Stark County area's high school football games to watch | What to know about Week 9

Here's a look at this week's games:

5 OHSAA high school football games to watch this Friday around Stark County

GlenOak (4-4, 2-2) at Canton McKinley (7-1, 5-0)

What to watch: The Bulldogs have clinched at least a share of their second straight Federal League championship and can win it outright by beating GlenOak. ... McKinley has won six straight games, most recently 27-7 at Jackson last week, since a Week 2 loss to Avon. GlenOak has won two straight and three of its last four. The Golden Eagles haven't won three straight games since 2016, which also was the last time they won more than four games overall. ... These are two of the better running teams in the area. GlenOak junior Jamar Johnson is 64 rushing yards away from 1,000 for the season. Junior Adrion "Milk" Burt has rushed for 312 yards and three touchdowns the last two weeks alone. Senior Avantae Burt has 667 yards and seven TDs rushing-receiving combined. For McKinley, junior RBs Nino Hill (637 yards, nine TDs) and Stephon Thomas (409, five) form a good 1-2 punch. Senior QB Keaton Rode's 455 yards and three TDs rushing don't accurately explain the impact of his running. "I think the biggest thing with them is their quarterback extends plays," GlenOak coach Scott Garcia said. "He gets himself out of trouble. He can run the ball. He's what's making them go right now." Rode has thrown for 1,614 yards and 13 TDs, with junior Keith Quincy being his favorite target with 28 receptions for 556 yards and four TDs. ... GlenOak will split time at quarterback with senior Cole Anderson and the younger Burt. Anderson has thrown for 848 yards and eight TDs. ... Both of these teams like to get after the opposing quarterback and make negative plays. McKinley had 10 sacks last week against Jackson from nine different players. DE K'Vuone McNeal has a McKinley-best nine sacks on the season. LB Shaukeer Hatcher has a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss to go with three interceptions. GlenOak LB David Potter has nine tackles for loss and four sacks.  ... McKinley is ranked first in the Division I, Region 1 playoff standings. GlenOak is 10th. So a rematch in a few weeks is not out of the question, like last year when McKinley beat GlenOak 40-7 in Week 9 to clinch a share of the league championship, then turned around and beat the Golden Eagles 40-22 in a first-round playoff game two weeks later. The Bulldogs have won seven straight against GlenOak and lead the all-time series 38-12.

This week's football power poll: Stark County-Area High School Football Top 5 Power Poll after eight weeks of 2023 season

Perry (4-4, 1-3) at Lake (6-2, 3-1)

What to watch: This could be a quick game with as much as these two teams run the football. ... To grab a share of the Federal League title for a second straight year, the Blue Streaks need to win their final two regular-season games and have GlenOak knock off McKinley. ... Senior Nate Baker is coming off a monster game in Lake's 21-7 win vs. Hoover. He rushed for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries, caught a 19-yard TD pass from Cale Jarvis and intercepted two passes. The league's leading rusher, Baker is 26 rushing yards away from 1,000 on the season. ... Perry earned its second win in its last 16 league games last week against Green. Austin Mattox's 76-yard interception return for a touchdown proved to be the difference in the 20-14 win. ... Perry's Christian Ivanic has rushed for 133, 222 and 230 yards the three previous games, respectively. Ivanic is averaging 9.2 yards per carry on the season. He also has a team-high three interceptions for the Perry defense. ... Lake sits third in Division II, Region 7 and already has clinched a playoff spot, according to JoeEitel.com. Perry is 11th. ... The Blue Streaks have won two straight against Perry, but it is the Panthers who lead the all-time series 22-13.

Jackson (4-4) at Canton Central Catholic (5-3)

What to watch: These are two teams going in different directions at the moment: Jackson has dropped three straight after starting the season 4-1, while Central has won five of its last six after an 0-2 start. ... Jackson's production has plummeted from averaging 32.0 points during its first five games to 10.0 points during its three-game slide. A big part of that is an inability to protect sophomore QB Lucas Ecrement. ... When given time to operate, Ecrement and the Polar Bears can move the ball. He's thrown for 1,772 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. WRs Kyle Benson, Noah Colando, Anthony Fuline and Jamahl Phillips each have at least 26 catches and 322 yards. ... Central is led by one of the most dynamic players in the area. Senior Dan Boron has scored 16 touchdowns (eight rushing, six receiving, one defensive and one punt return). He's also thrown a TD pass. He's rushed for 509 yards, received for 407, and returned kicks and punts for another 191. He's intercepted four passes, recovered three fumbles and been in on 55 tackles. He also averages 36.6 yards a punt and has booted two kickoffs for touchbacks. ... Central QB Brennan Betz has thrown for 930 yards, 12 TDs and nine interceptions, while rushing for 353 yards and four TDs. ... Jackson is ninth in the Division I, Region 1 playoff standings, while Central is seventh in Division VI, Region 21. ... Jackson has beaten Central six straight times and leads the all-time series 19-15.

Warren Harding (4-4) at Massillon (8-0)

What to watch: The Massillon Tigers return to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium after their first road game, a 42-7 rout of Austintown Fitch in Week 7. The Tigers have yielded just one TD in each of their last three games. Overall, the Tigers also have outscored their opponents 316-68 this season, netting 3,389 yards of total offense. ... Junior RB Jameir Gamble broke out with 233 yards and two TDs in the Tigers' win at Fitch. QB DaOne Owens, who ran for 134 yards, has been Massillon's top rusher with 783 yards and 10 TDs. ... Harding has won three straight, including last week's win over Mooney. The most notable player on the Raiders side is their running back, Ryan Powell. He carries eight Division I college offers, which include Boston College, Duke and Syracuse. ... Massillon is top-ranked in Divison II, Region 7, and is two wins away from a perfect regular season for the first time since 2019. ... Massillon has to make sure it's not looking ahead to the annual showdown against McKinley, which hosts this year's Week 10 meeting.

Carrollton (5-3, 3-0) at West Branch (7-1, 3-0)

What to watch: Carrollton has won four consecutive games, averaging 33.5 points per game during this stretch. Last week's 21-7 win over Salem was the team's best defensive effort of the season in terms of points allowed. … Carrollton uses a rushing attack featuring multiple ball carriers, including QB Jacob Whitmore, RB Ryan Kiko and RB Levi Crider. … Carrollton last won a game against West Branch in 2010 (28-20). … West Branch has won seven straight since a 38-19 loss at Canfield to open the season. It has scored at least 32 points in all seven wins. Before last week's 49-41 win over Alliance, West Branch recorded three straight shutouts in winning those games by a combined 175-0. ... QB Beau Alazaus is 172-of-252 passing for 2,208 yards with 25 TDs and just four interceptions. … West Branch RB Boston Mulinix has run for 802 yards on just 102 carries. Mulinix also leads the team in touchdowns scored with 13. … West Branch has not lost an Eastern Buckeye Conference game since Week 10 of 2019 against Salem (46-27).

Other Week 9 Stark County-area high school football games

North Canton Hoover (4-4, 1-3) at Green (5-3, 1-3)

What to watch: This is a big game for Division II, Region 7 playoff purposes. Green, sitting fourth, has its eyes on a first-round home playoff game. Hoover, sitting 13th, has some work to do to solidify a Week 11 game. ... All three of Green's losses are by a touchdown or less. ... Hoover senior QB Carson Dyrlund left last week's 21-7 loss at Lake in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return. Junior Zach Braucher moved over to quarterback from wide receiver and rushed for 41 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. He was 3-of-10 passing for 21 yards and two interceptions. ... Dyrlund is questionable for this week. If he can play, that puts Braucher back at receiver where he joins senior Mason Ashby as one of the most dangerous receiving duos in the area. They have combined for 93 catches for 1,054 yards and 11 TDs. Speaking of dangerous receiving duos, Green's Zach Baglia and Antonio Martin have combined for 92 receptions for 977 yards and 12 TDs. ... Green lost its starting quarterback, senior Samino Manson, in a Week 5 loss at McKinley. Sophomore Tyson Hunka has thrown for 272 yards and five TDs and run for 208 yards and two TDs in his three starts. ... Hoover beat Green 50-20 last year and leads the all-time series 13-2.

Louisville (1-7) at South Range (7-1)

What to watch: Louisville has lost six consecutive games. … The Leopards have not scored more than seven points in a game since Week 4 and are averaging just 10.9 points per game this season. … Braiden Hershey is the leading receiver for Louisville. Hershey has 25 catches for 267 yards with two TDs. … South Range has won six consecutive games and already wrapped up at least a share of the Northeast 8 Conference championship. … South Range has a potent rushing attack featuring Blake Ewert. QB Tristan Troy also runs well.

Minerva (0-7, 0-3) at Alliance (4-4, 1-2)

What to watch: Minerva has lost 27 consecutive games. … Alliance has lost two straight Eastern Buckeye Conference games and three of its last four games overall. The Aviators have allowed 30 or more points in each of the three losses in that span. … K’Vaughn Davis is closing in on 1,000 yards receiving this season for Alliance. Davis has 41 catches for 865 yards with seven TDs.

Marlington (5-3, 1-2) at Salem (1-7, 1-2)

What to watch: Marlington’s Beau Himmelheber is one of the most versatile and dangerous players in the EBC. Himmelheber is the top receiver for the Dukes and will also carry the ball out of the backfield at times. He is also stars at defensive back and is a key special teams performer. … Salem QB Cletis Monroy has been dealing with an injury and did not play last week. Sophomore Gavin Colbert started in his place against Carrollton.

Canton South (8-0, 5-0) at Tuslaw (2-6, 0-5)

What to watch: With a Division IV, Region 13 home playoff game secured, the Wildcats set their sights on another PAC-7 championship. A win over Tuslaw will wrap up at least a share of a second straight conference title. ... Having QB Poochie Snyder back in the lineup for last week’s game against Fairless was a big relief for South. Snyder, who injured his pinky finger and did not play in the second half the previous week, did most of his damage with his legs in a 41-35 win over Fairless. He rushed for 184 yards and three TDs. Snyder is 86 yards rushing away from 1,000 for the season. Stark County’s all-time passing yards leader is up to 9,510 yards for his career. ... The unbeaten Wildcats have survived some close calls in recent weeks. That should make them battle tested for what lies ahead. ... Tuslaw is the only remaining PAC-7 team without a conference win. The Mustangs have lost five straight since winning back-to-back games against Chippewa and River View. Joey Medure is coming off a 160-yard rushing night against Orrville. He leads Tuslaw in rushing with 697 yards and five TDs.

Triway (3-5, 2-3) at Northwest (5-3, 4-1)

What to watch: A likely must-win game for Northwest if it wants to play for a piece of the PAC-7 title next week against Canton South. CVCA, which also has a shot at a share of the title, stopped Northwest’s five-game winning streak last week. The Royals ran off 32 straight points to turn an early deficit into a 39-16 victory. Northwest will have to regroup the way it did after opening the season with back-to-back losses. ... Connor Satterfield is having an MVP season on offense and defense for head coach John DeMarco’s team. He has rushed for 1,007 yards and 20 TDs and leads the defense with 109 tackles and four sacks. ... A win would boost Triway’s playoff hopes in Division V, Region 17. The Titans are coming off a 24-17 win over Manchester. QB Brayden Holt threw for 229 yards and three TDs.

Manchester (1-7, 1-4) at Fairless (2-6, 1-4)

What to watch: A possible playoff elimination games for two teams outside the top 16 in Division V, Region 17. Fairless enters the week rated 18th in the region. Manchester is 24th. ... The Falcons have lost four in a row but are coming off perhaps their best game of the season, a 41-35 loss Canton South. Despite a challenging regular season, they still have a shot at the postseason if they beat Manchester and rival Tuslaw. “If we find a way to win the next two, we have a chance to continue our season,” head coach AJ Sarbaugh said. “We just have to keep getting better every day and see what happens.” ... RB Peter Killy returning from injury is a boost for Fairless’ offense which also features Carson Colucci at QB and Gio Moore at TE. ... Like Fairless, Manchester’s record does not reflect how competitive the Panthers have been this season. Over the past four weeks, they lost to Orrville 28-26, lost to Canton South 35-14 in a game that was tied in the second half, beat Tuslaw 19-7 and lost Triway 24-21. ... Caleb Youngman has a team-leading seven TDs. He has three TDs apiece rushing and receiving, and a fumble return for a score.

St. Thomas Aquinas (0-8, 0-3) at Mogadore (6-2, 2-0)

What to watch: Aquinas’ final shot at Portage Trail Conference win this year comes against a perennial small-school state power. Mogadore has not lost a PTC game since Week 8 of the 2021 season, a 21-6 defeat to Southeast. Beating Aquinas could set up a winner-take-all battle with Rootstown for the league title next week. ... The struggle continues for the Knights, who have lost 26 straight. Aquinas has not cracked the 10-point barrier all season and is allowing almost 37 points a game.

Sandy Valley (5-3, 1-2) at Garaway 8-0, 3-0)

Sandy Valley ended a two-game losing streak in style, crushing Claymont 48-19. The victory pushed the Cardinals into eighth-place in Division V/Region 17, in which 16 teams will make the playoffs. … The Region 17 region leader is Lake County Perry, whose 8-0 record includes a 24-6 win over mighty Kirtland. Perry eliminated Garaway from last year's playoffs 27-17. … One of the few times this year Garaway didn't have a game won by halftime was against Indian Valley in Game 7. A late 63-yard TD run by junior Dillon Soehnlen broke it open in a game the Pirates won 35-14. Then they routed Tusky Valley 58-0 a week later. … The Cardinals respect Garaway's big-play ways. Soehnlen also had a 40-yard TD run against Indian Valley. QB Brady Geibel threw a 75-yard TD pass to Jenson Garber. … Garaway's first real test came in Game 3. The Pirates rolled 28-0 over West Muskingum, which is 7-0 in its other 2023 games. … Garaway won 33-7 at Sandy Valley last Oct. 14.

Tuscarawas Central Catholic (0-8, 0-3) at Malvern (7-1, 3-0)

The Hornets can clinch a share of the Inter-Valley Conference North Division title with a win Friday. Buckeye Central and Newcomerstown, though, can remain in the race by winning Friday against East Canton and Strasburg, respectively. … If Malvern wins out against TCC and East Canton, the Hornets will be outright champs. … Malvern QB Jared Witherow ran for two TDs and passed for another in a pivotal 21-7 win at Newcomerstown last week. Dylan Phillips (10 catches, 101 yards) and Rodney Smith (five catches, 79 yards) were the one-two punch imagined from the start of the season. … Beating Newcomerstown vaulted Malvern into first place in Division VII, Region 25. Finishing against two teams with a combined two wins likely means the Hornets will drop in the standings. Twelve teams in the region are 6-2 or better. … TCC's last win over Malvern came in 2018, when the Saints made the Division VII playoffs. The team's record since then is 11-33.

East Canton (2-6, 1-2) at Buckeye Trail (2-6, 2-1)

East Canton is coming off a 41-0 win over winless Tuscarawas Central Catholic. … On Sept. 29, East Canton fell to Strasburg 12-7. A week later, Strasburg got hammered 40-6 by Buckeye Trail. The comparison reflects the challenge awaiting the Hornets in Lore City on Friday. … Buckeye Trail dropped a 42-8 decision to unbeaten Barnesville but was competitive in its other five losses. The Warriors are 23rd in Division VI, Region 23 and likely must win out to get one of the 16 playoff spots. … East Canton would have to win out in Division VI, Region 21 to move from 28th to the top 16.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Week 9 Ohio high school football games to watch in Stark County