Tich's Picks: Previews and predictions for Week 8 high school football

Previews and picks from every local Week 8 high school football game:

Game of the Week: Rittman (5-2, 2-2 WCAL) at Dalton (5-1, 4-0)

Ever since its Week 1 loss to Kirtland, Dalton has marched through its competition with little resistance. Its closest game since then? A 34-point win over Mogadore in Week 3. With Wayne County's game of the year on the slate for Week 9 — when Dalton travels to Norwayne — the 'Dawgs will try to stay in the present and handle their business against a hungry Rittman team.

Meanwhile, Rittman is eager to prove itself against the upper-tier competition on its schedule fresh off its rivalry win over Chippewa last week. Sophomore QB Brayden Louk showed glimpses of being able to add a different dimension to the offense in his first start last week, which they'll need against a Dalton team that has the personnel to slow down star Rittman back Artie Sonego.

Playoff chances (according to Drew Pasteur's projections): Rittman 85%, Dalton 100%

Tich's pick: Dalton

West Holmes (5-2, 3-1 OCC) at Ashland (4-3, 2-2)

There have been more bumps along the way for West Holmes this year than in the previous few, but the Knights seemed to really figure some things out last week in a 62-28 blowout of Lexington. If they find that consistency going forward, they'll will be a very dangerous team down the stretch and into the playoffs. The QB matchup of West Holmes' Morgan Smith and Ashland's Nathan Bernhard is perhaps the best local fans will see all year.

Playoff chances: West Holmes 100%, Ashland 97%

Tich's pick: West Holmes

Mansfield Senior (5-2, 4-0) at Wooster (2-5, 1-3)

Coming off its toughest loss of the season, in which it outplayed Mount Vernon outside of turning the ball over, Wooster doesn't get a break. Senior has proven itself to be the best team in the OCC this year, with a defense that has frustrated some of the top offenses in the league. The Generals have the talent to hang with the Tygers, if they play clean and win the turnover battle.

Playoff chances: Mansfield Senior 100%, Wooster 14%

Tich's pick: Mansfield Senior

Norwayne (7-0, 4-0 WCAL) at Chippewa (0-7, 0-4)

With its big game against Dalton on the horizon, Norwayne will try to avoid any type of looking ahead against Chippewa. The Bobcats will try to stay sharp while the Chipps will do their best to compete against a team that has blown out all of its WCAL competition.

Playoff chances: Norwayne 100%, Chippewa 0%

Tich's pick: Norwayne

Stats: Week 7 Wayne/Holmes-area football leaders

Hillsdale (5-2, 2-2) at Waynedale (1-6, 1-3)

Hillsdale hasn't gotten that breakthrough win against the upper echelon of the WCAL but it has soundly taken care of business against all opponents not named Dalton or Norwayne. The Falcons are solid across the board and playmakers at multiple positions. Waynedale has flashed some potential this season, but it'll be about stringing those positive plays together if the Golden Bears want to pull off the upset.

Playoff chances: Hillsdale 100%, Waynedale 9%

Tich's pick: Hillsdale

Northwestern (1-6, 1-3) at Smithville (4-3, 2-2)

Smithville enters Week 8 with all of these things on the table: a playoff berth, a winning season and a top-four finish in the WCAL. The Smithies have done it by playing solid football all year, making the most of the season, despite battling some adversity. Northwestern has battled its share of adversity as well, as one of the league's smallest and least experienced teams. Still, the Huskies compete hard and will do more of the same while trying to pull of the upset on the road.

Playoff chances: Northwestern 1%, Smithville 59%

Tich's pick: Smithville

Orrville (3-4, 2-2 PAC-7) at Tuslaw (2-5, 0-4)

Orrville's defense has struggled, giving up 70 points and 628 total yards in a loss to Northwest last week, but the Red Riders have also proved they can put up points on anyone. Tuslaw's offense doesn't have the type of playmakers Orrville has seen in its conference losses, scoring 21 points total during league play so far. The Mustangs will try to shorten the game and keep Orrville's offense sidelined as much as possible.

Playoff chances: Orrville 68%, Tuslaw 1%

Tich's pick: Orrville

Manchester (1-6, 1-3) at Triway (2-5, 1-3)

Triway played perhaps its best game of the year in last week's loss to Canton South, giving the undefeated Wildcats everything they could handle before South scored a late TD to pull out a 35-28 win. Meanwhile, Manchester has improved by the week, snapping a multi-season conference losing streak with a win over Tuslaw in Week 7. A win keeps Triway's playoff hopes very much alive, while a loss will make it very tough the rest of the way.

Playoff chances: Manchester 4%, Triway 40%

Tich's pick: Triway

Cardington-Lincoln (1-6, 0-4) at Loudonville (2-5, 1-3)

The toughest part of Loudonville's schedule appears to be over, and the Redbirds are eager to finish the year on a positive note. Cardington-Lincoln hasn't come within 21 points of a KMAC opponent, giving the 'Birds on golden opportunity to snap their three-game losing streak.

Playoff chances: Cardington-Lincoln 1%, Loudonville 18%

Tich's pick: Loudonville

Last week's picks: 8-2

Overall picks: 63-9

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: High school football previews for Week 8 Wayne/Holmes area schools