Countdown to football

PANDORA-GILBOA 2022 RECORD: 8-4, 5-2 BVC KEY GAME: September 15, at McComb. Pandora-Gilboa gave McComb two of its toughest battles a year ago, falling just 35-28 in a regular-season BVC matchup and, with a freshman at quarterback and its all-state receiver injured on the sidelines, 26-21 in the Region 26 playoffs. Except for BVC rushing leader Ethan Luginbill, P-G returns several key players from a group that led the league in total offense (404.9 ypg) and scoring (44.4 ppg). The Rockets will be challenged early by three straight rivalry games: Aug. 18 with Columbus Grove; Aug. 25 at Bluffton; Sept.1 at Leipsic. The Sept. 15 game at McComb will be P-G's fourth straight road game, but a win would put the Rockets in good position heading into the second half of the season. PLAYOFF HISTORY: After two frustrating years of finishing one spot out of making the playoffs, P-G returned to the post season and thumped Upper Scioto Valley 42-8 before a five-point loss to McComb. It was a rewarding finish for P-G coach Matt Hershey, who has molded a 45-21 record and guided the Rockets to the playoffs four of his six years as head coach. INTERESTING FACT: League realignment has greatly affected and altered many football schedules. Pandora-Gilboa, though, has been able to maintain some good rivalry games at the top of its schedule that will have communities on both sides amped up. It starts with the season opener with Route 12 rival Columbus Grove, heads to Bluffton for another backyard rivalry in Week 2 and features a Week 3 game with cross-county rival Leipsic. P-G and Grove will be meeting for the 50th straight year and 66th time overall; Bluffton was squaring off in backyard rivalry with Pandora before the consolidation with Gilboa, and Leipsic and P-G have been butting heads every year but three since both joined the BVC in 1966. 2023 Pandora-Gilboa schedule Date Opponent Home/Away Aug. 18 Columbus Grove H 25 Bluffton A Sept. 1 Leipsic A 8 Arcadia A 15 McComb A 22 Worthington Christian H 29 Van Buren H Oct. 6 Liberty-Benton H 13 Riverdale A 20 Elmwood H