Football Week 3 is set for kickoff

John Kampf has a look at this week’s big matchups, including Kenston-NDCL, NorthLake Catholic, Mentor-St. Edward, South-Maple Heights, Madison-Perry and UrsulineChardon.

KENSTON AT NDCL

What: Non-conference game

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 3

Where: Lion Stadium

Records: Kenston 2-0, NDCL 1-1

Last week: Kenston def. Perry, 18-13, NDCL def. Olentangy, 28-27

For the record: The Lions had a very nice bounceback win from a Week 1loss with its one-point win over Olentangy, clinched on a late-game stop at the goal line. Kenston had a toughie against Perry, but got the win. … The Bombers continue to get strong play from junior quarterback Nikko Georgiou, who threw for 192 yards and a touchdown last week. Sean Patrick has been effective out of the backfield in the rushing game. Ben DiMarco had a 15-tackle game. He’s one to watch on defense. Kenston gave up 192 yards on the ground to Perry, so that bears watching against an NDCL team that likes to run the ball. … NDCL got 190 of its 268 yards on the ground last week against Olentangy. Mark Tomei ran for 83 and scored twice. Jacob Koenig is a veteran QB who can make plays if Kenston pays too much attention to the run game.

NORTH AT LAKE CATHOLIC

What: Non-conference game

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 3

Where: Jerome T. Osborne Stadium

Records: North 2-0, Lake Catholic 0-2

Last week: Erie McDowell def. Lake Catholic, 35-33, North def. Richfield Revere, 33-12

For the record: The Rangers haven’t started 3-0 since the 2011 season. The Cougars haven’t started 0-3 since before the turn of the century. So there’s a lot riding on this game. … Lake Catholic came out a much different team in Week 2 after losing soundly to Dover in Week 1. Senior QB Jaxon French threw for 280 yards and four touchdowns in the 35-33 loss to Erie McDowell. Aidan Fitzgerald caught five passes for 118yards and Tyler Seacrist caught six for 72. Suffice to say, North’s pass defense will get a good challenge in this one. … The Rangers have run the ball very effectively in their two wins this season. Reon’tae Lowery ran 22times for 180 yards and Curtis Thomas ran four times for 104in the win over Revere. North didn’t have any passing yards, but didn’t need them. Lake Catholic’s defense will have to be leery of North’s speed in the open field, as well as that big, powerful offensive line led by 6-foot8, 325-pound Pitt commit Ryan Baer.

MADISON AT PERRY

What: Non-conference game

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 3

Where: Alumni Stadium

Records: Madison 0-2, Perry 1-1

Last week: Lakeside def. Madison, 41-20, Kenston def. Perry, 18-13

For the record: The battle for The Little Brown Jug is renewed in this one. Perry has won the last six meetings, but Madison still leads the all-time series, 36-27. … The Blue Streaks are averaging 20 points per game, but have struggled on defense (39.0 ppg). QB Michael O’Brien threw for 136 yards and is also a running threat. Kenyon Boncella ran for 40. Madison’s run defense gave up 347 yards last week against Lakeside, and it was Perry’s run offense that gave Kenston trouble last week. So that’s the matchup of the game. … Perry QB Brayden Richards led the Pirates with 84 yards on the ground last week, and he also threw for 123. That big offensive line is anchored by returning starters Joey Conroy, Evan Forro and Jacob Marjak. … As usual, expect a hardhitting affair with a lot of emotion — that’s normal for The Little Brown Jug game.

MAPLE HEIGHTS AT SOUTH

What: Non-conference game

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 3

Where: Harry E. Winters Stadium

Records: South 2-0, Maple Heights 1-0

Last week: South def. Twinsburg, 39-0, Maple Heights did not play

For the record: Maple

Heights will be well-rested for this game, as the Mustangs’ Week 2game with Uniontown Lake was canceled because of COVID protocols. … South comes in with a ton of momentum, having outscored the opposition, 83-14, this year. The Rebels get a lot of notoriety for their offense, and rightfully so, but the defense has been spectacular this year, anchored by hard-hitting linebacker Ira Sampson, who has a multitude of Division I college football offers. Offensively, Tyrone Singleton is a running back who can flat-out fly. Sampson can also run the ball. QB Colin Quinlan is a dual-threat leader and has a slew of receivers to get the ball to. … Maple Heights has a veteran QB in Dawon King. RB Edward Robinson is getting Division I college looks and receiver Bry’Shaun Haskin is a tall (6-foot-2), athletic player out in space. This is a very good test for South’s defense, which has been stingy to this point. … Don’t be surprised if this game turns into a high-scoring, offensive shootout.

MENTOR AT ST. EDWARD

What: Non-conference game

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 4

Where: First Federal Lakewood Stadium, 14100 Franklin Blvd, Lakewood

Records: Mentor 2-0, St. Edward 2-0

Last week: Mentor def. St. Ignatius, 28-26, St. Edward def. Rock Creek Christian, Md., 56-18

On the airwaves: WINT-AM 1330, Bally Sports Great Lakes (tape delayed to Sept. 5)

For the record: These two teams face each other a lot — both in the regular season and in the playoffs. The alltime series is tied, 7-7 — it’s 3-3 in the regular season and 4-4 in the playoffs. The road team has won the past two meetings. … St. Edward QB Christian Ramos can run or pass. He threw for 146yards and two touchdowns last week, including a 67-yarder to Connor Goodall. The Eagles piled up 35points in the first quarter alone, including a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown by Dontez Howard Jr. … Mentor got past St. Ignatius last week thanks in part to a huge game from Evan Harper, who caught four passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns, and also had a 98-yard kickoff return for a score. QB Jacob Snow threw for 245 yards and three touchdowns. Mentor only ran for 70 yards in the game, a facet the Cardinals will like to improve upon this week. Turnovers at key times hurt Mentor last week, something it won’t want to do this week against a tougher St. Edward opponent.

YOUNGSTOWN URSULINE VS. CHARDON

What: Non-conference game

When: 7 p.m., Sept. 3

Where: Memorial Field

Records: Chardon 2-0, Ursuline 2-0

Last week: Chardon def. Akron Buchtel, 42-0, Youngstown Ursuline def. Hickory, Pa., 50-7

For the record: This is going to be one of the biggest games in Ohio this year. Chardon is the reigning Division III state champion, while Ursuline very well could be one of the favorites to win the D4 crown this season. … Ursuline is averaging 54 points per game. The Irish are led by 6-3, 210-pound QB Brady Shannon, a Kent State baseball commit who is also getting D1 football offers. He threw for five touchdowns and ran for another in a 62-58 loss to Columbus Hartley. Last week it was DeMarcus McElroy’s 200-plus-yard rushing game that led the Irish. Also, keep an eye out on receivers Dean Boyd and Jakylin Irving. … Chardon has outscored its two opponents, 70-14, including a 42-0 win over Akron Buchtel last week when the Hilltoppers sacked the quarterback nine times. Chardon’s defense is going to get a tough test in this one. DE Alex McDonald and LB Ryan Petersen were among the dominant defenders last week. They’ll need that type of performance again this week. Chardon’s run-based offense, anchored by QB Alex Henry, FB Sean Carr and a bevy of other runners, could be the best defense. Running the ball effectively — and finishing drives — keeps Ursuline’s high-powered offense safely on the sideline.