The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Conference races about to heat up
At the midpoint of the season, there have been upsets, surprise teams, disappointing starts and plenty of great football.
While some conferences, such as the Great Lakes Conference, Southwestern Conference and Greater Cleveland Conference have already started league games, others, like the Patriot Athletic Conference, Sandusky Bay Conference and Lake Erie League, are about to start.
So, how do the conferences look to pan out five games into the season as opposed to the preseason?
Let’s find out:
LAKE ERIE LEAGUE
PRESEASON FAVORITES» Lorain, Bedford MIDSEASON FAVORITES »Lorain, Bedford
WHAT CHANGED » To put it simply, everything and nothing. Lorain, the defending LEL champion, and Bedford were expected to be the class of the conference this season. That remains, but the edge between the two is hard to find. Why? Competition. The Bearcats’ four wins have come against teams that are a combined 3-17, while Lorain has beaten teams with a combined 5-15 record. Additionally, both teams beat Elyria and Garfield Heights by similar scores, so it’s hard to differentiate the two.
So how has everything changed? Basically, there is no longer a darkhorse. The other teams in the LEL have been extremely underwhelming, so it’s looking like a Week 9 showdown between Lorain and Bedford should be for the title.
GREATER CLEVELAND CONFERENCE
PRESEASON FAVORITES »Mentor, Solon MIDSEASON FAVORITES » Mentor, Euclid, Solon
WHAT CHANGED » This league is looking more top-heavy than it did during the preseason. Mentor and Solon continue to be the favorites, but they are now joined by a Euclid team that has been strong so far. All three teams hold a 2-0 conference record and 4-1 overall record. It would not be shocking if these teams defeated each other to result in a tri-title.
GREAT LAKES CONFERENCE
PRESEASON FAVORITES » Bay, Holy Name MIDSEASON FAVORITES » Bay, Rocky River
WHAT CHANGED » Bay is playing at the level that was expected in the preseason, bringing a 5-0 record and 2-0 GLC record into Week 6. Holy Name is what has changed. While the Green Wave have all of the parts for a successful conference run, Holy Name has not been able to figure it out, sitting at the bottom of the conference at 0-2 and 1-4 overall. Granted, it has lost to Bay and Rocky River — the midseason favorites — but two losses is enough to take you out of the running in this conference. Also, while Valley Forge does indeed have a 2-0 GLC record, it has beaten up the bottom teams in the conference to get there. In reality, expect the conference to be decided in Week 6 as Rocky River (1-0 GLC, 3-2 overall) travels to Bay.
SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE
PRESEASON FAVORITES » Avon, Midview, Olmsted Falls MIDSEASON FAVORITE » Avon
WHAT CHANGED » Simply put, Avon took control. With wins over Olmsted Falls and Midview, Avon has distanced itself as the team to beat in the SWC, and the title is its to lose, even with teams like Amherst and Berea-Midpark sitting at 3-1 in the SWC still on tap for the Eagles. Now, should Avon falter, the conference once again becomes wide open as Amherst, Midview, Olmsted Falls and Berea-Midpark all trail by a game. But as was previously said, the championship is Avon’s to lose at this point.
SANDUSKY BAY CONFERENCE (BAY)
PRESEASON FAVORITE » Edison MIDSEASON FAVORITES » Edison, Shelby
WHAT CHANGED » Edison has played solid so far this year, with its only loss coming in Week 1 to Firelands. As the teams enter SBC Bay Division play, the Chargers are still the team to beat. However, Shelby, a team that was expected to play well but perhaps still be a step below Edison, has risen to the top as well. The Whippets were strong in wins over Bellevue and Norwalk and should pose a legitimate challenge for Edison. That does not rule out that other teams such as Huron or Vermilion could post an upset and challenge for the SBC title, but at the midpoint of the season, Edison and Shelby are the ones to beat.
PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (STARS)
PRESEASON FAVORITE » Buckeye MIDSEASON FAVORITES » Buckeye, Black River, Firelands
WHAT CHANGED » Black River and Firelands have played above expectations. However, they have also shown that they are not fluke teams. Rather, the preseason expectations for both were below where they should have been. Black River’s defense has been top-notch, allowing 4.6 points per game with two shutouts in the Pirates five wins. Firelands has an average winning margin of 20.8 points per game — including wins over Edison and Vermilion. And, Buckeye is still Buckeye, posting big wins, including a Week 5 victory over reigning PAC Stripes Division champion Columbia. While the Bucks are probably still the favorite based on a history of success, the next five weeks should be fun as the Stars Division tries to determine its champion.
PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (STRIPES)
PRESEASON FAVORITE » Columbia MIDSEASON FAVORITE » Columbia
WHAT CHANGED » Not much. Columbia is still Columbia. Yes, the Raiders have a 3-2 record, which puts them behind Clearview and even with Brooklyn and Lutheran West as they enter Stripes Division play. Yes, Columbia has seemed a bit onedimensional at times, relying heavily on the run game. But it doesn’t matter. Look at who Columbia has lost to: Kirtland and Buckeye. In other words, two teams that are a combined 10-0 and would consider not making the playoffs a failed season. It would not be shocking to see Columbia win out the remainder of the regular season. However, the Raiders get the opportunity to prove their frontrunner status in Week 6 against Lutheran West.
Overachievers
Midway through the regular season, five teams in The Morning Journal area already have posted as many or more victories than in 2016:
• Amherst: 4-1 in 2017, 3-7 in 2016
• North Olmsted: 3-2 in 2017, 2-8 in 2016
• Vermilion: 4-1 in 2017, 2-8 in 2016
• Clearview: 4-1 in 2017, 4-6 in 2016
• Lutheran West: 3-2 in 2017, 2-8 in 2016
Young Titan power
Lorain looks like it will be fine on offense for a few years.
In a tidbit passed along by WOBL’s Jim Allen, sophomores were the driving force behind Lorain’s offense in a 42-21 victory over Clarkson Academy.
However, it is the extent of which the sophomores impacted the score that is what is truly impressive.
Of the 42 points scored, 40 were scored by sophomores.
Daylin Dower rushed for three touchdowns a caught another (24 points), while Tyshawn Nelson and Tyshawn Lighty each scored a touchdown as well (12 points). Savon Chavis added a pair of two-point conversions on run to close out the 40 points by sophomores.
The only points not scored by a sophomore cam on a two-point conversion by senior Zion Cross.
Undefeated roundup
Through five weeks, there are three undefeated teams in The Morning Journal area:
• In a battle of the unbeatens, Avon topped Midview, 42-21, to improve to 5-0 and take sole possession of first in the Southwestern Conference. After a tight first half that saw the Eagles take a 14-7 advantage in to the break, Avon found life in the second half, scoring 14 in both the third and fourth quarters. The Eagles were paced by Nick Perusek’s 256yard, two touchdown afternoon on the ground, while Midview’s Seamus Higley was 18-for-34 for 250 yards and three touchdowns.
• The Rockets made a statement in the Great Lakes Conference that they want to be sole champions for the first time in the three-year history of the GLC, topping Holy Name, 38-15. A strong start saw Bay jump out to a 24-0 lead at halftime behind touchdowns from Trey Psota (14yard run), Matthew Cover (1-yard run and 24-yard run) and a field goal from Jared Riess, extending its lead to 31-0 on a touchdown by Max Showalter (11-yard reception from Conner Shell). Holy Name scored 15 unanswered to make it 31-15, but Psota punched in a 6-yard run in the fourth quarter to cap scoring.
• Firelands’ torrid scoring pace was slowed by Fairview, but the Falcons would not be stopped and improved to 5-0 on the season with a 20-7 victory. Firelands opened scoring in the first quarter when Blake Ruffner caught a 71-yard strike form Michael Bansek (6-for-8 for 155 yards). Fairview knotted the game in the second when Jack Provenza scored on a 9-yard scamper, but Richard Maggard caught a 13-yard pass for a score to make it 14-7 at halftime. Logan Strader added a 1-yard score in the fourth to close out the win.
Playoff picture
After five weeks, computer points guru Joe Eitel has eight Morning Journal area teams in playoff position:
• In Division I, Region 2, Lorain jumps into the playoff picture, holding the No. 5 spot.
• In Division II, Region 6, four teams are holding spots. Avon holds steady at No. 1, while Midview falls from No. 2 to No. 4. Amherst climbed from No.7 to No. 6. Finally, North Olmsted jumps into the picture, ranking in at a tie with North Royalton for No. 7. Olmsted Falls fell from No. 8 to No. 11 in spite of a victory.
• In Division III, Region 10, Bay remained in the same place at No. 5, while GLC rival Rocky River falls out of playoff position from No. 7 to No. 10.
• In Division IV, Region 14, Firelands remains in the No. 2 spot.
• In Division VI, Region 21, Columbia falls from No. 7 to No. 8.
2-minute drill
• Amherst got off to a fast start and held on against Berea-Midpark, 5141, to improve to 4-1 — Amherst’s best start at the midpoint of the season since the 2010 season. The Comets jumped to a 17-0 lead before Berea-Midpark scored twice to make it 17-14. Amherst used touchdowns from Evan Shawver, Devin Holmes and Khennedy Scagliozzo to distance itself, with Scagliozzo and Jacob Lezon tacking on another couple of touchdowns to secure the win.
• Avon Lake demonstrated the power of their running backs, amassing 267 yards on the ground to top Lakewood, 48-6. Jack Mikolich, Matt Sanders, Konner Riggs and Ryan McCrum all scored rushing touchdowns for Avon Lake, while Cole Schraff and Creed Bolognia caught passes from Mikolich for scores.
• Keystone rebounded from a hard-fought loss last week to a dominating win this week in a 49-8 win over Brooklyn. Keystone scored 49 unanswered before Brooklyn found the end zone as the clock wound down to improve to 2-3 on the season. The Wildcats received touchdowns from Bobby Weber (5-yard run), Cory Hartle (85-yard run and 19-yard pass from Weber), Jack Corraini (11-yard run), Kayden Williams (18-yard run), Justin Able (34-yard punt return) and Anthony Trodagna (4-yard run).
• North Olmsted rode the legs of running back Darren Anders to a dominating Southwestern Conference victory over Westlake, 49-7. The senior rushed 11 rimes for 94 yard and five touchdowns, with Sean Conroy (6-yard run) and Nate Eyerman (26yard interception return) notching the other two touchdowns for North Olmsted. The Eagles jumped to a 21-0 lead before Kevin Walls found the end zone for the Demons on a pass from Jacob May — the end result of a well executed flea-flicker.