Game: Lake at Green

Time:  7 p.m.

What to look for:   What you’re going to see is two teams in transition.  Green has a new coach in Ed Cybak.  Lake lost prominent members of its offensive  unit, including the seemingly indestructible Jim Luther.  But watch out for sophomore
running back Matt Blasiole and senior running back Jarrod Daugherty.  For Green watch for the play of senior
quarterback Mark Zimmerman who will be expected to show tremendous leadership this year.

Jake McBride, the talented junior golfer from Lake High school, is not going to play for the Blue Streaks this season according to published reports.

Instead, McBride  will concentrate this fall on playing in national events.

Lake junior tight end Dylan Seibel has reportedly been offered by Toledo, according to ScoutingOhio.com. It is the first offer for Seibel, who is 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds.

Aurora junior guard Troy Watson has reportedly been offered by Miami of Ohio, according to ScoutingOhio.com. Watson, who is 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, also has offers from Toledo and Akron.

Marlington junior tackle Zach Higgins has reportedly added an offer from Bowling Green, according to ScoutingOhio.com. Higgins, who is 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, also has offers from Ball State, Akron, Ohio, Toledo and Miami of Ohio.

Lake High School announced this week four signings of a National Letter of Intent by four senior football players to attend college next fall.  Making commitments from this past year’s team were Jim Luther (Ashland University), Casey Guthrie (Southern Virginia University, Mykal O’Brodo (Ashland University) and Justice Karmie (Hillsdale College).

The first meeting between these teams is intriguing. Sunbury is that exit of I-71 north of Columbus people often stop for gas or snacks to give you perspective on where the town is.

Understand this – Big Walnut knocked off Columbus Marion-Franklin 24-12 which held explosive Ashland to just seven points earlier this season, so you know its defense led by lineman Mitch Paulino, linebackers Corey Paulino and Jarrod Daugherty.

The storyline seems simple enough: who can run the football will win. With Lake running back Jim Luther had 246 yards on 38 carries as he continues to play on an injured knee. Keep your eye on quarterback Jon Spohn, who can throw effectively when need and whose primary target is Dan Reed with 28 catches and a 24.1 average per reception.

The Golden Eagles (10-2) rely on the ball-handling ability of quarterback Tyler Beam, who can run the option with a front line that loves to hammer on defenses. Lucas Garcia has been hobbled by injury as the primary back so fullback Jacob Walaszek can carry the load.

The Golden Eagles of Big Walnut were the Division III champions and is 14-5 in playoffs and the Blue Streaks are trying to improve on a lifetime playoff mark of 19-15.

The 7:30 Friday night game down I-71 to state Route 250 to Ashland University is a great challenge for the Blue Streaks (9-3), who are trying to get to the state semifinal.

Friday’s Games (all take place at 7:30 p.m.)

Division II, Region V

Kent Roosevelt at Tallmadge

Warren Howland at Copley

Aurora at Ashland

Division II, Region VII

Columbus St. Charles at Lake

Division IV, Region XIII

Perry at Manchester

Garrettsville at Chagrin Falls

Division IV, Region XIIII

Triway at Orrville

Division VI, Region XXI

Dalton at Bucyrus Wynford

New Washington Buckeye Central at Mogadore

Saturday’s Games (all take place at 7 p.m.)

Division I, Region II

Medina at Canton McKinley

Massillon at Toledo Whitmer

Twinsburg at Sylvania Southview

Division III, Region IX

St. Vincent-St. Mary at Hubbard

Youngstown Cardinal Mooney at Field

Poland Seminary at Buchtel

Division III, Region XI

Minerva at Marlington

Division V, Region XVII

Norwayne at Crestview

Division V, Region XVIII

Hillsdale at Collins Western Reserve

Division I, Region II

Massillon, Twinsburg and Canton McKinley currently have a hold on the playoffs with two games left to go.

Medina and Perry sit just outside at numbers nine and 10 respectively.

Division II, Region V

Copley, Tallmadge and Kent Roosevelt have spots in the top eight slots with a showdown between Copley and Tallmadge looming Friday at Copley.

Walsh Jesuit is on the outside looking in at the ninth spot as of right now.

Division II, Region VII

Lake currently has a hold on the No. 4 position for the playoffs, but controls their own destiny.

Division III, Region IX

Field (6-2) faces 6-2 Ravenna this Friday in a big match up for computer points.

Buchtel’s situation is simple:  they have a big game against 7-1 Toledo Central Catholic coming up this Friday.  Beat them and there is a substantial amount of computer points to be won. 

St. Vincent-St. Mary remains in line for the playoffs at the No. 6 spot, but you have to suspect that they must win out against University School and Youngstown Ursuline to remain in their current position.

Division IV, Region 13

Undefeated Manchester currently has a lock on a playoff spot. Canton Central Catholic, currently at No. 10 has a shot of getting in.

Division VI, Region 21

According to this post, Mogadore has already clinched a first round playoff home game. They sit atop computer rankings in this region.

Div. I, Region II

Perry, Medina, Massillon all occupy slots in the top eight with McKinley just outside the magical number.

Div. II, Region IV

Copley and Tallmadge are in the top eight with Walsh Jesuit sitting at No. 9 waiting to pounce with Kent Roosevelt and Ravenna nearby.

Div. II, Region VII

Lake currently owns a spot in the top eight.

Div. III, Region IX

Mogadore, St. Vincent-St. Mary, Buchtel and Southeast currently rest in the top eight.

Div. III, Region XI

Marlington sits in the top eight.

Div. IV, Region XIII

Manchester is in the top eight with Canton Central Catholic and Woodridge just outside looking in.

Div. IV, Region XIV

Orrville occupies a spot.

Div. VI, Region VI

Mogadore is the only area team in the top eight.

Lake (4-0, 2-0) @ North Canton Hoover (2-2, 0-1)
7:30 P.M. tonight at North Canton Memorial Stadium

STORYLINE: Oh No! What will Lake do without injured running back Jimmy Luther?!

How about keep on running the football behind its impressive offensive line?

The Blue Streaks proved in their 21-3 win over Boardman last week that they are more than just one player.

Jared Dougherty stepped in and ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns behind a strong offensive line and the defense kept Boardman out of the end zone.

Boardman did pass for 230 yards, which will be a good test for this week. Hoover isn’t able to run the ball much. Quarterback Austin Appleby will be the primary concern for the Lake defense. Appleby, a junior, has nine touchdown passes this season compared to just one interception.

Hoover has won the last three meetings between the teams and will look to continue that streak tonight.

Can’t make the game Friday? No worries. You can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ABJ_Varsity for up-to-date scoring throughout the contest and scores from around the area as we get them.

Lake senior running back Jim Luther is out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. He expects to be fully recovered in six months. Luther was injured in Lake’s victory over Canton McKinley last Saturday night.