Week 9: New Philadelphia football faces challenge of powerful West Holmes' offense
Dover vs. Linsly (W. Va.)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at West Liberty University Stadium
Quick hits: Dover (5-3) snapped a three-game losing streak with an impressive 28-10 road win at Boardman in Week 8. Running backs JJ Barton and Daylen Clark led the Crimson Tornadoes' rushing attack with 136 and 135 yards, respectively, as Dover amassed 302 yards on the ground. Ben Hamm and Matthew Gigax had 10 tackles apiece (Gigax also had a sack). The Tornadoes sit in sixth place in the Division II, Region 7 computer ratings and should be able to secure a first-round home game by winning out. Linsly (5-1) was off last week after defeating Steubenville 28-27 in Harding Stadium on Sept. 30.
New Philadelphia vs. West Holmes
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at West Holmes Field
Quick hits: The Quakers (5-3, 4-2 Ohio Cardinal Conference) try to do what no one else has done - slow down the Knights (8-0, 5-0). New Philadelphia is allowing just over 10 points per game, and only 13 total points in its three-game winning streak. West Holmes, ranked No. 3 in this week's Associated Press Division IV poll, is averaging 50 points per game and has scored less than 40 only once (37 vs. Mansfield Senior, and they won that by 30). The Quakers' success defensively has been achieved in no small part by their ability to create turnovers and that will have to happen against the Knights' Mason Wolfe, who has passed for 1,947 yards with just two interceptions. West Holmes features four receivers with over 250 yards and running back Sam Williams-Dixon has 1,140 yards and 21 TDs.
Claymont vs. Ridgewood
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Ridgewood Stadium
Quick hits: The Mustangs (3-5, 1-2 IVC) are coming off a last-second, 29-26 setback to Sandy Valley and face an angry Ridgewood (6-2, 2-1) team that lost at home to Indian Valley, 27-13. The Braves followed the Generals' script to win the game - powerful rushing attack coupled with a stout defense. Despite the loss, Claymont's AJ Bowsher turned in a 28-carry, 190-yard performance last week, and Graydon Mooneyham threw for 152 yards and three TDs, to three different receivers.
Tusky Valley vs. Indian Valley
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Brotherhood HVAC Stadium
Quick hits: As noted above, Indian Valley (5-3, 2-1 IVC) is coming off an impressive two-touchdown win at Ridgewood. The Braves' senior, Gavin Henry, rushed for 114 yards and a TD and caught two passes for 68 yards and a score. Sam Carter was 10-of-16 through the air for 156 yards and a pair of scores. Quake Beatty and Jaxon Burcher led the Braves' defense with 17 and 16 tackles, respectively. For Tusky Valley (1-7, 0-3), the challenge doesn't ease much after a 49-0 loss to Garaway in Week 8. The Trojans' success will hinge on their ability to get RB Jessie Carr (128-441-3) and WR Beau Wolf (62-803-4) into space and ultimately, in the end zone.
Garaway vs. Sandy Valley
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Sandy Valley Stadium
Quick hits: Championship teams hit their stride as the postseason nears and the Pirates (8-0, 3-0), ranked No. 6 in this week's AP Division V poll, certainly seem to be doing that as evidenced by last week's 49-0 win over Tusky Valley. Logan Yoder had 190 yards and two TDs passing and ran for two more. RB Dillon Soehnlen averaged 8.3 yards per carry and finished with an even 100. Kyler Hershberger had 2.5 tackles for loss as the Pirates made 11 stops in the Trojans' backfield. Sandy Valley drove 63 yards in just three plays to score the winning touchdown at Claymont, an 18-yard run by Chad Davis. He finished with 168 yards on 24 carries and found the end zone three times. QB Drew Graybill was efficient, if not flashy, completing 19 of 24 passes for 127 yards. His best play, though, was a 43-yard pitch-and-catch to Chapin Greer that came one play before Davis' score.
Strasburg vs. Newcomerstown
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday at Newcomerstown Stadium
Quick hits: The Trojans (6-2, 3-0 IVC) earned their most impressive win of the season in Week 8, prevailing 48-42 in two overtimes at Malvern. They can clinch a tie for the North championship by using the same formula - a devastating running game, which accounted for 230 yards and five TDs (all by Brandon Weber). Bunk Millender (18-85), Weber (16-80) and Carter McConnell (14-73) have been Newcomerstown's three-headed monster.
Malvern vs. Central Catholic
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Saturday at Art Teynor Complex
Quick hits: The Hornets (6-2, 2-1 IVC) sit in the No. 13 spot in Division VI, Region 23, and need to win out to get to the postseason. They'll look to dual-threat QB Jared Witherow (445 yards rushing and 1,654 passing) to continue their offensive firepower. Malvern, though, is looking to shore up its defense after surrendering 48 points to Newcomerstown. Central Catholic (2-6, 0-3) will count on Thayne Mahaffey (4449 yards rushing and 222 receiving) on offense and Gavin Douglas (80.5 tackles) on defense to snap a six-game losing streak.
Other games
Friday night, Harrison Central (4-4, 1-3) visits Indian Creek (1-7, 0-3) in a Buckeye 8 contest; Fairless (6-2, 3-2) plays host to Triway (4-4, 2-3) in a PAC-7 game; Carrollton (6-2, 2-1) plays host to No. 7-ranked West Branch (7-1, 3-0) and Minerva (0-7, 0-3) plays host to Alliance (6-2, 2-1) in a pair of Eastern Buckeye Conference contests. On Saturday, Conotton Valley (4-4) plays Steubenville Catholic Central (3-5) at Harding Stadium.
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Tuscarawas County high school football games for Week 9
