Projections

DIVISION II, REGION 5

(teams are listed in alphabetical order; area teams in CAPS; 2020 records are listed) Contenders: Akron Hoban (11-0), Austintown-Fitch (71), Hudson (9-1), Nordonia (5-6), SOUTH (3-5), Twinsburg (3-5), Walsh Jesuit (5-2), Warren Harding (6-4) What to look for: Generally speaking, for The NewsHerald coverage area teams in this region, it’s not so much that many aren’t capable of making a top-eight run. The issue is graduation was not kind to many of these squads, with senior classes that helped shape the program in their respective tenures now gone. The Western Reserve Conference runner-up and third-place team typically means they can vie for the top eight. It feels like this could be a progression year for South, with Ira Sampson and a predominantly young group from a year ago back in the fold. Some questions will need to be answered on the line and defensively, but there’s enough there on paper to believe the Rebels can be in the mix for the upper half of the regional playoff qualifiers.

It will be interesting to keep an eye on 2020senior-heavy area teams such as Benedictine, Mayfield, North and Riverside. The Beavers are intriguing, coming off a 6-2

campaign, but need to show they haven’t skipped a beat as they replace an arsenal of key personnel.

The easiest projection among all these region outlooks is probably giving the benefit of the doubt to Akron Hoban at this point. Whoever is in place for the Knights is almost immaterial — you just trust Hoban to be a region leader and state powerhouse.

Keep an eye on Warren Harding, with running back Brysen Powell returning,

who impressed in the second half of last season.

DIVISION III, REGION 9

(teams are listed in alphabetical order; area teams in CAPS; 2020 records are listed) Contenders: Aurora (6-3), Canfield (9-1), CHARDON (12-0), Hubbard (5-3), KENSTON (3-4), Steubenville (5-3), Tallmadge (4-5), WEST GEAUGA (6-2) What to look for: The perennial heavy hitters abound, but there does

seem to be an opportunity for someone to take the proverbial bull by the horns and be the standard bearer for this region. Chardon will need to get new players in key positions acclimated but should have enough to be a tone-setter once again, coming off its 2020 state title run. That will prove invaluable with the extra weeks of practice and tutelage that came with it for those returning. Whatever may be lacking on paper, Coach Mitch Hewitt

will assuredly mold and get the most out of the Hilltoppers like usual. Kenston is interesting. Amid the pandemic last fall, there was such an extent of stopand-start to the Bombers’ campaign that it was challenging to get a read on them. But Coach Jeff Grubich will probably have one of this area’s most exciting offenses, led by QB Nikko Georgiou and a bevy of receiving weapons, along with an active defense. It doesn’t seem out of line to think

Kenston could be poised for a bounceback season. West Geauga could be a top-eight candidate and wind up one of The NewsHerald coverage area’s more complete teams, with All-Ohioans Luca Gasbarrino and Danny Stewart, among others, returning.

It’s hard to believe Steubenville will regress after an uncharacteristic 5-3 season a year ago. Two standout non-area players in this region will be Canfield quarterback Broc Lowry, a first-team All-Ohioan last fall as the Cardinals went 9-1, and Hubbard running back Timothy Caffey (1,170 rushing yards, 12 TDs).

If you want a deep sleeper, it might be Tallmadge with QB Ty Hurst (2,201 passing yards, 20 TDs), his top three receivers and leading tackler Nick Cuva back. The Blue Devils absolutely need to tighten up on defense but could be exciting enough to be better than their 4-5 season in 2020.

DIVISION IV, REGION 13

(teams are listed in alphabetical order; area teams in CAPS; 2020 records are listed) Contenders: Canal Fulton Northwest (8-1), CVCA

(8-3), Girard (4-6), LAKE CATHOLIC (8-3), PERRY (52), Poland Seminary (7-2), Ursuline (7-3), West Branch (8-2)

What to look for: No way around it: Lake Catholic and Perry have some big shoes to fill after the senior classes that graduated.

NEWS-HERALD FILE Benedictine features a senior-heavy squad, and the Bengals will need all of them in Division II, Region 5.