High School Football: Scouting Week 4 matchups

Aviators go for three straight

Alliance (2-1) will seek its third straight win when it plays host to Norwalk Friday night at Kehres Stadium. While Norwalk is winless (0-3), losing 41-19 to Mansfield Senior, 49-13 to Huron and 49-6 to Olmsted Falls, Alliance coach Tim Goodman is looking beyond its won-loss record. "They lost to three good teams who've combined to lose only two games. Mansfield lost to a very good Massillon team. Olmsted Falls lost 14-7 to Chardon, which is undefeated and won the last two Division III championships. The Aviators averaged 51 points in their wins over the Niles McKinley Red Dragons and Bedford Bearcats.

Norwalk is reloading with youth

Norwalk, which made the state semifinals in 2018 and the regional title game in 2019, finished 1-9 with a senior-dominant team last fall. The Truckers have gone to a younger offensive and defensive starting lineup. "We're starting either nine sophomores or juniors on both sides of the football this year," said Norwalk coach Todd Fox. "We kind of expected a slow start, and we played well at times in our first three games, but we've been hurt defensively. Mansfield hit a couple big plays that helped break the game open. Huron scored quickly six times [needing only 22 plays from scrimmage]. Olmsted Falls ran the ball well on us. We also made costly mistakes [a dropped touchdown pass and a turnover] you can't afford to make. Alliance will be another test for [our defense] and we have to play better."

The run game is Norwalk's offensive staple

Fox, a Willard native who played on the last Baldwin-Wallace team that defeated Mount Union (1993), will return to Kehres Stadium as the head coach who favors the run game. "We want to control the football with our running game," he said. The Truckers have the featured running back to accomplish that objective. Junior Jarren McLendon (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) averaged 27 carries and 138 rushing yards in his first two games. "He is big and has great vision," Fox said. McLendon is complemented by senior running back Mason Canalos (5-11, 175), sophomore wideout Ben Rothhaur (6-3, 200) and senior quarterback Payne Flores (6-1, 170).

Ridgewood returns to area, visiting West Branch

Following its decisive road win (49-7) at Revere, West Branch (2-1) returns to Clinton Heacock Stadium to play host Division V power Ridgewood (3-0), which won a 7-0 defensive battle at Marlington. "Marlington played a great defensive game against them and we need our defense to play that way," West Branch coach Tim Cooper said. Winners of two straight, West Branch has relied on team defense in its first three games, with the top four tacklers recording between 24 and 27 stops. Thomas Egli leads the Warriors with 27 first hits, followed by Gavin Harlan with 26, Trenton Stryffeler with 25 and Boston Mulinix with 24. Harlan and Mulinix are part of a strong sophomore class that has contributed several starters on both sides of the football.

More:Thomas Egli emerges as West Branch defensive force

West Branch developing more offensive skill

When the season started, senior quarterback Dru DeShields and senior wideouts Christian Martig and Michael Kanagy were skill-position veterans. Sophomore wideouts Joey Jackson, Anthony Perry and Cooper Anderson, and sophomore running backs Boston Mulinix and Gavin Harlan have stepped up, making the offense more lethal. "We've had seven guys make at least one catch. Harlan rushed for 84 yards in only nine carries [against Revere] and Mulinix rushed for more than 100 yards against Woodridge," said Cooper. "We're developing our skill."

Ridgewood head coach preparing to slow down offensive juggernaut

Ridgewood's 18th-year coach, John Slusser, said his team must elevate its offensive productivity against West Branch. "We need to find a way to move the ball and finish drives because West Branch has a team that can score," he said. West Branch senior quarterback Dru DeShields, who is 54-for-87 passing (62%) for 889 yards, with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions, is a seasoned signal caller who can run an offense. "He sees the field, he keeps plays alive and he has four receivers who run pretty well and can catch the ball," Slusser added.

Ridgewood defense will be a challenge

Ridgewood has more experience on defense and that unit should make the West Branch offense earn its yardage and points. "They are very physical on defense, and they are very strong up the middle," said Cooper. The line is anchored by seniors Jonas Paugh (6-2, 233) and Cam Hershberger (5-9, 240) and sophomore Logan Sessor (6-1, 253), while senior linebacker Kauelen Smith (5-11, 207) heads that position group. The secondary is led by seniors Kaleb Schrock (6-1, 170) and Josiah Cahill (6-1, 168), who also splits time at quarterback with senior Carter Fry (6-3, 201). The Generals also have wins over Coshocton (42-14) and River View (41-14). Ridgewood has made the playoffs 16 times since 2003 and made the state semifinals in 2009.

Marlington heads to Youngstown to face revived Chaney

Youngstown Chaney, the 1997 Division III state playoff runner-up who didn't have a football program for most of the 2010s until its return in 2018, will play host to Marlington at Rayen Stadium, which will unveil its new synthetic turf. Chaney has defeated Poland Seminary 34-2, Boardman 40-14 and Youngstown Cardinal Mooney 22-17, all on the road. Crestview High graduate Seth Antram, who was formerly Boardman's coach last after serving as Chaney's offensive coordinator, has succeeded Chris Amill as head coach. "I returned to Chaney because I feel a sense of family," said Antram. Chaney is led by sophomore quarterback Matt Jones (5-10, 180), senior outside linebacker/safety and Cincinnati recruit Jason Hewlett (6-4, 230), senior wideout/safety and Toledo commit DJ Waller (6-3, 195) and senior running back Jason Amill-Austin (5-11, 175). "We're a senior team and the kids are excited about playing their first home game on the new turf," Antram said.

Marlington sees defensive growth

While Marlington faces a herculean challenge, first-year coach Phil Mauro sees his team making rapid strides defensively. The Dukes yielded 43 points and 22 points in their first two games before holding Ridgewood to seven. "Our defense did a good job stopping their drives, especially our linebackers. They read their keys and ran well to the ball," said Mauro. Carter Difloure and Ray Cleveland play inside linebacker, while Qwintin Hancox mans the middle. Hancox had a breakout game against Ridgewood, recording 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack.

Chaney not overlooking Marlington

While the won-loss records indicate a mismatch, Antram isn't taking Marlington lightly. "They're very disciplined, they like to spread the ball around on offense and they like to blitz." Chaney not only has speed and skill, but they also possess size. "They are big and physical up front, and they are ultra aggressive on defense," said Mauro. Hewlett, Waller and senior end Jawan Freeman (5-10, 185) lead the defense. The Cowboys also feature two good-sized offensive linemen — senior right tackle Ralondo Brown (6-4, 300) and sophomore left tackle Trent Winford (6-4, 285).

Sebring hosts Waterloo in conference opener

Waterloo will travel to Schaefer-Davies Stadium to meet host Sebring in a Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Scarlet Division opener for both schools. Waterloo (1-2) lost to United Local and Malvern and defeated Strasburg. "We've become more physical since we started the season," Waterloo coach Mike Devies said. Sebring (0-3) is seeking its first win, losing to Cleveland Lincoln West, Mathews and Ashtabula St. John. Devies, whose lines are anchored by senior offensive tackle/nose guard Austin Wise (6-3, 225) thought Sebring elevated its level of defensive play in its third game. "They tackled well against St. John," Devies added.

Waterloo revives an old offense

For years, Devies ran the veer offense but has switched to the single-wing, the precursor to the shotgun formation. "I'm taking offensive football back," he joked. In the single-wing, there is no designated quarterback position. The tailback fills that role. Waterloo's starting tailback is junior Jayden Hakin (5-10, 160), with the rest of the backfield consisting of senior fullbacks Evan Kugler (6-0, 160) and Edgar Paulino (5-9, 190), wingback Bobby Harouff (5-10, 175) and blocking back Justin Fox (5-9, 175). There also is a tight end in the formation and the starter is senior Dakota Finney (6-0, 180).

Sebring offensive backfield improving

Waterloo, which dropped from Division V to Division VI this season, will face a Sebring offense without graduated running backs Noah and Elijah Frederick, who helped the Trojans play the Vikings nearly to a standstill last year before falling 30-22. "I know the Fredericks are gone and they were good players, but they have some younger backs we have to be concerned about and [senior Braden] Whaley is a very good lineman," Devies said. The Sebring backs Devies referenced are senior Jahvian Cundiff and junior Braiden Yeater, who've both seen action at quarterback.

Also on the schedule

Other area games Friday include Sandy Valley (1-2) at Minerva (0-2); Louisville (1-2) at North Canton Hoover (2-1), St. Thomas Aquinas (0-3) at East Canton (0-3) and Akron North (1-2) at Southeast (1-2). Minerva returns to action after cancelling last week's game against Beaver Local because of COVID issues.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Alliance faces Norwalk; West Branch hosts unbeaten Ridgewood