who has completed 37 of 65 passes for 467 yards.
ELYRIA AT LORAIN
What: Nonconference game
When: 7 p.m. Sept. 13
Where: George Daniel Field, 2601 Oberlin Ave., Lorain
Records: Elyria 1-1, Lorain 0-2
For the record: Lorain’s first two games were against Brunswick and Avon, two of the better teams in Northeast Ohio. With that type of competition, it’s difficult to know if the offensive struggles (35 points in two games) are because of internal issues or because of the opponents. There’s loads of talent and speed at the skill positions, but it has yet to break out. Elyria took a 7-6 victory over Bedford last week, ending a 15-game losing streak, the longest in school history. Junior Jaheim Atkinson has become the focal point of Elyria’s ball-control offense, carrying the ball 29 times for 140 yards against Bedford.
JOHN HAY AT CLEARVIEW
What: Nonconference game
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 13
Where: Clearview High School, 4700 Broadway, Lorain
Records: John Hay 0-2; Clearview 2-0
For the record: In the past John Hay has been one of the more successful teams in the Senate League, but this year the Hornets have yet to score a point, losing to Valley Forge, 35-0, and Mansfield Senior, 41-0. Clearview is on a roll, having put up 96 points in victories over Sandusky Perkins and Vermilion. Perhaps John Hay will score its first points of the season, but look for the Clippers to remain unbeaten.
ROCKY RIVER AT FAIRVIEW
What: Great Lakes Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 13
Where: James B. Dailey Stadium, Fairview High School, 4507 W. 213th St., Fairview Park
Records: Rocky River 1-1; Fairview 1-1
For the record: This is a neighborhood rivalry, although Fairview hasn’t beaten Rocky River since the 2013 season. Last year, the game went to triple overtime, with the Pirates pulling out a 30-24 victory. Rocky River exploded for 35 second-half points in a 41-14 victory over Westlake and then lost a tight one to Valley Forge, 24-21. The Warriors lost their opener to another neighborhood team, Lutheran West, 28-7, and then won their first-ever GLC game with a 42-14 victory over winless Normandy. While the teams have played each other often, this time it has added meaning, with both being in the same conference.
WELLINGTON AT NEW LONDON
What: Nonconference game
When: 7 p.m., Sept. 13
Where: New London High School, 1 Wildcat Dr., New London
Records: Wellington 1-1; New London 0-2
For the record: Last week the Dukes topped Ashland Mapleton, 24-6, to end an eight-game losing streak. The last game Wellington won prior to that was against—you guessed it—New London, taking a 34-22 decision in game three last year. The Dukes have gotten strong play from quarterback Ben Higgins, who has completed 20 of 34 passes for 382 yards and five touchdowns. New London opened the season with losses to 0Western Reserve Academy, 36-10, and Oregon Cardinal Stritch, 22-20.