High school football midseason report: League races heating up
Sep. 22—This is the first article in a three-part series focusing on Toledo-area high school football at the halfway point of the regular season
The Friday night performances during the first half of the high school football season have set up some scintillating showdowns that will determine league champions over the coming weeks.
The first five contests during the 10-game regular season have flown by with some teams re-affirming preseason prognostications. Some other area schools have proven to be surprise contenders for league titles.
The second-half push begins this Friday with preparations for playoff runs continuing.
NORTHERN LAKES LEAGUE
The entire Northern Lakes League got off to a rocky start in non-league play. But the usual powers, Anthony Wayne and Perrysburg, have both righted the ship as they get into the thick of conference play.
The preseason favorite Generals (3-2, 2-0 NLL) opened with back-to-back losses to Three Rivers Athletic Conference members Findlay (24-14) and St. John's Jesuit (22-20). But AW, which won three straight NLL titles from 2017-19, has rebounded with three decisive wins.
"Our team is starting to really jell," AW coach Andy Brungard said. "We have taken significant strides forward as a staff and with getting personnel in the right places."
The Generals have outscored their last three foes 145-0, including league wins over Maumee (56-0) and Southview (48-0) over the last two weeks.
"We have been focused on the process and the outcome has been rewarding," Brungard said.
Defending champion Perrysburg (3-2, 2-0) also got off to a slow 1-2 start with losses to 4-1 Dublin Jerome (28-10) and St. John's (27-20). The Yellow Jackets have won their first two NLL games by a combined score of 63-0 with victories over Bowling Green (35-0) and Napoleon (28-0).
"We are pleased with the progress we have made throughout the season," first-year Perrysburg coach Dirk Conner said. "We feel like we have gotten better every single week and have to continue to strive to do so. We are much more physical in all aspects of play than we were early on in the season."
The teams' top running backs rank one-two in the league in rushing and scoring.
Perrysburg's Connor Walendzak leads the league with 699 yards and ranks second in scoring (8 TDs).
"We see a lot of improvement in our actual execution and how we are playing the game," Conner said.
AW's Joe Caswell leads the NLL in scoring (10 TDs) and is second in rushing (662).
Perrysburg plays at Southview this Friday, while AW hosts Bowling Green.
Both teams must be careful not to look ahead to a Week 7 clash against each other. Anthony Wayne plays at Perrysburg on Oct. 1.
"We lost to BG last year [28-27] and it's another opportunity to play in front of our home crowd," Brungard said. "I am not worried about our kids looking past a home game with our community."
The two programs have won seven of the last eight NLL championships.
"For us, it's not about Southview or Anthony Wayne but in just taking on the philosophy of doing what we need to do to get better each and every week and love and enjoy getting the chance to play the game of football together every Friday night," Conner said.
Northview (3-2, 2-0) has won three in a row and could be 4-0 in league play before facing Perrysburg and AW in back-to-back weeks on Oct. 8 and Oct. 15.
NORTHERN BUCKEYE CONFERENCE
The Northern Buckeye Conference features northwest Ohio's highest-ranked teams in the state poll.
Unbeatens Otsego and Eastwood are among the top 10 teams in the latest Division V poll.
The defending champion Knights (5-0 overall, 2-0 NBC) moved up two spots to No. 3 after outlasting an up-and-coming Elmwood (4-1, 1-1) team at home last Friday. Otsego scored the game-winning TD with just 1:09 left as the Knights' defense led the team to a 16-12 win.
"It's nice to be 2-0 in the league but we know we have a very tough opponent next week against Rossford," Otsego coach Matt Dzierwa said. "We're halfway through and our young kids are getting better and maturing. Hopefully, it bodes well down the road."
Eastwood (5-0, 2-0) remained at No. 9 in the D-V poll after the Eagles blanked Genoa 33-0. The Eagles, who were picked to finish second behind Otsego, have outscored their opponents 236-33.
Eastwood hosts Lake (2-3,1-1) on Friday, while Otsego welcomes in Rossford (3-2, 1-1).
Looming large is a regular-season finale clash between the Knights and Eagles on Oct. 22 in Pemberville.
Otsego captured the program's first league title since 2005 last year and reached the state semifinals.
Eastwood, which has won five of the 10 NBC titles since its inception in 2011, had captured three of the last four league championships. Otsego defeated Eastwood twice last season.
Otsego senior quarterback Joseph Dzierwa said the team remains focused on an upcoming slate that includes a home game vs Genoa on Oct. 8.
"We still have to face a bunch of really good teams coming up," he said. "We still have to work on a ton of things."
THREE RIVERS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
Central Catholic looks to be back on track in the TRAC after taking some lumps during a gauntlet of a non-conference schedule.
The Irish (3-2, 2-0 TRAC) opened with a 33-10 loss to Lakewood St. Edward (5-0), which is ranked No. 2 in the Division I state poll. Central then fell 24-14 to Cleveland Benedictine, the No. 1 ranked team in the Division II poll.
Central has responded with three straight wins by a scoring margin of 107-6, including back-to-back TRAC victories over preseason contender Findlay (41-6) and rival St. John's Jesuit (38-0).
The Irish host surprise Lima Senior (3-1, 2-0 TRAC) on Friday. The Spartans have defeated St. John's (7-6) and Clay (28-13).
On the horizon for Central are two games that will decide the TRAC title. The Irish host Whitmer (4-1, 2-0) on Oct. 8 before traveling to Fremont Ross (5-0, 2-0) on Oct. 15.
The Little Giants are ranked No. 11 in the latest D-II poll, while Central is 15th.
Fremont Ross quarterback Kaden Holmes leads the TRAC in passing yards (1,382) and TD passes (18). Central first-year QB Ty'Waun Clark has thrown for 915 yards and nine scores. The Irish are attempting to win a fourth straight TRAC title.
The Little Giants were picked to finish second followed closely by Findlay. Whitmer was picked to finish fourth.
The Panthers are led by quarterback Kevin Hornbeak (657 passing yards, 7 TDs) and running backs Jaylen Young (592 rushing yards, 7 TDs), and Steven McCoy (341, TDs).
Whitmer closes the regular season at home against Fremont Ross.
CITY LEAGUE
The surprise of the City League continues to be the Scott Bulldogs. Picked to finish fifth in the six-team league, Scott won its first four games. The Bulldogs (4-1) stumbled a bit last week in a 48-6 loss to Clyde.
The race for the City title begins in earnest this week with the opening of league play. Scott plays at Bowsher (0-5). The Bulldogs have been led by running back Armon Johnson and quarterback Carmel Smith.
Preseason favorite Waite (0-3) opens league play against Rogers. The Rams (1-3) were picked to finish third. Scott plays at Rogers on Oct. 1.
Defending champion Start is off to an 0-5 start but can turn the page with a CL opener against Woodward (0-5) on Friday.
NORTHWEST OHIO ATHLETIC LEAGUE
Archbold has risen to the top of the Northwest Ohio Athletic League with impressive, back-to-back wins over Bryan (33-15) and Liberty Center (41-7).
The Blue Streaks (5-0, 2-0 NWOAL) are ranked No. 3 in the latest Division VI poll. Archbold, which is aiming to win a third straight league title, earned three first-place votes in a preseason coaches poll. Last Friday, Archbold routed Liberty Center 41-7.
Wauseon (3-2, 1-1) also earned three first-place votes but the Indians opened league play with a 34-28 loss in overtime to Liberty Center.
The Tigers, who shared the 2019 title with Archbold, received the other two first-place votes. LC is off to a 1-1 start in league play.
Patrick Henry (4-1, 2-0) is the only other undefeated team in NWOAL play. The Patriots, who were picked to finish fifth, have wins over Swanton and Evergreen. PH hosts Bryan (3-2, 1-1) on Friday.
Archbold hosts Patrick Henry in the regular-season finale.
TOLEDO AREA ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
In the Toledo Area Athletic Conference, the Edon Bombers (4-1, 1-0 TAAC) rebounded nicely from their only loss with a convincing 52-32 over Michigan small school powerhouse Whiteford last Friday.
Edon's lone setback came on Sept. 11 to Norwalk St. Paul (5-0), which is ranked No. 5 in the D-VII poll. After that one-point setback (45-44), Edon posted a 52-32 win over Whiteford.
Senior quarterback Drew Gallehue, who threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 38 touchdowns last season, has already thrown for 2,113 yards and 33 TDs this year.
Edon earned four of six first-place votes in a preseason coaches poll. Three-time defending champion Northwood (1-2) earned the other two votes. Those teams had their meeting on Sept. 11 canceled due to coronavirus concerns.
Ottawa Hills, which was picked to finish third, is off to a 4-1 start. The Green Bears have won four straight. Edon hosts Ottawa Hills in the regular season finale on Oct. 22.
SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN
Despite its loss to Edon, Whiteford (3-1) is still ranked No. 5 in Division 8 in Michigan. The Bobcats have outscored foes 176-119. They host Sand Creek (3-1), which is No. 7 in Division 8, on Friday.
Bedford (3-1) had climbed to as high as No. 9 in the Division 2 poll, but the Mules dropped out after losing to 31-30 Ann Arbor Huron last week.
First Published September 21, 2021, 3:06pm
