Mentor-Euclid leads Week 9 area games

The Cardinals and Panthers face off with playoff points, conference standing and bragging rights on the line. See John Kampf’s preview of this week’s biggest matchups, plus the Way We See ’Em.

MENTOR AT EUCLID

What: Greater Cleveland Conference game

Where: Euclid Community Stadium When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19

Records: Mentor 6-1 (4-1 GCC), Euclid 6-1 (5-0 GCC)

Last week: Solon def. Mentor, 29-28 (OT), Euclid def. Brunswick, 42-7

For the record: They don’t get much bigger than this. Mentor is ranked first in Division I, Region 1, while Euclid is third. The Cardinals are No. 4 in the AP poll, while the Panthers are fifth. Euclid has a one-game lead in the GCC over Mentor . ... Both teams have high-scoring offenses that can run or pass. Euclid’s Dion Valentine has thrown for 1,238 yards. Mentor might be without QB Ian Kipp (shoulder) again this week, which would pull leading receiver Luke Floriea over to take snaps. Mentor RB Brian Trobel has run for 1,250 yards, and Euclid’s Brandon Wright and Jaabir Mujihad have combined for 1,215 on the ground . ... This one is going to come down to defense. With two offenses like this, it could be a high-scoring game. Can someone create a turnover or two to swing the momentum? Whoever wins here locks up a home game in the first round of the playoffs. They could end up seeing each other again in the playoffs, too.

LAKE CATHOLIC AT NDCL

What: NCL Blue Division game

Where: Lion Stadium When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Records: NDCL 7-1 (2-1 NCL Blue), Lake Catholic 5-3 (2-1 NCL Blue)

Last week: NDCL def. Walsh Jesuit, 53-3, Lake Catholic def. Benedictine, 35-17

For the record: The East Side Holy War is mustsee football. Even with its record, NDCL is likely out of the Division III, Region 9 playoff picture, as the Lions are currently 12th. Lake Catholic is 19th. So this one is basically for pride — which it always is. ... NDCL QB Nick Gattozzi has thrown for 1,188 yards, run for 597 and has accounted for 20 touchdowns (12 passing, 8 rushing). RB Jack Robinson is on pace for 1,000 yards on the ground. The passing game feasts on big plays and long scores. ... Lake Catholic’s defense did a good job last week of slowing down Benedictine’s prolific offense and will need a similar effort this week. Offensively, QB Matt Slowey has thrown for 1,035 yards and seven touchdowns. Andrew Bortz leads a strong receiving group. The guy to watch for Lake is Nate Rieple. He does everything. He runs hard on offense, he’s the leading tackler on defense and he’s the emotional leader. NDCL will want to account for him on both sides of the ball . ... Even with minuscule playoff hopes and no conference implications, this game is going to be a flat-out brawl.

PERRY AT GENEVA

What: CVC Chagrin Division game

Where: SPIRE Institute When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Records: Perry 7-1 (5-0 CVC Chagrin), Geneva 3-5 (3-2 CVC Chagrin) Last week: Holy Name def. Geneva, 28-21, Perry def. Orange, 49-7

For the record: Prior to the start of the season, Perry coach Matt Rosati pointed to Geneva as the team that worried him the most in the CVC Chagrin race. The Eagles have a slew of injuries. Can they still rattle the state-ranked Pirates? ... Geneva runs a Wing-T type of offense, with QB Kyle Stark running for more than 600 yards this year, and bullish fullback Charles Taylor scoring nine touchdowns so far. If the Eagles can run the ball effectively, chew up yards and clock and keep Perry’s offense out of action, they could play with the Pirates . ... But Perry is so scary offensively. QB Drew Schiano is moving in on 2,000 passing yards and has thrown 21 touchdowns. Jacob Allen, Jake Reid and Anthony Rosati might be the best 1-2-3 receiver trio in the area. And Jaylen Anderson is back to full strength at running back . ... Perry can wrap up at least a share of the CVC title with a win here, and more importantly a first-round home game in the playoffs. Geneva’s playing for pride and in the spoiler’s role.

RIVERSIDE AT BRUSH

What: Western Reserve Conference game Where: Korb Field When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Records: Brush 4-4 (2-3 WRC) Riverside 6-2 (4-1 WRC)

Last week: Riverside def. South, 46-7, Chardon def. Brush, 42-12

For the record: Division II playoffs are on the line here. Riverside is seventh in Division II, Region 5, while Brush is ninth. The loser is likely out of the playoff race. Riverside is also one game behind Kenston in the WRC race, and will be pulling for Chardon to beat the Bombers in Week 9 to get into the title chase again . ... Brush had a rough game last week against Chardon and will look to bounce back. The Arcs can do a lot offensively, with the running tandem of Mitchell Kellogg (923 yards) and Andree Franks (680), as well as 1,100-yard passer A.J. Shorts . ... Riverside defended the pass very well last week against South, and will need to do so again this week. Offensively, Riverside QB Andrew Keller has thrown for 950 yards and run for 528. Joseph Robinson is a tough, physical runner, and receivers Patrick Gonzales and Danny Smith can go get it . ... This is a game that could be high-scoring. With playoffs on the line, expect a lot of emotion, too.

KIRTLAND AT INDEPENDENCE

What: CVC Valley Division game

Where: Stan Skoczen Stadium When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Records: Kirtland 8-0 (5-0 CVC Valley), Independence 6-2 (4-1 CVC Valley) Last week: Independence def. Richmond Heights, 3616,

Kirtland def. Berkshire, 40-6

For the record: Playoff and conference implications galore here. Kirtland is second in Division VI, Region 21. Independence is 14th and needs a win here to get into the playoff picture. The Blue Devils are also just one game behind the Hornets in the CVC Valley . ... Kirtland is just a hammer squad this year. The Hornets are the only team in the area yet to give up 1,000 total yards of offense. Kirtland has outgained the opposition, 3,129 to 987, and a big reason is that vaunted running game. Joey Torok has run for 979 yards in limited duty (because of lopsided games), but Jake Neibecker and others can run the ball effectively, too, behind that massive offensive line. If Independence has any hope of staying in this game, it will have to keep Kirtland from running up and down the field at will . ... Independence QB Robert Artrip accounted for five touchdowns against Berkshire. He ran for 246 yards and threw for 110 yards. Kirtland’s defensive focus is him.

GILMOUR AT VASJ

What: NCL White Division game

Where: Sparky DiBiasio Stadium When: 2 p.m., Oct. 20 Records: Gilmour 8-0 (3-0 NCL White), VASJ 3-5 (3-0 NCL White)

Last week: VASJ def. Trinity, 27-0,

For the record: This is pretty much the championship game of the NCL White. Both teams have a 3-0 record in league play. Gilmour is also fourth in Division V, Region 17, so a win here goes a long way toward clinching a playoff berth and maybe even a home game in Week 11 . ... The Lancers are led by RB C.J. Charleston, who has run for 1,680 yards and 32 touchdowns. Connor Krebs is a good runner, and Jack Krebs is an able QB, but Gilmour’s offense goes as Charleston goes. No one has stopped him this year, so the Vikings have a big task ahead of them . ... VASJ lost the first five games of the season, but has won three conference games since. QB A.J. Fabo has thrown for 1,126 yards, and his favorite receiver Jordan Dean is having a big year. Gilmour’s defense, led by TFL machine Jack Kosar, will want to limit the VASJ passing game . ... This is Gilmour’s first year in the NCL White. They’d like nothing better than to hang a conference banner in Year 1. A win here clinches at least a tie.

CHARDON AT KENSTON

What: Western Reserve Conference game Where: Bomber Stadium When: 7 p.m., Oct. 19 Records: Kenston 8-0 (5-0 WRC), Chardon 5-3 (4-1 WRC)

Last week: Chardon def. Brush, 42-12, Kenston def. Madison, 28-6

For the record: Everybody expected Kenston to be in this position. Chardon, not as much. The Bombers are the top-ranked Division III team in Ohio’s AP poll and hold down the top slot in the D-III, Region 9 playoff race. Chardon started off 1-3, and lost QB Andrew Kobuszewski to mono and then a knee injury — and the Hilltoppers have still won four straight . ... Kenston features the area’s top offense with 3,516 yards through eight games. QB Jon Tomcufcik has thrown for 1,865 yards and 16 touchdowns, RB Jack Porter has run for 1,308 yards, and the receiving corps is deep and talented. The big question is how does Chardon defend that? ... Chardon’s answer: With its own offense. Even with Kobuszewski out, Max Vujaklija does a fine job running the Wing-T offense. Jon McKnight (817) leads a talented group of running backs that includes Wade Novak and D.J. Bowman. Chardon’s best defense against the Bombers is its running game — churning out yards (and points?) to keep Kenston’s offense safely on the sideline . ... That being said, if Kenston gets ahead early, Chardon’s run offense isn’t really built for big comebacks.