The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
High school football»Week 8 games to watch
RDifranco@morningjournal. com
AVON AT BEREA-MIDPARK
What: Southwestern Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 8 Where: Something Field Stadium
Records: Avon 5-2, BereaMidpark 5-2
Last year: Avon 63, BereaMidpark 12
For the record: The biggest game of the Southwestern Conference schedule to date as Avon can almost guarantee themselves a share of their sixth straight league championship with a win. The Eagles knocked off Olmsted Falls in Week 7 and now have a chance to beat the conference’s other unbeaten team. … This isn’t the same Titans’ team that Avon beat by 51 points though. Berea-Midpark beat Avon Lake the week after they beat the Eagles and have been winning ever since. The Titans haven’t won the league since the combination of Berea High School and Midpark High School in 2013. … Expect a heavy dose of Jakorion Caffey in this one. The super sophomore had a career high 195 yards on the ground in Week 7. Caffey is one of three Eagles with over 300 yards on the ground this year.
ELYRIA AT AVON LAKE
What: Southwestern Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 8 Where: Avon Lake Memorial Stadium
Records: Elyria 4-3, Avon Lake 5-2
Last year: Teams did not play in 2020
For the record: This game brings together a pair of teams that got off the schnide in Week 7. Avon Lake snapped a twogame losing streak with a beatdown of Amherst, while Elyria finally picked
up its first SWC win over North Ridgeville. … Elyria’s defense shut out the Rangers in Week 7 and seems to have finally found their footing again. The Pioneers were one of the area’s best defensive units through four weeks but hit a rough patch against Avon and Olmsted Falls. In Week 4they almost knocked off Berea-Midpark, but a stagnant offense kept them from doing that. Since then the offense has hit its stride as well. Quarterback Desmond Whitfield has locked down that position and with speedy receiver Andrew Palos a home run threat every time he gets the ball, Elyria is dangerous on that side of the ball. The Pioneers also have one of the best running trios in the area. Jasir Lucky is one of the top big-play threats in the area and Lance Glover Jr. offers a steady hand. … Avon Lake on the other hand has struggled to run the ball in 2021. Quarterback Jeremy Dzik has been the main source of the Shoremen’s offense, throwing for over 1,000yards in just five games. His two main targets are Matthew Stuewe and Jake DePaul who are some of the best pass-catchers in
the area.
NORTH OLMSTED AT ELYRIA CATHOLIC
What: Great Lakes Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 8 Where: Dan Reaser Stadium Records: North Olmsted 6-1, Elyria Catholic 5-2 Last year: Teams did not play in 2020
For the record: This one has large implications when it comes to the GLC’s Western division championship. If Elyria Catholic wins, they’ve got a chance at sneaking into the conference title game in Week 10, depending on how tiebreakers work. If North Olmsted wins, they’ll be in the driver’s seat for the conference title, especially with Rocky River losing a conference game after Westlake was forced to cancel their game due to complications with COVID-19. … Elyria Catholic is led by Matt Wilhelm Award candidate Levi Ellis. Ellis leads the area in rushing and scoring. The Panthers lost their opening game to Elyria and also dropped a game to Rocky River on a last-second field goal, but have been one of the area’s best teams otherwise. … North Olmsted has benefited greatly from their move to the GLC. The Eagles are 6-1 and have beat a pair of their old SWC foes in North Ridgeville and Amherst, their lone loss came in Week 2 to Green. They narrowly avoided disaster in Week 7, beating Bay in overtime with a two-point conversion instead of a field goal in the first overtime.
OBERLIN AT COLUMBIA
What: Some Conference game
When: 7 p.m., Oct. 8 Where: Columbia Raiders Stadium
Records: Oberlin 1-6, Columbia 7-0
Last year: Columbia 43, Oberlin 6
For the record: The No. 4 ranked team in Division VI hosts Oberlin a week before their biggest game of the season against Keystone. The Raiders have been outstanding all year and boast a seemingly endless stable of weapons for coach Jason Ward to use. … Oberlin enters this one at 1-6in the midst of their toughest stretch of the season. Since their Week 3 win over Brooklyn, the Phoenix have played teams with a combined record of 24-10. Oberlin has been outscored 212-26 during the four games leading up to this one. Led by one of the area’s most talented all-around players, Andre Yarber, it’ll be tough for the Phoenix to keep this one close.