Week 7 kicks off with these big matchups

Solon visits Euclid in a showdown with GCC and playoff implications. Plus, previews on other games, including Orange-West Geauga, Benedictine-Lake Catholic and more.

SOLON AT EUCLID

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 6 Where: Sparky DiBiasio Stadium Last year: Solon def. Euclid, 33-13 Last week: Euclid def. Strongsville, 38-30, Solon def. Brunswick 28-14 Records: Solon 5-1 (3-0 GCC), Euclid 5-1 (3-0 GCC) For the record: This is the marquee game of the week, with both teams undefeated in conference play. Additionally, big-time Division I, Region 1 playoff points are on the line for the Comets (No. 7 this week) and Panthers (No. 9) . ... Ronald Lee has run for an area-best 1,041 yards this year for Euclid, but devoting too much attention to him might open the passing game of QB Cee Jay Hale (903 yards, 11 TDs) and his receiving corps that includes speedy Dre’Von Lindsay . ... Solon’s only loss is to a very good Stow-Munroe Falls team. RB Thomas Wilks will be a focal point of the Euclid defense, as will experienced QB Joe Cartellone . ... This is a big one also in that Solon plays Mentor in Week 8 and Euclid plays Mentor in Week 9. The winner of EuclidSolon still controls its own destiny in the GCC race, while the loser does not.

ORANGE AT WEST GEAUGA

What: CVC Chagrin Division game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 6 Where: Howell Field Last year: Orange def. West Geauga, 28-18

Last week: Orange def. Wickliffe, 42-6, West Geauga def. Beachwood, 59-31 Records: West Geauga 3-3 (3-0 CVC), Orange 5-1 (3-0 CVC)

For the record: Many feel the CVC Chagrin is Perry’s to lose, but the Wolverines and the Lions will want to have their say in that. Both are 3-0 in league play so far, so the winner here stays atop the league race and picks up megacomputer points for playoff hopes . ... Orange ran over Wickliffe last week and was dominant on both sides of the ball. The Lions have a ton of offensive firepower, led by QB Sean Borgman, who can run or throw effectively. Jake Sonkin is a game-breaker at receiver, and Marvin Davies III is also a threat. This is a very potent Orange offense . ... West Geauga is 3-3, but their three losses came to Chardon, NDCL and Kenston (a combined 14-4). QB Jax Shenkel is a good dual-threat quarterback. The Wolverines ground out a win over Beachwood last week on the legs of Shenkel (82 yards), Michael Osters (177 yards) and Christian Dibra (92). Orange’s run defense will need to be on point.

LAKE CATHOLIC AT BENEDICTINE

What: NCL Blue Division game

When: 7 p.m., Oct. 6 Where: Bedford Bearcat Stadium Last year: Lake Catholic def. Benedictine 27-20 Last week: Benedictine def. NDCL 31-24, in OT, Akron Hoban def. Lake Catholic, 52-20 Records: Lake Catholic 3-3 (0-1 NCL), Benedictine 5-1 (1-0 NCL) On the airwaves: WCCRAM 1260

For the record: Lake Catholic needs a win here both to stay in the NCL race and for playoff positioning, where it is 14th in Division II, Region 14. Benedictine is much better off, ranked third in the region . ... The Cougars were able to force five turnovers against Akron Hoban last week, but couldn’t slow down the Knights when the Knights took care of the ball. Lake gave up nearly 600 yards in offense last week. Now they are faced with a Benedictine team that is riding high after a 31-24 overtime win over previously unbeaten NDCL. ... Nick Demchuck has thrown for 1,168 yards and 14 touchdowns this year. Keith Williams (287) leads the rushing attack, while Michael Williams and Devon Fox have combined for 58 catches for 703 yards and seven touchdowns . ... Lake got good running last week from backs Kevin Conley and Robert Morgan, as well as QB Jack Gibbons. Nick Simcak is a good receiver Gibbons will target . ... The key matchup in this game is Lake’s defense against Benedictine’s offense. Can the Cougars slow down the Bengals?

GENEVA AT PERRY

What: CVC Chagrin Division game

When: 7 p.m., Oct. 6 Where: Alumni Stadium

Last year: Perry def. Geneva, 55-13

Last week: Perry def. Chagrin Falls, 45-21, Geneva def. Harvey, 49-21

Records: Geneva 2-4 (2-1 CVC Chagrin), Perry 6-0 (3-0 CVC Chagrin

For the record: A very interesting matchup here between a Perry team that prides itself on running up and down the field and putting big points on the board with its electric offense and a Geneva team that likes to run the ball methodically, lean on defense and control the clock by controlling the ball . ... The 45 points Perry scored last week was a season low, that’s how good the Pirates’ offense is. QB Kolston Brewster has thrown for 1,298 yards and 17 touchdowns, and the tandem of Mr. Inside (Tyler Horvath) and Mr. Outside (Jaylen Anderson) give the Pirates a great running game to go with the passing. Jacob Peteritis is out, but Jacob Allen and Josh Martin are game-breaking receivers . ... Geneva’s best defense will undoubtedly be its offense this week. QB Kyle Stark has run for nine TDs and nearly 300 yards the past two weeks. Backs Edmund Juodenas, Blake Peet and Kyle Hawk will see plenty of duty, too, running the ball ... But keep in mind Perry’ defense gives up only 182 yards per game, so moving the ball on them is often easier said than done.

KENSTON AT RIVERSIDE

What: Western Reserve Conference game

When: 7 p.m., Oct. 6 Where: Riverside Stadium Last year: Riverside def. Kenston, 44-25

Last week: Mayfield def. Kenston, 38-12, North def. Riverside, 26-20 Records: Riverside 2-4 (1-2 WRC), Kenston 4-2 (1-2 WRC)

For the record: Don’t pay attention to the records here. Riverside has two league losses by a total of seven points. Kenston has lost its last two league games. This might be more up in the air than most give it credit for being . ... Kenston was cruising along at 4-0 before losing to Brush and then to Mayfield. They gave up 40 points per game in the two losses, so defense will be a focus in this one. Offensively, QB Jonny Tomcufcic (1,020, 10 TDs) has a nice skill set around him, including RB Jack Porter (758 yards) and receivers Bransen Stanley and Keyshawn Merrill. But the offense struggled last week, so it will try to get back on track this week. ... Riverside QB Nate Sleek (1,066 yards, 9 TDs) has put together a quietly strong senior year. Kenston has struggled defending the pass the past couple of weeks, so look for the Beavers to try to use Sleek’s arm to pull the upset.

MAYFIELD AT MADISON

What: Western Reserve Conference game

When: 7 p.m., Oct. 6 Where: Dick Hamblin Field Last year: Madison def. Mayfield, 30-20

Last week: Chardon def. Madison, 14-6, Mayfield def. Kenston, 38-12 Records: Mayfield 3-3 (1-2 WRC), Madison 2-4 (1-2 WRC)

For the record: When these two teams meet, it is historically a hard-hitting affair where players wake up Saturday morning sore from the physicality the previous night . ... Madison is 2-4, but has close losses to Lakeside, Riverside and Chardon. QB Alex Dragas, a sophomore, has thrown for 712 yards and is maturing by the week. Running back Kenny Cline is a workhorse in the backfield and seemingly never wears down. But the forte of this team is its defense, led by Mark Primer and Seth Schrock, a pair of physical hard-hitters . ... Normal starter Jake Dostal (764 passing yards) missed last week’s game, but freshman Mike Huss played very well in his stead. Dostal will play if healthy. RB Josh Appling is fast and durable. A fine receiver set gives Mayfield a potent offense, as it showed last week against Kenston . ... Two losses probably means both teams are out of the WRC race. But Division II, Region 5 playoff spot are still up for grabs, and both teams have very little margin for error right now.

SOUTH AT CHARDON

What: Western Reserve Conference game

When: 6 p.m., Oct. 6 Where: Memorial Stadium Last year: Chardon def. South, 49-7

Last week: Chardon def. Madison, 14-6, Brush def. South, 54-28 Records: South 1-5 (1-2 WRC), Chardon 5-1 (3-0 WRC)

For the record: You’ve heard of those games where you can “throw out the records?” This is probably one of them. Chardon is 5-1 and South is 1-5, but South is a very dangerous team. With two losses, the Rebels probably can’t win the WRC, but they’re good enough offensively to possibly have a say in who can . ... The Rebels average 351 yards per game. QB Steven D’Eusanio has thrown for 1,174 yards and 10 touchdowns, Danny Gallagher has 34 catches for 409 yards, and running back Tyler Henderson only needs a sliver of daylight to take one to the house. Chardon’s defense will have a lot to defend in this one . ... Then again, South’s defense will have a ton to defend, too. Chardon doesn’t throw the ball much, but doesn’t have to. QB Andrew Kobuszewski is well on his way to a 1,000-yard rushing year. Jon McKnight is a game-breaking back to go with him. Chardon’s tough defense, led by Mason Ziegenfuss (three interceptions), Chase Kline (13 TFL) and Sam Eldridge (13 TFL) is tough, too. ... Defense is big in this one. Can South slow Chardon’s ground-and-pound offense? If Chardon falls behind late, are the Hilltoppers built to come back with a run-oriented offense? Stay tuned.

MENTOR AT SHAKER HEIGHTS

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

When: 1 p.m., Oct. 7 Where: Russell H. Rupp Stadium

Last year: Mentor def. Shaker Heights, 41-0 Last week: Mentor def. Medina, 49-14, Elyria def. Shaker Heights, 31-28 Records: Shaker Heights 3-3 (0-3 GCC), Mentor 5-1 (3-0 GCC)

For the record: It’s never too early to look at playoff positioning, and it’s evident Mentor needs a strong finish to get in the Division I, Region 1 playoffs. The Cardinals are fifth in the region this week, but have big points remaining on the schedule with Shaker, 5-1 Euclid, 5-1 Solon and then Elyria . ... Mentor’s offense (2,958 yards) leads the area. Tadas Tatarunas has thrown for 1,307 yards and more impressively has completed 68 percent of his throws. He has four reliable receivers and has a talented back with him in Chris Edmond. It’s going to take a special defense to slow down Mentor’s offense . ... Shaker Heights has some talented skill players in Micah Hills, Jamir Dismukes and others, but getting into an offensive shootout against Mentor might be tough to do.