Week 8 » Games to Watch

FIRELANDS AT BUCKEYE

What: Medley Memorial Game of the Week When: 7 p.m., Oct. 13 Where: Edwin Steingass Field, 3084 Columbia Road, Medina Records: Firelands 7-0, Buckeye 7-0 Last time: 2016 — 38-14, Buckeye For the record: The heavyweights of the Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division face off in what should be a game of the year candidate. Both teams enter at 7-0. Both are state ranked. Both are looking for playoff berths. In other words, there is a lot on the table for both teams. The Falcons have been strong all season behind Nick Denney, but the Firelands offense has lately been keyed by quarterback Michael Bansek. The emergence of the senior has added a new depth to an already dangerous offense. That’s not to count out the Falcons’ defense, which has allowed an average of 10.9 points per game this season. However, the host Bucks are a team of a caliber the Falcons have not faced since Edison in Week 1. Firelands will have to find a way to slow Austin Bir, Justin Canedy, Adam Fauver and Dominic Monaco if they want to take control of the PAC race. Seven teams have tried to stop them and failed. Will the Falcons have what it takes?

NORTH OLMSTED AT AMHERST

What: Southwestern Conference game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 13 Where: Mercy Health Stadium, 450 Washington St., Amherst Records: North Olmsted 4-3, Amherst 4-3

Last time: 2016 — 30-20, Amherst For the record: Amherst and North Olmsted are fighting for their playoff lives. The Comets are coming off of a hard-fought loss to Avon Lake, while the Eagles were upset by North Ridgeville in Week 7, dropping both from the edge of playoff contention to having Amherst at No. 11 and North Olmsted at No. 12 in Division II, Region 6. The winner of this one will get a large boost, but the loser may completely fall out of the race. Expect each team to stick to its breadand-butter. What does that mean? A healthy dose of Khennedy Scagliozzo from Amherst and a serving of Darren Anders from North Olmsted. The X-factor for the Eagles will be Ryan Connolly, who has burst onto the scene the past few weeks for North Olmsted.

OLMSTED FALLS AT MIDVIEW

What: Southwestern Conference

game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 13 Where: Ross Field at Ed Adelsburg Stadium, 38199 Capel Road, Grafton

Records: Olmsted Falls 6-1, Midview 6-1

Last time: 2016 — 31-28, Olmsted Falls

For the record: Each team needs some help from a Southwestern Conference team if they hope to take a share of the SWC title, but the winner of this one keeps its hopes alive. However, as the postseason looms, this one could determine which team gets home-field advantage in the first round. Midview is currently in position at No. 3 in Division II, Region 6, but Olmsted Falls is at No. 6 and a win should propel it into the top four. This one should be a battle to the end. The last time the two teams met in a playoff regional quarterfinal, it was. Expect the Bulldogs to do what they do best: hand the ball off to Luke Lombardo and Jack Spellacy and dare the Middies to force them to do otherwise. As for Midview, expect a balanced attack from quarterback Seamus Higley and running back Connor Wolfe. Both teams have proven to be adept to adjusting in-game, so that will be the X-factor. It will come down to which team has the most weapons on both sides of the ball to offset the other in what could be an interesting chess match between Midview coach DJ Shaw and Olmsted Falls coach Tom DeLuca.

LAKEWOOD AT WESTLAKE

What: Southwestern Conference game When: 7 p.m., Oct. 13 Where: Lou Duchez Field at University Hospitals St. John Medical Center Stadium, 27830 Hilliard Blvd., Westlake

Records: Lakewood 0-7, Westlake 0-7 Last time: 2016 — 50-28, Westlake For the record: There is nothing but pride on the line in this one. Both teams have looked strong at times, but in a conference like the SWC, strong is not good enough. Offensively, the Rangers appear to have the stronger rushing game behind Jay Boyd and Milan Jackson. However the passing edge appears to be in the Demons’ favor, with Westlake being led by a trio of strong receivers in Jacob Jablonski, JJ Coleman and Kevin Walls. Westlake has appeared to be the better team defensively this season, and that is where the difference between the two will be apparent.