The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Week 9 football games to watch
JKampf@news-herald.com @NHpreps on Twitter
BENEDICTINE AT AKRON HOBAN
What: Nonconference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 15
Where: Dowed Field, 1Holy Cross Blvd., Akron
Records: Benedictine 6-0, Akron Hoban 6-2
Last week: Benedictine did not play; Akron Hoban def. Akron SVSM, 42-7
For the record: This is one of the biggest games in the state, if not the biggest. The Bengals are the top-ranked Division II team in Ohio, while Hoban is state-ranked and the defending state champs. Don’t be shocked at all if these two teams meet again in the postseason. … Hoban’s losses are to Bergen (N.J.) Catholic and St. Ignatius. They dominated Akron SVSM last week when Lamar Sperling ran for 217yards and four touchdowns. Don’t pay attention to Hoban’s 6-2record — they are state-title contenders. … So is Benedictine, which has run the table so far this year. The Bengals didn’t have a game last week. Still, CeeJay Yarboro leads the N-H area with 1,123yards passing and 14 touchdowns. Brandon Boyd and Marvin Conkle have combined for 42catches and more than 800yards. Duane Jackson ran for more than 200yards two week ago. … Benedictine leads the all-time series, 14-11, but Hoban has won six straight.
CHARDON AT SOUTH
What: Western Reserve Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 15
Where: Harry E. Winters Stadium
Records: Chardon 8-0 (4-0 WRC), South 7-1(3-1WRC)
Last week: Chardon def. Madison, 48-0, Kenston def. South, 3-0
On the airwaves: WHK-AM 1420, WHK-FM 102.5
For the record: Chardon leads the series, 19-11, including six in a row. South’s last win over Chardon was in 2014. … The Hilltoppers have been on a pillage-a-thon this season. Chardon has allowed only two teams to hit double figures on it this year, and they’ve shut out four opponents, including three in a row. That defense is led by Alex Kisley (15.5 TFLs), Heath Fetchik (five sacks, 8.5 TFLs) and just ferocious hitting across the board. RB Sean Carr has run for seven TDs in the past two weeks combined, and QB Alex Henry has run for 11this season.
… South is coming off a 3-0loss to Kenston. QB Colin Quinlan has missed the last few games. His status is unknown for this one. RBs Andrew Osagie-Erese and Ira Sampson have anchored the offense of late. … According to Chardon stat guy Garry Parrish, the Hilltoppers never saw a third down last week, going 100% on second-down efficiency. … Both teams are a lock for the playoffs, Chardon in D-III and South in D-II, but a win here clinches at least a tie in the WRC for the Hilltoppers.
RIVERSIDE AT KENSTON
What: Western Reserve Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 15
Where: Bomber Stadium
Records: Riverside 5-3 (3-1 WRC), Kenston 7-1(3-1WRC)
Last week: Kenston def. South, 3-0, Martinsburg (W.Va.) def. Riverside, 45-33
For the record: Kenston leads the series, 3-2, having won the last three meetings. The teams never met prior to to the 2015 season. … Both teams are still in contention for the WRC title, but are likely rooting for South to knock off Chardon this week to create a logjam atop the league. … Kenston beat South, 3-0, last week in a key WRC game involving two stateranked teams. Sean Patrick ran for 126 yards and JP Germano had 94yards of offense between rushing and receiving. QB Nikko Georgiou (hand) isn’t expected back yet, so freshman Dylan Krupp will likely get the nod for a second week in a row. The defense was phenomenal last week, especially against the run. Lucas Simmons has 10TFLs and Ben DiMarco has eight. Kicker Parker Munday is almost automatic. … Riverside played a whale of a game against West Virginia state champion Martinsburg. Cameron Simpson has thrown for 829 yards and Dom Tromba has 579 yards rushing to lead the team. Jake Elly had a big game receiving against Martinsburg and is a marquee receiver for the Beavers. The key for Riverside will be defense. The Beavers gave up more than 400 yards last week against Martinsburg. The Beavers might also need a win here to strengthen its Division II playoff positioning. Kenston should be a Division III lock either way.
CHAGRIN FALLS AT WEST GEAUGA
What: CVC Chagrin Division game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 15
Where: Howell Field
Records: Chagrin Falls 4-4 (2-3 CVC), West Geauga 6-2(3-1 CVC)
Last week: West Geauga def.
Geneva, 29-14, Chagrin Falls def. Edgewood, 37-0
For the record: This is the 60th meeting of these rivals. West G has a 30-29edge, but it’s 2-2 in the past four years. … West G is ninth in the D-III, Region 9 playoff picture, while Chagrin is 17th in D-IV, Region 13. … The Tigers have been led by RB Donnie Hardy this season. He is the team’s leading rusher, and both he and Cole Ettinger have more than 15catches this season in the passing game. The line that includes Andrew Bazzone and Nick Dalessandro has been key this year. … West G’s only two losses are to Bay and Kirtland. The Wolverines’ passing combo of QB Danny Stewart (1,146 yards) and receiver Torry Stazzone (30catches, 404yards) is the area’s best tandem. Defensively, Chagrin will want to account for Austin Pascoe (27 TFLs) and Nathan Meyers (12 TFLs). … A lot of CVC Chagrin pride is on the line here.
HARVEY AT HAWKEN
What: CVC Valley Division game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 15
Where: Cliff Walton Stadium
Records: Harvey 4-4 (2-2 CVC), Hawken 5-3 (2-1 CVC)
Last week: Berkshire def. Harvey, 28-26, Hawken def. Beachwood, 28-6
For the record: Previously in separate divisions of the CVC, they both find themselves in the CVC Valley Division now. Hawken leads the series, 3-2, but Harvey won the most recent meeting, 45-7, in 2018. … There’s a huge logjam atop the CVC Valley and these teams are in the thick of it. Berkshire, Crestwood and Hawken all have one league loss, while Cardinal and Harvey have two. Harvey is 17th in the D-III, Region 9computer rankings, while Hawken is 10th in D-IV, Region 13. The winner gets a boost here. … Harvey is led by senior QB Rick Coleman Jr., who leads the team in passing, rushing, scoring and return yards. Davon Badley is another big playmaker, but the Hawks’ defense will surely focus on Coleman. … Hawken lost QB Terrence Robinson II to a season-ending injury last week, so that will sting. RB Dom Johnson is closing in on the 1,000-yard rushing mark. Keep an eye on Hawken defender Luke Mangini — son of former NFL coach Eric Mangini — he is a TFL machine, as is A.J. Sands.
VASJ AT NDCL
What: Crown Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 15
Where: Lion Stadium
Records: VASJ 5-1 (1-1 Crown), NDCL 4-4 (0-2 Crown)
Last week: Padua def. NDCL, 16-14, VASJ def. Ursuline, 46-28
For the record: VASJ leads this series, 9-7, but NDCL has won five straight including a 41-14 win last year. VASJ’s last win in this rivalry was 2002. … The Vikings were tremendous in a double-digit win over Youngstown Ursuline in a game between two state-ranked Division IV teams. Led by Ty Howard’s 204 yards rushing and five TDs — not to mention his 15tackles on defense — VASJ ran for more than 400 yards in the game. Joe Webb and LaVontae Thornton also went for more than 100 yards rushing. But teams can’t just focus on the run because Jaylen Minter can also throw effectively. … NDCL lost a close one to Padua last week. The Lions rely heavily on the run game as well, with RB Mark Tomei and QB Jacob Koenig both having run for more than 500 yards this season. Koenig missed last week’s game, so his status is up in the air. … Playoffwise, NDCL is 12th in Division III, Region 9, so a win here would be big for their playoff hopes. VASJ is third in D-IV, Region 13, so the Vikings are a virtual lock regardless of outcome.
MENTOR AT STRONGSVILLE
What: Greater Cleveland Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 15
Where: Pat Catan Stadium, 20025 Lunn Road, Strongsville
Records: Mentor 3-5 (0-3 GCC), Strongsville 5-3 (2-1 GCC)
Last week: Strongsville def. Euclid, 28-27, Solon def. Mentor, 24-21
For the record: Mentor leads the series, 124-3, including 13straight. That being said, Strongsville does hold a 2-1 edge when meeting Mentor in the playoffs. … It’s been a while since Mentor entered Week 9 without a win in league play. The Cardinals are in no danger of missing out on a Division I, Region 1playoff spot, as 16of the 17teams qualify, but some momentum the next two weeks would be nice prior to the playoffs. Injuries have been rough for Mentor this season. QBs Jacob Snow and Scotty Fox have both missed a ton of games this year, but both are reportedly back. Mitchell Waite ran for more than 120yards last week with Brenden Panhorst and Evan Harper out. Receivers Mikey Norwood and Sam Kish lead the team, but it was Sean Allgood Jr. with the hot hand last week with two TD receptions. … Strongsville is coming off a tight win over Euclid. The Mustangs, coached by former West G coach Lou Cirino, are led by big offensive tackle Blake Miller, a Clemson commit. Strongsville’s three losses are to 6-2Avon Lake, 8-0Medina and 7-0Dover. The Mustangs are looking to snap that 13-game skid vs. the Cardinals.