Big BVC, NWC matchups in this week's games to see

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… Liberty-Benton (6-1, 4-0 BVC) at Pandora-Gilboa (5-2, 3-0 BVC) This might not be for all the marbles, not yet anyway, but there's plenty on the table when the only teams still unbeaten in Blanchard Valley Conference play square off. Both teams have been on a roll. Liberty-Benton has won five straight, including a 34-30 win over Arlington and consecutive victories over Elmwood, Van Buren and Riverdale by identical 42-0 scores. P-G has won four straight, a run started by a stunning 42-14 victory over a McComb team that was 4-0 and ranked No. 4 in the state at the time. That has been McComb's only loss of the season. Pandora-Gilboa is first (1,629 yards) and Liberty-Benton second (1,607) in BVC passing yards. Though hit some with key injuries, P-G has continued to be productive with sophomore quarterback Cory Gerten (19 TD passes), running back Andrew Miller (677 yards, 7 TDs) and all-Ohio receiver Aidan Morris (47 receptions, 616 yards, 11 TDs) leading the way. Senior quarterback Mason Modd has been a double-threat for L-B, throwing for 1,261 yards and 17 TDs and rushing for 320 yards and seven scores. P-G wraps up the regular season against Riverdale (3-4) and Elmwood (2-5). Liberty-Benton is at Arcadia next week, then hosts McComb in a Week 10 showdown that will certainly have title implications on the line. Leipsic (6-1, 3-1 NWC) at Bluffton (7-0, 4-0 NWC) In a 2019 post-game press conference, New England Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick said, "If you don't let them score, you can't lose." Jeff Richards and his Bluffton Pirates seem to be taking that advice to heart. Bluffton gave up 28 points in Week 1 and 2 wins over Benjamin Logan (42-7) and Pandora-Gilboa (28-21). The Pirates have pitched nothing but shutouts since in beating Ayersville (42-0), Delphos Jefferson (63-0), Spencerville (56-0), Ada (48-0) and Convoy Crestview (21-0), one of the better offensive teams in the Northwest Conference. That stretch of defensive dominance translates into a 7-0 record and the program's best start since the 2004 team went 11-0 before falling in the second round of the Division V playoffs. Solid defense was a Leipsic trait as well as the Vikings got off to a 6-0 start. It was a strong defensive effort from Columbus Grove, though, that was the difference in a 28-14 win that now has Leipsic (3-1 NWC) a game back of Bluffton (4-0) and Grove (4-0 NWC) in the standings. Following Friday's game at Harmon Field, Bluffton completes the 2023 regular season on the road against 2022 league champion Allen East (Oct. 13) and current co-leader Grove (Oct. 20). Convoy Crestview (5-2, 3-1 NWC) at Columbus Grove (5-2, 4-0 NWC) The second half of a NWC doubleheader that, depending on the outcomes, might have one team alone in first place, two teams tied for the top spot and headed for a Week 10 showdown, or four teams tied atop the standings. After a 1-2 start, Columbus Grove seems to have found its niche, riding a strong running attack that averages 281 yards a game to grind out four straight wins, all of them NWC games. Behind Trenton Barraza's 144 yards and three rushing touchdowns from quarterback Landon Best, Grove's 28-14 win over Leipsic vaulted the Bulldogs into a tie for first place. Grove's defense will be tested as well by a Crestview offense that leads the league in completions (50), passing yards (207.3 ypg) and total yards (1,788).