Game: Mogadore (2-1) at Woodridge (2-1)

Time: 7 p.m.

What to look for:

Mogadore has been winning on guts, guile and defense.  Though it’s still early in the season they havne’t shown the dominant streak that they’ve had in the past.  Led by quarterback Anthony Ricci, they’re looking for win No. 3 on the year at they head into Portage Trail Conference play against Woodridge.

This game is extremely important for both teams as conference play opens.  While they sit behind Rootstown and Southeast, schools with perfect records, the truly important play begins tonight. Woodridge won’t be a pushover either as they have a defense led by linebacker Keione Artice, a player who had 3.5 sacks and six tackles for loss against Norton in a 52-21 win.

Expect a dogfight.

Mogadore football is one of the great traditions in all of Ohio high school football. The Wildcats won their fourth state title in 2002 and visit the playoffs yearly now under coach Matt Adorni and for years with Scott Pollack.

The Wildcats (10-0, 7-0) won the Portage Trail Conference County Division, finishing with a 17-7 win over East Canton. Wildcat football is running the football with senior running back  Jake McAvinew and Kodey Chance.

On defense, McAvinew is the top defensive lineman and Chance is an impact linebacker.

Buckeye Central (9-1) from Crawford County under coach Jason Ratliff returns to the post season for the first time since 2003 with a young team. The Bucks can light up a scoreboard led by junior quarterback Tyler Erwin, who has thrown for 64 percent (103-of-160) with 1,661 yards with 19 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also rushed for 377 yards.

The ground game is led by senior running back Alex Finney with 933 yards and a 6.1 yards per carry average with 13 touchdowns and Auston Hood with 403 yards and 4.9.

The Bucks defense has some notable performers. There are a a number of big sackers in Bryce Collins with 6, Austin McDonnell 5 1/2, and Adam Paytner 3.

The secondary is good at pilfering the pigskin. Sam Shafer has eight interceptions, Erwin five and two each by Paytner, Justin Herrnstein (one for a TD), and Thomas Kaple.

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.

Division II

The Copley Indians remain entrenched in the Top 10, moving up a spot to No. 8.  Fellow Suburban League undefeated Tallmadge sits just outside the Top 10 with the teams set to square off Friday.

Division IV

Manchester remains at No. 2.

Division VI

Mogadore moves up one slot to No. 2.

According to joeeitel.com, a website that tracks computer football ratings that determine the state playoffs, the Mogadore football team has clinched a first round home game.

The Wildcats, 8-0, are the No. 1 team in Division VI, Region 21.

Div. I, Region 2

Massillon, Canton McKinley and Perry currently reside in the elite eight with Medina at No. 9

Div. II, Region 5

Copley and Tallmadge continue to hold spots, the big mover is Walsh Jesuit who make it in at No. 8 primarily because of their win over St. Vincent-St. Mary.  Kent Roosevelt and Ravenna still have shots.

Div. III, Region 9

Field, St. V-M, Buchtel are in the top eight.  It’s apparent the Irish’s loss to Walsh didn’t hurt them too much.  Southeast and Streetsboro still have a shot.

Div. IV, Region 13

Manchester and Canton Central Catholic would be in if the season ended today.

Div. VI, Region 21

Mogadore comes in at the top spot

Div. I

The only area team sniffing the Top 10 in D-I football: Massillon and they’re on the outside of it looking in.

Div. II

Copley holds a spot at No. 9 after beating up on Wadsworth last week. 

Div. III

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary is out of the Top 10 after losing to Walsh Jesuit last week.

Div. IV

Manchester moves up one spot to No. 2 as they remain undefeated.

Div. VI

Mogadore moves up one notch to No. 3.

Div. I, Region 2

Twinsburg, Perry, Massillon, Canton McKinley currently reside in the top eight in the region.  Medina and Hoover are within striking distance.

Div. II, Region 5

Copley, Tallmadge, Ashland and Kent Roosevelt make the great eight with Walsh Jesuit an No. 9 and facing a big game against St. Vincent-St. Mary this week.

Div. III, Region 9

Field, St. Vincent-St. Mary and Buchtel are in the top eight with Streetsboro, Southeast and Hoban within striking distance.

Div. III, Region 11

Marlington is in the top eight with Alliance outside looking in.

Div. IV, Region 13

Manchester, Canton Central Catholic rank in the top eight right now.

Div. IV, Region 14

As of today, Orrville ranks.

Div. VI, Region 21

As of now Mogadore is in.

Division II

Copley remains at the No. 9 spot for another week, the only area team in the Top 10. 

Division III

Marlington moves up three notches to No. 4 while St. Vincent-St. Mary and Field are in the next batch.

Division IV

Manchester remains at No. 3 with Orrvile outside the Top 10, but receiving votes.

Division VI

Mogadore is the highest ranked area school at No. 4, up three slots from last week.