Portage County Week 8 Football Previews

Here's a look at every local Week 8 high school football game:

Portage Trail Conference

Mogadore (6-0, 1-0) at Southeast (4-2, 0-0)

Both the Pirates and Wildcats are coming off unexpected byes after University School and St. Thomas Aquinas canceled their Week 7 contests with Mogadore and Southeast, respectively. The undefeated Wildcats, ranked fourth in the state in Division VI, were on fire heading into their impromptu bye week, with back-to-back-to-back wins over top-notch teams in Liberty-Benton, Lucas and Warren JFK. Similarly, Southeast has won three straight, averaging 43 points over that span, behind its traditional power run game along with a new wrinkle as Randy Williams has found Case Myers and Michael Phillips on a number of deep balls.

Metro Athletic Conference

Woodridge (4-3, 3-1) at Streetsboro (4-3, 2-2)

This is a major game in the Region 13 postseason picture as the Bulldogs currently sit eighth and the Rockets 10th. (The top 16 advance to the postseason.) Woodridge has played well of late, including a one-score loss to league-leading Cloverleaf in Week 7 and three straight wins in the weeks prior. One obvious reason is the way Bulldogs QB Charlie Lambes is playing, as the 6-4 junior completed 22-of-34 passes for 442 yards and three touchdowns against the Colts, with Jack Novak (9 catches, 209 yards, 3 TD) serving as a primary beneficiary. That will be a different kind of test for the Rockets, who have faced a myriad of run-heavy teams of late, including last week's impressive 38-34 victory over Field at Kenneth W. Lohr Field.

Field (3-4, 2-2) at Coventry (5-2, 2-2)

This is a fascinating battle between two greatly improved teams in the MAC. Both the Comets and Falcons won just two games a year ago. Coventry has already more than doubled last season's win total, while Field has been in every ballgame, with three of its four losses coming by a single score. That included last week's heartbreaker in which the Falcons overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit against Streetsboro only to have the Rockets toss a 47-yard game-winning touchdown pass in the final minute. Field's comeback featured a couple of phenomenal throws by senior QB Braxton Baumberger and a truly dominant second half from sophomore RB Drexal McAmis, who had 163 rushing yards after the intermission. Like Streetsboro, Field's Week 8 opponent, Coventry, has a nice bit of balance, led by QB Brayden Clark, who ran in two touchdowns and threw two more in last week's win over Ravenna.

Springfield (0-7, 0-4) at Ravenna (2-5, 0-4)

The Ravens and Spartans are both chasing their first MAC victories of the season. Ravenna, which has dropped four straight contests since its rivalry win over Roosevelt, has largely battled self-inflicted wounds lately. The Ravens still boast one of the more lethal duos in the area in QB M'Kell Williams and RB/WR Pavel Henderson. That duo should certainly have its chances against a Spartans defense that has surrendered 49-plus points in five straight games.

Suburban American

Barberton (4-3, 3-1) at Aurora (6-1, 4-0)

The Greenmen have back-to-back enormous games at Veterans Stadium, starting with a Magics team that has only lost to top competition (5-2 Wadsworth, 5-1 St. Vincent-St. Mary and 7-0 Highland), followed by the undefeated Hornets next week. Barberton is a tremendous challenge to start, both with its ground game, as Xzavier Macon gashed Copley for 219 yards and a touchdown last week, and its defense, which has yielded single-digit points in all four of its wins. Expect a fascinating battle between that tough Magics defense and a Greenmen offense that is averaging 45.7 points per game, led by dual-threat QB Matt Geier (53-of-91, 770 yards, 12 TD, INT; 71 carries, 543 yards, 7 TD) and RB Alex Tenorio (83 carries, 629 yards, 10 TD), as well as a very balanced receiver corps.

Tallmadge (5-2, 2-2) at Roosevelt (2-5, 1-3)

The Rough Riders are finishing out a stretch of three straight games against some of the best of the Suburban American, in 7-0 Highland, 6-1 Aurora and 5-2 Tallmadge, with the Blue Devils, where Roosevelt coach Alan Vanderink spent many years. A Rough Riders defense that has allowed 175 points over the last three weeks has to contend with yet another lethal Suburban American offense as the Blue Devils have one of the top aerial attacks around led by QB Ty Hurst (111-of-178, 1,845 yards, 24 TD, 6 INT) and WR Collin Dixon (48 catches, 918 yards, 12 TD).

Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Grey Tier

Garfield (6-1, 4-0) at Crestview (2-4, 2-1)

The Rebels' record is deceptive with all four of their losses coming against teams that are 5-2 or better. The challenge of facing Crestview begins with RB Roclen Bettura, who has averaged over a rushing touchdown per game (including three last week against LaBrae), while also serving as a monstrous linebacker, including 14 tackles last week. Of course, Garfield has some monstrous running backs/linebackers of its own, including Jesse Grace and Keegan Sell.

Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Scarlet Tier

Jackson-Milton (5-2, 2-2) at Waterloo (3-4, 2-2)

The Vikings face a Bluejays team that has put up remarkably similar results against the same opponents (including both teams pulling off close wins over Western Reserve). Jackson-Milton is the rare small-school team that truly commits to its aerial attack, with way more passes than runs, and it's little wonder why the way QB Alex Schiavi (112-162, 1,371 yards, 21 TD, 4 INT) is playing. Waterloo, meanwhile, will likely try to keep the ball out of Schiavi's hands with long drives out of its signature single wing, which has been capably run all year by Jayden Hakin.

Northeastern Athletic Conference

Fairport Harding (2-5, 0-2) at Windham (2-4, 1-1)

After yielding a combined 102 points in losses to Southeast and Pymatuning Valley, Windham looks to get back on track against Fairport Harding, which itself has lost three straight. The Skippers can toss the ball to a few different receivers, with James Gadomski, Maverick Piotrowski and Josh Parsons all over 170 receiving yards. The Bombers can air it out, too, with Chase Eye tossing a pair of touchdowns last week, in which he threw double-digit passes for the fourth time this season.

Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division

Crestwood (3-4, 1-2) at Cardinal (3-4, 2-2)

The last time the Red Devils and Huskies met, Crestwood won behind a healthy helping of Louie Blasiole, who turned 27 carries into 185 yards and three scores. Now, Cardinal must prepare for another Blasiole, as Nate has taken the lion's share of Crestwood's carries following his brother's graduation, including 226 rushing yards in last week's win over Wickliffe. Of course, the Huskies have their own powerful ground game led by RB Josh Soltis, who found the end zone numerous times last week against Grand Valley, as well as QB Logan Strever, who is perfectly capable of pulling the ball out and taking it himself.

Non-League

Rootstown (5-2) at Grand Valley (1-6)

The Rovers' offense had a rare off night against the top-ranked team in Division VII: Warren JFK. Now, Rootstown has a premium chance to get the ball rolling again with a trip to Grand Valley, which has allowed 39.86 points per game through seven weeks. Expect the Rovers to put an extra emphasis on fundamentals after penalties and turnovers put them behind the eight ball against the Eagles.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Portage County Week 8 Football Previews