Our look at every Week 4 game in Portage County high school football
As league play begins for a number of Portage County football teams, here's our look at all 12 games featuring local programs.
Metro Athletic Conference
Norton (3-0) at Streetsboro (3-0)
Likely the best match-up of the week, the undefeated Panthers and Rockets meet at Quinn Field in the Metro Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Coming off a remarkable comeback win over Alliance, Streetsboro seeks to snap a two-game skid against Norton, which has earned at least a share of the last two league championships.
Both the Rockets and Panthers are fearsome on the ground. Streetsboro has run for 1,236 yards (at 7.5 per carry), led by Preston Hopperton (66 carries, 592 yards, 10 TDs) and Cohen Klimak (74 carries, 517 yards, 4 TDs). Norton's triumvirate of Luke Dobbins, Buddy Willig and Noah Willig have combined for more than 700 yards of offense and 11 touchdowns.
Field (0-3) at Springfield (0-3)
After losing their first two games by a combined margin of 65-0, the Falcons appeared rejuvenated Friday by the return of junior Drexal McAmis, who ran for the century mark in his return from a finger injury. McAmis helped Field take a halftime lead against undefeated Rootstown with the Rovers only jumping in front in the final minutes of their Week 3 game. The Falcons hope to build off that momentum against the Spartans, who had their own close loss against Kenmore-Garfield in Week 1 before falling by more lopsided margins to Cuyahoga Falls and Orrville.
Cloverleaf (2-1) at Ravenna (0-3)
Owning an 0-3 record for the first time since 2014, the Ravens hope to rebound against the traditionally tough Colts, led by dual-threat quarterback Jordan Letner. Last week, Letner completed 9 of 11 passes for 102 yards in a win over Akron Garfield, and he had a key touchdown run the previous week against Keystone. Perhaps the biggest key will be how the Ravens defense, which yielded 327 rushing yards to Revere but boasts a physical front seven, rebounds against an always stout Colts ground game that gained 4.4 yards per carry last week.
Suburban American
Revere (2-1) at Aurora (2-1)
The Greenmen and Minutemen are both coming off emphatic Week 3 wins as they enter Suburban play.
Revere, which amassed 81 points in wins over Akron Garfield and Ravenna, has developed a deadly run game. Indeed, in last week's victory over the Ravens, the Minutemen ran for a whopping 327 yards, led by Zachary Olechnowicz (21 carries, 143 yards, 3 TDs). That's something to watch against a Greenmen defense that has yielded 4.5 yards per carry against tough nonconference competition.
On the other side of the ball, Aurora showed its balance last week. After relying on RB Enzo Catania (41 carries, 184 yards, 3 TDs) in their first couple of games, the Greenmen got a huge game from Brandon Liepins to top West Geauga, as the quarterback completed 13 of 16 passes for 236 yards and two scores.
Cuyahoga Falls (2-1) at Roosevelt (2-1)
Coming off a big win over Lakewood, the Rough Riders host the Black Tigers, who are riding their first two-game win streak since the start of the 2019 season. Cuyahoga Falls left little doubt last week, scoring 20 first-quarter points in a 26-12 win over Akron North. Roosevelt will have to watch for the multi-talented Dominick Willig, who caught a 53-yard touchdown pass and had a pick-six in last week's victory. The Rough Riders, meanwhile, boast a dangerous aerial attack, led by quarterback Jack Smith and receiver Tyrel Ellington.
Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Division
Garfield (3-0) at LaBrae (1-2)
After outscoring three nonconference opponents by a combined margin of 155-39, the G-Men are set to open MVAC Grey Tier play Friday at LaBrae. The Vikings have struggled to score outside of a couple of fourth-quarter touchdowns in the team's lone win over Valley Christian.The G-Men have had no such challenges, led by quarterback Eric Geddes (16-of-22 passing, 440 yards, 7 TDs, 2 INTs; 38 carries, 322 yards, 5 TDs) and running backs Deacon Sommer (17 carries, 221 yards, 3 TDs) and Keegan Sell (29 carries, 192 yards, 4 TDs).
Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Scarlet Division
Waterloo (2-1) at Springfield (1-2)
Heading into MVAC Scarlet play with two straight wins, the Vikings face a sharp test in the Tigers, who have long been toward the top of the conference. Don't be fooled by Springfield's record. The Tigers' losses came to South Range, fresh off a state title, and 3-0 Geneva. Springfield is led by talented runner Dante Gentile (34 carries, 219 yards, 4 TDs), and QB Kolten Ruark (28-of-46 passing, 302 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) and WR Dylan Sheely (9 catches, 137 yards, 2 TDs) are a force through the air. Waterloo, meanwhile, will lean heavily on QB Jayden Hakin, who has amassed 412 yards on the ground (on just 60 carries) and 230 more through the air.
Nonleague
Pymatuning Valley (2-1) at Rootstown (3-0)
Winning rarely comes easy, as the Rovers were reminded of in Week 3, when after a couple of dominant victories to start the season, they had to rally at Field to maintain their perfect record. Friday won't be easy either against the Lakers, who could easily be 3-0 with their lone loss coming in the final minute against Mineral Ridge.
Expect traffic on State Route 44 as early as 8:45 in the evening given the way these two teams run the ball. Last week, Pymatuning Valley RB Ty Vickery ran for three touchdowns behind his powerful line while Dawson Morgan (100 carries, 799 yards, 10 TDs) has been a breakout star behind Rootstown's own star-studded line.
Akron North (1-2) at Southeast (3-0)
The undefeated Pirates are set to finally make their Freedom Field debut against a Vikings team that has dropped two straight after an opening win at Coventry. The Pirates will rely on quarterback Antonio Mejia to continue to lead their offense. On defense, Southeast will try to contain North QB Sigmund Felding and RB/WR Marvin Causey Jr., who combined for two touchdowns in last week's loss to Cuyahoga Falls. Causey also tallied 245 all-purpose yards in a Week 1 win over Coventry.
Crestwood (2-1) at Wickliffe (1-2)
Coming off two straight wins, both featuring dominant second halves, the Red Devils are on a high as they prepare for a crossover Chagrin Valley Conference game. It's not just the way Nate Blasiole (82 carries, 534 yards, 10 TDs) has run the ball. It's the fact that Crestwood's aerial attack reached new heights in last week's 42-13 win over Chippewa, including 271 passing yards by Charlie Sommer and 153 receiving yards by Bryce Giel. As for Wickliffe, the Blue Devils amassed three times as many rushing yards (164) as passing yards (53) in last week's loss to Orange.
Windham (0-3) at Tuscarawas Central Catholic (0-3)
Both the Bombers and Saints will chase their first win Friday, with the latter trying to snap an 11-game skid stretching back to last year. Both teams will look to find offensive rhythm, with each held to 12 points combined over its first three games. Expect Windham to lean on Carlos Bruton, who had 94 yards on 11 carries in a loss last week to Jackson-Milton.
Saturday
Mogadore (2-1) at Newark Catholic (0-3)
After absorbing a tough first loss at the hands of Dalton, one of the state's top Division VII teams, Mogadore looks to bounce back against old rival Newark Catholic. The Green Wave, for their part, are trying to shake off an 0-3 start in which they have been outscored 114-30.
Saturday's game is the 11th meeting between the Wildcats and the Green Wave, with their last clash coming in the 2012 state semifinals. Expect Newark Catholic to lean on Mikey Hess, who has at least 70 rushing yards in all three of his team's games thus far, while Mogadore will shuffle between an array of talented running backs as well as poised and veteran quarterback Zeke Cameron.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Our look at all 12 Week 4 Portage County high school football games
