Week 3 in football is ready for kickoff

John Kampf 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.

MADISON AT PERRY

What: Nonconference game When: 7, Sept. 13 Where: Alumni Stadium Records: Perry 2-0, Madison 1-1 Last week: Madison def. Lakeside, 49-0, Perry def. Chardon, 31-23

For the record: Madison leads the all-time series, 36-23, but Perry has dominated in recent years, coming in on a four-game winning streak and outscoring the Blue Streak, 87-13, in the past two seasons.

... Perry’s electric offense hung 31 points on Chardon’s proud defense last week. QB Drew Schiano is on pace to throw for 3,500 yards and 60 touchdowns in the regular season alone. The skill around him is crazy, including RB/WR Jaylen Anderson, WR Anthony Rosati, WR Devon Holbert and TE/WR Matthew Sullivan. Perry’s line play was impressive last week against a bigger Chardon team. ... Speaking of bigger line, that’s Madison’s main advantage this week. Jacob Glass and Aiden Thompson are three-year starters. The Streaks are big and physical in the trenches. RB Austin McCourt can fly. QB Alex Dragas is a nice dual-threat QB.

KIRTLAND AT GENEVA

What: Nonconference game When: 7, Sept. 13 Where: SPIRE Institute Records: Kirtland 2-0, Geneva 2-0

Last week: Geneva def. Jefferson, 54-0, Kirtland def. Riverside, 28-7

For the record: The Eagles are looking for their first 3-0 start in more than 20 years. The Hornets are looking for their first since, well, last year. .... These teams met last season and Kirtland won, 35-0, but Geneva should be more formidable this time around. ... The Eagles will have a size advantage up front, led by 275-pound Temple recruit Sam Davis. FB Charlie Taylor is 6-2, 220, while Blake Peet and Justin Way give the Eagles speed at the wings. QB Ben Scibona is the best Geneva passer in a number of years. ... Kirtland’s defense has given up only seven points this year. The Hornets blitz and swarm to the ball like few teams do. The offense is led by Mason Sullivan (177 yards, two TDs last week) and fleet-footed Luke Gardner. First-year starter Liam Powers has shown ability to run and throw this year. Lineman Mike Alfieri is one of the area’s best. ... This is the ultimate litmus test for a Geneva team that has high hopes this year.

WEST GEAUGA AT KENSTON

What: Nonconference game When: 7, Sept. 13 Where: Bomber Stadium Records: West Geauga 0-2,

MENTOR START TIME CHANGED

Mentor’s game against visiting Football North, from Ontario, Canada, has been moved to a 6:30 p.m. kickoff at Jerome T. Osborne Stadium on Sept. 13. According to Mentor athletic director Jeff Cassella, the game was moved from its original starting time of 7 p.m. because of the forecast calling for evening thunderstorms, which could potentially delay the game. “The team from Canada would not be able to return the next day to finish the game if (the storms) happen,” Cassella said. “The earliest we could get the officials there were 6:30, so that’s when we’re going to start the game.” — John Kampf Kenston 2-0

Last week: NDCL def. West Geauga, 35-28, Kenston def. Chagrin Falls, 55-0

For the record: Former CVC rival square off in a nonconference game. ... West Geauga was very solid in a close loss to NDCL last week. Riley Huge threw for 113 yards and a touchdown. Trae Zimmerman ran for 93 yards and two scores, while Levi Veverka also scored on the ground. That’s a big offensive output against a staunch NDCL front seven. ... Kenston’s defense hasn’t allowed a point this season. The stingy defense then has turned the ball over to a Bombers offense that is averaging 45 points per game. QB Jon Tomcufcik threw for three touchdowns and ran for one last week, while RB Jack Porter has two 100-yard rushing games under his belt already. ... This is a tough matchup for the Wolverines, who are in need of a win to keep playoff hopes alive.

EUCLID AT CANTON MCKINLEY

What: Nonconference game When: 7, Sept. 13

Where: Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium

Records: Euclid 2-0, Canton McKinley 2-0 Last week: Euclid def. Canisius (N.Y.), 63-35, Canton McKinley def. Akron Buchtel, 41-20

For the record: The Panthers don’t shy away from competition. The Week 3 opponent last year was St. Ignatius. The Panthers replaced them on the schedule this year with Canton McKinley. Whew. ... The Panthers are relatively young, with a small senior class. But that didn’t matter last week in a win over Canisius, one of the top teams in the city of Buffalo. Euclid hung 63 points on the board, including five touchdown passes from Dion Valentine. Atiba Fitz had a monster game, running for a score, catching a touchdown and intercepting three passes. Jaabir Mujihad leads a deep group at running back, and Armond Scott is developing into a real playmaker. ... McKinley is tough to beat anywhere, especially on their home field. The Bulldogs scored on a blocked punt, a fumble return and also in the air, but the big Dog last week was senior RB Lameir Garrett, who ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns. McKinley overcame five turnovers to get the win.

FOOTBALL NORTH (CANADA) AT MENTOR

What: Nonconference game When: 6:30, Sept. 13 Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium Records: Mentor 2-0, Football North 1-1

Last week: Mentor def. St. Ignatius, 38-31, Erie Cathedral Prep def. Football North, 53-34

For the record: No letdown. That will be the mantra this week for the Cardinals, who are coming off back-to-back wins against. St. Edward and St. Ignatius for the second year in a row. Coach Steve Trivisonno said his team became “very average” last year after beating the Eagles and the Wildcats to start the season. ... Mentor’s offense has been in high gear early on, especially the running game. RB Brian Trobel and QB Ian Kipp are both averaging more than 100 yards rushing per game. Senior WR Luke Floriea is the unquestioned go-to man for Kipp in the passing game. The offensive line has been dominating at times. Defensively, the Cardinals have gotten a lot of takeaways to give the offense good field position. ... Clarkson is no slouch. The team from Ontario averages 55 points per game and managed 34 last week in a losing effort to Cathedral Prep. QB Quincy Vaughn competed 20 of 28 passes for 271 yards. Nine different players caught passes, led by Nathan Demontagnac (7-for-75).

LAKE CATHOLIC AT YOUNGSTOWN URSULINE

What: Nonconference game When: 7, Sept. 13 Where: Stambaugh Stadium, 577 5th Ave., Youngstown

Records: Lake Catholic 1-1, Youngstown Ursuline 0-2 Last week: Lake Catholic def. Cleveland Central Catholic, 52-6, AustintownFitch def. Youngstown Ursuline, 27-7

For the record: At first glance, one might think Ursuline is having a down year. But the Irish’s two losses have come to a high-power Benedictine team and then to Austintown-Fitch — two Division II teams. Lake Catholic had a big bounceback win against CCC last week, but this is a much tougher test. ... Lake did pretty much what it wanted last week against Central. Joe Malchesky ran for 64 yards and passed for 66 yards. The Cougars gouged the Ironmen for 266 rushing yards. Justin Pike, Christian Demitro, Aaron Leovic and more are all capable of big days on offense. ... Ursuline was hurt by Fitch’s run game last week. The only touchdown was scored by Matthew Reardon, son of Coach Dan Reardon, but he was injured in the game and his status this week is unknown.

ALLIANCE AT CHARDON

What: Nonconference game When: 7, Sept. 13 Where: Memorial Stadium Records: Chardon 1-1, Alliance 1-1

Last week: Perry def. Chardon, 31-23, Niles McKinley def. Alliance, 32-28

For the record: Both teams won in Week 1, but suffered close defeats in Week 2. When it comes to playoff berths, winning non-league games is pretty important for playoff purposes. ... Chardon fell behind by a few touchdowns against Perry and couldn’t come back, which isn’t easy to do in a run-based offense like the Hilltoppers have. Getting QB Max Vujaklija back from (115 yards, one TD) back from injury was big, but the Toppers also lost RB D.J. Bowman to injury, and he could be out a few weeks. Chardon will look to control the trenches in this game, with it’s big, physical and experienced lines. ... Alliance did a good job of stuffing Niles McKinley’s run game last week, but were victimized by the pass. The Aviators held the Dragons to 56 yards on 27 carries. Alliance QB Brandon Alexander ran for 93 yards and passed for 180 and three scores, so the Chardon pass defense that was victimized by Perry last week could be under attack again this week.

UNIVERSITY AT SOUTH

What: Nonconference game When: 7, Sept. 13 Where: Harry E. Winters Stadium Records: University 1-1, South 2-0

Last week: Bellevue def. University, 49-14, South def. Maple Heights, 38-34

For the record: The resurgent Rebels are in search of their first 3-0 start since 2013. They’ve been very impressive thus far, especially in a come-from-behind, 3834 win at Maple Heights last week. US got off to a good start with a shutout of Warrensville Heights, but then lost to Bellevue last week. ... South’s running game has been tremendous thus far with Deshod Reese and Ira Sampson being one of the area’s best 1-2 punches. South’s ability to run the ball opens up the passing of QB Justin Grosel, with WR Rico Small being his main target and one of the best playmakers in the area. University’s defense will have to be on point in this one. ... The US offense is led by Ryan Radtke. Solomon Perez is a very good playmaker, and Dylan LoConti is coming off a 1,000-yard season. The veteran secondary is a strength, too. ... This could be a high-scoring game, with both teams having a lot of offensive capabilities.