COUNTDOWN TO FOOTBALL, LEIPSIC VIKINGS

Although the 2020 prep football season in Ohio is still up in the air, The Courier Sports Department will conduct its annual Countdown to Football series. Leipsic 2019 RECORD: 11-2 overall, 6-1 Blanchard Valley Conference. RIVALRY GAMES: The Route 613 Rivalry between Leipsic and McComb is among the best in the area. Not only are league bragging rights on the line, but usually a bundle of Harbin playoff points as well. McComb had won nine straight over the Vikings, including Division VII playoff wins in 2018, 2017 and 2015. But Cole Williamson rambled 15 yards for a go-ahead score late in the third quarter of last year's BVC matchup and Leipsic's defense did the rest in a 29-25 victory as the Vikings handed the Panthers their first home-field loss since the opening game of the 2015 season. Historically, Leipsic has also had a strong backyard rivalry with Patrick Henry, its neighbor to the north. The two schools, separated by the Putnam County/Henry County line, have not met in regular-season play since 2017, but did square off in last year's Region 26 final where PH increased its edge in the series to 26-10-1 with a 27-13 win. PLAYOFF HISTORY: Leipsic has made 11 consecutive trips to the playoffs and 12 postseason appearances overall, posting an 8-12 record in playoff games. The Vikings reached the regional championship game three times but fell to Patrick Henry 27-13 last season and to Delphos St. John's twice, 28-20 in 2011 and 31-14 in 1994. INTERESTING FACT: Leipsic will be returning to its roots in a sense with the school joining the Northwest Conference beginning with the 2021-22 school year. The Vikings were one of the charter members of the Blanchard Valley Conference when the BVC began play in 1965, but was a member of the NWC (1962-64) before that. 2020 Leipsic Schedule Aug.&emsp;&emsp;28&emsp;&emsp;Riverdale&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;H Sept.&emsp;&emsp;4&emsp;&emsp;Liberty-Benton&emsp;&emsp;A Sept.&emsp;&emsp;11&emsp;&emsp;Pandora-Gilboa&emsp;&emsp;H Sept.&emsp;&emsp;18&emsp;&emsp;Arlington&emsp;&emsp;A Sept.&emsp;&emsp;26&emsp;&emsp;Lima Central Catholic&emsp;&emsp;A Oct.&emsp;&emsp;2&emsp;&emsp;McComb&emsp;&emsp;H *Blanchard Valley Conference game - All Games 7 p.m.