Rivalries, state contenders and more: 10 games to watch in 2023
Friday nights will mean something different in two weeks.
While a few programs open the season the night before, the majority of Ohio high school football teams will take the field for the regular season openers Friday, Aug. 18, with major matchups involving local teams happening right away.
There will be many other big games as the season plays out, but here are 10 to circle on the calendar right now:
Kirtland at Dalton, Aug. 18
Two legit state title contenders going head-to-head in Week 1? Yes, please. Kirtland is a perennial contender, playing in 11 state title games over the past 12 seasons (and winning six). Dalton is aiming to get to that level, and with almost everyone back from last year's 10-win team, the 'Dawgs have a chance at deep playoff run. Add in that Kirtland ended Dalton's season with a 33-0 regional semifinal win last year, this should be one of the biggest small-school season-opening matchups in the state.
Wooster at Orrville, Aug. 18
Lopsided results have gone Wooster's way for two straight seasons, but the Wooster-Orrville rivalry should go back to being a little more balanced this year. After a few down years, Orrville hit its stride halfway through last season and has every reason to believe that momentum will carry over to this year. But the Generals bring back a lot of key players as well and want to keep their winning streak going in one of the area's marquee matchups.
All-Daily Record Football 2022: The Daily Record 22
Orrville at West Holmes, Aug. 25
Orrville has high hopes for its season, but West Holmes has been the area's top team for two straight years and doesn't look to be slowing down in 2023. The Knights haven't lost at home since 2019 and will challenge Orrville vertically more than any other team on its schedule.
West Holmes at Mansfield Senior, Sept. 8
The Knights have won 21 straight regular season games. One of their biggest tests during that streak came back at Mansfield's Arlin Field in 2021, when West Holmes rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to walk away with a win. The Tygers are one of the few teams on the Knights' schedule with athleticism and depth at the skill positions to match West Holmes.
Norwayne at Northwestern, Sept. 15
Northwestern's win over Norwayne in 2022 turned the WCAL race upside down, ending up with the Huskies claiming their first league title share since 2014. Both teams are without some of their primary playmakers from last season, but this one could end up mattering in the WCAL just as much once again.
Wooster at West Holmes, Sept. 22
West Holmes has taken hold of this matchup over the past two years, including a 48-6 victory in 2022, after Wooster won eight straight from 2013-20. With back-to-back undefeated regular seasons under their belts and plenty of talent coming through the pipeline over the next few years, the Knights are hoping to build their own impressive streak.
Hillsdale at Dalton, Sept. 22
Hillsdale got its biggest win of the season when Dalton came to town last year, sending the Bulldogs home with a 27-12 loss. It's a safe bet Dalton won't come out flat for this one, while Hillsdale knows another win against Dalton could be the breakthrough win they need to catapult them to bigger things.
Chippewa at Rittman, Sept. 29
One of the area's most historical rivalries has been one-sided for a solid decade, with Chippewa reeling off 10 straight wins in the matchup. However, Rittman appears on the brink of a major program breakthrough while Chippewa may be entering a rebuilding period. Both programs have had this one circled since Chippewa's 27-14 win last year.
Dalton at Norwayne, Oct. 13
There are more historic rivalries in the area, but Dalton-Norwayne has been the best one in recent years. The two programs have run the WCAL since 2016, with each school winning four league titles, including seven outright first-place finishes. All signs point to this one having major league implications once again.
Triway at Orrville, Oct. 20
The rivalry between Wayne County's two PAC-7 schools has become one of the lone fixtures of the Week 10 schedule. Last year brought one of the wildest and wackiest final weeks of a league season, with five teams splitting the PAC-7 title, including Orrville. The odds are very much against more than half the league sharing the conference championship this time, but title ramifications are certainly possible in this game.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Football: 10 Wayne/Holmes County area games to watch in 2023
