McComb faces new BVC foe in 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…WEEK 5 McComb (3-1, 1-1 BVC) at Ada (3-1, 1-1 BVC)One of the perennial contenders for the Blanchard Valley Conference title takes on the new kid on the BVC block and both will be looking for a statement-making win that will keep them near the top of the standings.…. Ada opened the season with a 15-14 thriller over Upper Scioto Valley. Offensively the Bulldogs have been dialed in since, scoring 42 points in a 42-0 win over Buckeye Central, 43 in a 44-43 loss to Arlington, then 43 again in last week's 43-14 win over Elmwood ... Headlining that offense are carbon copy senior backs Kaine Fisher and Levi Green, who both check in at around 5-foot-9 and 160 pounds. Green is a dual-threat quarterback who leads the BVC in rushing (588 yards, 6 TDs) while also completing 65 percent of his passes (35-54) for 348 yards and five scores …. Fisher has rushed for 358 yards and six TDs for an Ada offense the leads the BVC in scoring (35.8 pg) …. Ada's offense will be going against the No. 1-ranked defense in the BVC, a unit that has allowed the fewest rushing yards (410), fewest yards overall (202 ypg) and fewest points (14.5 ppg). Spearheading that defense is senior down lineman Elijah Gibbs (24 tackles, 6 tackles for loss), junior Gracin Romero (22 tackles) and defensive back Octavian Gonzales (2 ints.) …. Offensively, McComb also favors the run over the pass (795 yards rushing, 508 passing). Braydon Shoop is third in the BVC in rushing (434 yards, 6 TDs). Quarterback Grady Schroeder is completing over 70 percent of his passes, but the Panthers average just 6.5 completions per game. Arlington (3-1, 1-1 BVC) at Pandora-Gilboa (2-2, 2-0 BVC)It's hard to believe it's been three years since the Rockets and Red Devils squared off in a BVC football game. Arlington won that last matchup, 36-35 in 2020, and this year's re-connection has the potential of being a back-and-forth thriller between two programs traditionally among the upper division teams in the league …. P-G went up against a couple of backyard 4-0 heavyweights and got knocked around a bit in losses to neighbors Columbus Grove (35-7) and Bluffton (42-0). After wins over Van Buren (41-14) and Leipsic (21-18), though, P-G finds itself tied with Liberty-Benton (3-1, 2-0) atop the BVC standings ….Both teams feature talented backfields. Cory Gerten, who led the BVC in passing last season, is back behind center for P-G and has thrown for 543 yards and six TDs with just one interception in 92 passes. Ben Burkholder (305 yards, 3 TDs) and power back Andrew Miller (206 yards, 3 TDs) are the running backs, with Chase Meyer (13 recps., 219 yards) the Rockets leading receiver ... Arlington leads the BVC in total offense (379.3 ypg) and is second in scoring (35.5 ppg) ... Ayden Cavinee is second in the league in rushing (569 yards) and leads the BVC in scoring (62 points). He is joined in the Red Devils' backfield by junior quarterback Trenton Heacock (192 yards rushing), Drew Metzger (101 yards) and Braylon Rucker (89 yards, 2 TDs) … Displaying a bit more balance this season, Heacock has thrown for 578 yards and five TDs, with Brady Griggs (9 recps., 237 yards, 2 TDs) and Lukas McIlroy (9 recps., 230 yards 2 TDs) his top targets … Friday's contest will be Arlington's fourth straight road game, as well as P-G's only home game during a current five-game stretch. Spencerville (3-1, 0-1 NWC) at Bluffton (4-0, 1-0 NWC)Last year, when Bluffton allowed just 45 points in 10 regular season games, defense was all they wanted to talk about when the Pirates potential was brought up. And while defense is still a team trademark, the Pirates are supplementing their 4-0 start with some gaudy offensive numbers as well …. Instead of rebuilding after some key graduation losses at the skilled positions, the Pirates have reloaded. Tayte Giesige, a sophomore, has replaced second-team all-league quarterback Garret Bogart and done well, throwing for 583 yards and seven touchdowns and adding 284 yards and another seven scores on the ground. Parker Lovell, another sophomore, has rushed for 405 yards, averaged 12.7 yards a carry and scored six TDs. The result is a league-leading 51.8-point scoring average …. Landon Worcester, a 1,000-yard rusher last season, was also the NWC Defensive Player of the Year and again heads up a unit that has given up just two touchdowns and 17 total points – a 4.3 points-per-game average – through four games …. Spencerville started the season with three close but solid wins over Ridgemont (29-19), Wayne Trace (28-27) and Riverside (24-21). But for the second straight week the Bearcats are going up against one of the big dogs in the Northwest Conference. Last week it was Columbus Grove (a 45-7 loss); this week it is Bluffton … Traditionally a strong run team, Spencerville again features a solid backfield that includes Zach Looser (264 yards, 3 TDs), Kolton Grigsby (254 yards, 3 TDs) and Grady Smith (226 yards, 2 TDs) … Another Week 10 showdown between Bluffton and Columbus Grove appears in the works. Bluffton faces another big test next Friday, though, when the Pirates welcome NWC newcomer Lima Central Catholic to Harmon Field.