The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Games to watch in 2023
The 2023 season is loaded with optimism from area teams who have worked all offseason and preseason for this moment.
Here are some of the games that might be the best bet for your attention on Friday and Saturday nights.
Kirtland at Dalton, Aug. 18:
Kirtland expects to play for the Division VI state title this year. Dalton expects to play for the Division VII title this year. Hold on tight, folks.
Richmond Heights at Doylestown Chippewa, Aug. 18:
What makes this one special is it marks the return of varsity football at Richmond Heights for the first time in three years.
St. Ignatius at Mentor, Aug. 25:
The young Cardinals will find out how good they are early with a visit from St. Ignatius, which is under new leadership after the retirement of legendary Chuck Kyle.
Mentor at Riverside, Sept. 1:
Only a missed field goal on the last play of the game kept Riverside from winning this one last year in a 7-6 Cardinals win. Can the Beavers finish the job this year in Painesville?
Chagrin Falls at Kenston, Sept. 1:
It’s a short drive down Washington Street between these two rivals.
Perry at Kirtland, Sept. 1:
This game was closer than last year’s 36-16final showed. Kirtland has three
Coach Marty Gibbons and the Lake Catholic Cougars will wrap up the regular season against a showdown against rival NDCL. hammers to start this season. This is one of them.
Avon Lake at Chardon, Sept. 1:
Avon Lake went 9-3last year and lost to eventual state champion Toledo Central Catholic in the playoffs. Chardon went 11-2and lost to eventual D2 state champion Canfield. Both teams are loaded this year.
Hawken at Gilmour, Sept. 1:
The battle of Gates Mills. Get to your seats early. There will be a lot of points in this one.
Medina at Mentor, Sept. 8:
The Cardinals open GCC play with the league favorite, but don’t tell Matt Gray & Co. that. They’ll have their high-octane offense ready to match that of the Bees.
Kenston at VASJ, Sept. 8:
Both teams have big goals for a long postseason run. This Week 4 game will be a good litmus test for both squads.
Lake Catholic at Kenston, Sept. 14:
Kenston won last year’s game, 14-7, in a physical game. The rematch will likely have more points. Cardinal at Berkshire, Sept. 22: The Kinsman Cup is on the line yet again. The Badgers took last year’s neighborhood slugfest, 50-20.
Gilmour at University, Sept. 22:
No two area teams are closer to each other in proximity to these two. Expect a physical grudge-fest here.
Lutheran West at Perry, Sept. 22:
The Longhorns breezed through the CVC Metro last year, while the Pirates finished second to Kirtland in the CVC Chagrin. This could be the CVC Chagrin title game early on.
Kenston at Mayfield,
Sept. 29: Two fast-paced, sling-it-around offenses meet in a key WRC showdown.
Wickliffe at Cuyahoga Heights, Sept. 29:
The experienced Blue Devils want to show they are a CVC Metro contender. This game is their chance.
Lakeside at Geneva, Oct. 6:
Many feel these two teams are the top dog of the new CVC Lake Division.
North at South, Oct. 6:
The Border Battle — the Civil War — renews its rivalry at Harry E. Winters Stadium.
Geneva at Madison, Oct. 12:
This has been a seasonopener for many years. Now it’s a conference game in the CVC Lake. Madison won, 13-7, last year.
Walsh Jesuit at Lake Catholic, Oct. 13:
The Warriors are the preseason favorites of the Crown Conference. The Cougars would like to have a say in that.
Mayfield at Riverside, Oct. 13:
The Beavers better not be taking a week off after Kenston on Oct. 6and before Chardon on Oct. 20, because the Wildcats can and will knock’em off.
Riverside at Chardon, Oct. 20:
This might be the area’s game of the year, and it happens in Week 10. Could both teams be 9-0 when they meet? Possibly.
NDCL at Lake Catholic, Oct. 21:
What a way to end the regular season — with the East Side’s version of the Holy War.