Football advance: Oak Harbor, Gibsonburg remain unbeaten in SBC divisions
Oak Harbor and Gibsonburg each has an opportunity to earn its eighth victory this week.
More important, each is unbeaten in three games in its respective division in the Sandusky Bay Conference.
Golden Bears running back Connor Smith ran for two scores to surpass his own single-season program record by two touchdowns, with 30 overall in a 29-26 victory over Margaretta in the SBC River Division last week. He has 2,156 yards on the ground.
Port Clinton won two straight games in the SBC Bay Division, including a 68-13 victory over Willard last week. Port Clinton must first beat Huron to set up a meeting at likely division unbeaten Oak Harbor with a share of the crown at stake in Week 10.
The Rockets beat the Tigers 29-28 in overtime two weeks ago.
Fremont Ross snapped a two-game losing skid with a 35-6 victory over Lima Senior in the Three Rivers Athletic Conference last week.
Clyde also rebounded from two straight losses with a 34-7 victory over Sandusky in the SBC Lake Division.
Bellevue lost its last two games in the SBC Lake Division, following a narrow 33-28 setback to Tiffin Columbian last week.
Friday's Week 9 games
Ross (6-2, 3-2) at Toledo Central Catholic (7-1, 5-0)
Ross is fifth in Division II's Region 6, while Central Catholic is third. Karson Kayden tossed four touchdown passes, including two to Bryson Hammer last week. Kaden Holmes had a week for multiple injuries to improve. Defending TRAC champ Central Catholic won its last seven games, including a 46-16 victory over Toledo Whitmer last week. The Fighting Irish have scored at least 45 points in four TRAC games and allowed no more than 17 in any of their wins. Central Catholic lost 23-20 to St Edward. Ross has lost each matchup with Central Catholic since 2011, including a 34-15 setback last season.
Clyde (5-3, 1-2) at Norwalk (0-8)
Clyde is sixth in Division III's Region 10. Chancey Miracle and Abe Morrison each rushed for a score, and Mason Gurney added the first of two field goals in the second quarter last week. Jay Plummer caught two touchdown passes from Morrison. Norwalk allowed at least 34 points per game, prior to last week's 21-19 setback to Perkins. Norwalk hasn't scored more than 25 points in a game and was held to seven or fewer four times. Clyde won 41-14 last season.
Huron (6-2, 2-1) at Port Clinton (5-3, 2-1)
Port Clinton is 17th in Division V's Region 18. Dagan Meyers established a single-game program record with five touchdowns last week. He tied the record against Vermilion the previous week. Gabe Koskela caught an 82-yard touchdown pass from Cam Gillum and Briar Rohrer rushed for two scores. Adam Thorbahn added a touchdown catch. Port Clinton hasn't allowed more than 13 points in an SBC Bay Division game. It had a goal-line stand last week, with a run stop and three incompletions to force a turnover on downs inside the 5. Meyers has 862 yards and 15 touchdowns rushing. Huron has scored at least 28 points in every game, including a 29-28 setback to Perkins. Dylan Hohler has 17 touchdown passes and 16 more on the ground. Port Clinton won 31-20 last season.
St. Joseph Central Catholic (1-7, 0-3) at Gibsonburg (7-1, 3-0)
Gibsonburg is fourth in Division VII's Region 26. Grant Dawson returned an interception 68 yards for a score last week. Cam Mooney added one score on the ground. Cole Owens kicked a field goal. Jackson Wright scored a 69-yard touchdown in SJCC's 41-7 setback to Lakota last week. Gibsonburg won 48-15 last season.
Oak Harbor (7-1, 3-0) at Willard (4-4, 0-3)
Oak Harbor is seventh in Division V's Region 18. Hayden Buhro and Brayden Butzin each caught a touchdown pass from Mike Lalonde, and Dalton Witter rushed for a score as the Rockets shut out Edison in the second half of a 28-14 victory last week. Witter returned to a more prominent role on offense, with 145 yards on 26 carries. Jaqui Hayward had eight receptions. Willard allowed at least 56 points in its SBC Bay Division games. It scored at least 35 points in every game until last week. Cam Robinson caught 12 of Isaac Robinson's 32 touchdown passes. Oak Harbor took a 34-0 shutout last season.
Bellevue (5-3, 1-2) at Sandusky (3-5, 1-2)
Bellevue is eighth in Division IV's Region 14. Dylan Barger caught a touchdown pass from Ashton Martin for a 28-27 advantage early in the fourth quarter last week. Cole Beltran rushed for two scores and Jax LaPata added a touchdown on the ground. Bellevue won 52-7 last season.
Woodmore (1-7, 0-5) at Otsego (5-3, 3-2)
Woodmore lost five straight, including a narrow 34-28 setback to Fostoria last week. Woodmore lost 42-6 last season.
Montpelier (2-6) at Margaretta (6-2)
Margaretta is ninth in Division VI's Region 22. Cam Sosa rushed for one score and tossed a touchdown to Gage Bodey for the Polar Bears last week. Jake Bogs rushed for a touchdown and Bodey kicked a field goal. Boggs has 12 rushing touchdowns. Margaretta strays from play in the SBC River Division one last time. Montpelier scored no more than 14 points in any loss. Margaretta won 35-8 last season.
Lakota (2-6) at Edon (4-4)
Lakota snapped a six-game losing skid last week. It plays its final non-conference matchup. Raiders quarterback CJ Biddle rushed for three scores and tossed touchdown passes to Chase Dussel and Case Paul last week. Edon scored 103 combined points in its last two games, including a 60-52 setback to Norwalk St. Paul last week. Lakota lost 38-24 last season.
Genoa (5-3, 4-1) at Elmwood (7-1, 4-1)
Genoa is 10th in Division V's Region 18. Braylen Bryant, Aidan Antry and Aiden Brunkhorst each rushed for a score in Genoa's 28-26 victory over Otsego last week. Robert Messenger caught a touchdown pass from Brunkhorst. Elmwood hasn't allowed more than 21 points, with the exception of its 49-48 setback to Northern Buckeye Conference frontrunner Eastwood. Elmwood beat Lake 35-7 last week. This game is likely for second place in the conference. Genoa lost 41-10 last season.
mhorn@gannett.com
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Twitter: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Football advance: Port Clinton tries to remain in mix for SBC crown
