Leipsic looks to take control of BVC against Ada

When it comes to high school sports, northwest Ohio has some of the strongest, staunchest fan support in the state.The local team obviously draws the most interest in this rural-rich, small-town area of the state. But there are also some games every week that coaches counting Harbin points and fans lining the fences and packing the stands will want to check the morning paper just to see "Who Won?"Here's a look at a few of them…Leipsic (5-0, 4-0 BVC) at Ada (4-1, 2-1 BVC)Leipsic sits alone atop the Blanchard Valley Conference standings and the Vikings will try to stay there by escaping War Memorial Stadium with win. Preston Schroeder with 27 total tackle and four tackles for loss, John Dewar with 26 tackles, seven of them for losses, and Aaron Hazelton with 25 tackles and four tackles for loss head up a defense that has proven a valuable complement to the league's most prolific offense (407.8 yards, 42,2 points per game). That defense has pitched three straight shutouts and allowed just one touchdown and 10 total points in five games. The Viking also lead the BVC in interceptions (7), have fumbled only twice and lost neither of them, and have been flagged the fewest times of any of the BVC teams (14, 135 yards). Ada will challenge Leipsic with one of the BVC's more balanced offenses. Behind quarterback Blake Zoladz (772 yards, 5 TDs passing, 375 yards, 8 TDs rushing), running back Kolton Dysert (518 yards, 10 TDs) and receiver Aiden Brown (4 receptions, 311 yards, 2 TDs) the Bulldogs are second in the BVC In scoring (33 ppg) and fourth in total defense (347.4 ypg).McComb (3-2, 2-2 BVC) at Arlington (0-5, 0-4 BVC)Arlington High School won't celebrate Homecoming for another two weeks, but it will be a homecoming of sorts for Kris Alge this Friday. A three-sport standout at Arlington (football, baseball, basketball) in the late 1970s and early '80s, Alge has compiled a 258-83 career record as McComb's head coach will bring with him this year a team that has been one of the early surprises in the BVC. Despite fielding one of his smallest rosters (26 players) McComb is off to a 4-1 start and will bring a three-game win streak to Castor Field at Metzger Stadium. The Panthers have made good use of the all-Ohio caliber talent of players like Luke Kern and Carter Frater. Kern, all-Ohio in basketball (HM) and baseball (1st-team), has rushed for 268 yards, added 174 receiving, and leads the BVC in scoring by scoring nine touchdowns, booting one field, converting 17 PAT kicks and scoring on a two-point conversion. Frater, a state track champion in the 110-hurdles and runner-up in the Division V long jump, is third in the BVC in receiving (26 recps., 365 yards, 5 TDs). He also does the punting for McComb, averaging 36.7 yards per kick.Ottawa-Glandorf (5-0, 4-0) at St. Marys (3-2, 2-2 WBL)Ottawa-Glandorf's season of redemption continues with the Titans, coming off an 0-10 season, unbeaten through five games and tied atop the Western Buckeye League standings with Celina (5-0, 4-0 WBL). O-G and Celina will square off in a Week 9 showdown at Titan Stadium, but there's plenty of work to be done before then, starting with Friday's game at St. Marys, always a tough place to play. Traditionally a wing-T team that likes to control pace and momentum with an overpowering running game, St. Marys went into last week's game with Wapakoneta, a 49-21 loss, leading the league in rushing average (317.3 ypg). Utilizing balance between the run (761 yards) and the pass (788), O-G led the WBL in scoring offense (41,5 ppg), but was also ranked No. 1 in th league in fewest yards (194.4 ypg) and points (14.8 ppg) allowed. Following Friday's game at St. Marys, O-G is at Lima Bath on Oct. 2, then hosts another WBL contender, Van Wert (4-1, 3- WBL) before facing Celina.