Two BVC showdowns highlight 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 7 Pandora-Gilboa (4-2, 4-0 BVC) at Liberty-Benton (5-1, 4-0 BVC)They won't be crowning a Blanchard Valley Conference champion Friday night, but the winner of this matchup might want to start clearing off a space in a trophy case. Both teams come into this matchup riding four-game winning streaks and sporting 4-0 BVC records. The winner will be a game up on every other team in the league, and both have home-field friendly schedules the rest of the way. P-G is home with Arcadia (0-6), Ada (5-1) and Riverdale (2-4) over the final three weeks of the season; L-B is at Leipsic (4-2) next week, then wraps up the 2024 regular season at home with Arcadia and Van Buren (3-3) … Pandora-Gilboa is third in the BVC in rushing yards (1,207) fourth in passing (889) and third overall (349.3 ypg) … The Rockets will be going against the No. 1-ranked defense in the BVC. L-B has allowed the fewest yards rushing (602), second fewest passing (451), fewest total yards (1,053) and fewest points (60). In wins over McComb, Riverdale, Elmwood and Arlington, L-B has outscored the opposition 160-12. McComb (4-2, 2-2 BVC) at Leipsic (4-2, 3-1 BVC)They may be neighboring schools district, but Friday's game will be the first time since 2021 the Vikings and Panthers have squared off on the football field and first time since 2020 the Route 613 rivals have met as members of the same league. McComb won the 2021 matchup, 27-21 in overtime in the second round of the Division VII, Region 26 playoffs. Leipsic won the last BVC contest between the two, 46-25 in 2020 ….Leipsic features the BVC passing leader in freshman Marc Kirkendall (93-141, 1,297 yards) and two of the league's top receivers in Jayce Brecht (32 recps., 566 yards, 5 TDs) and Ty Lammers (22, 361, 5 TDs) ... McComb is second in the BVC in rushing yards (1,227) with running back Braydon Shoop (690 yards, 7 TDs) and quarterback Grady Schroeder (363 yards, 2 TDs) ranked No. 2 and No. 8 in the BVC rushing stats ... A Leipsic win would set the Vikings up with a pivotal game next week at Liberty-Benton with first place in the BVC standings at stake. Leipsic finishes the regular season with road games at Arlington and at Ada …. Ada enters Friday's game at Riverdale with a 3-1 BVC record. The Bulldogs do not face Liberty-Benton this season, with home games with Van Buren (Oct. 11) and Leipsic (Oct. 25) sandwiched round a road game at Pandora-Gilboa (Oct. 18). Fort Loramie (3-3, 2-1) at Columbus Grove (6-0, 3-0 NWC)Fort Loramie is the only Shelby County League school that plays football, but the Redskins, who started the program in 2003 and first fielded a varsity team in 2005, play the game pretty well. Current coach Spencer Wells has a 54-25 record in his six-plus seasons as head coach, with six straight playoff appearances …. To fill out its schedule, Fort Loramie often goes against teams from another league in its area, the Midwest Athletic Conference. Considered one of the most competitive prep conferences in the state, MAC schools have produced 39 state football champions since 1973 …. When Leipsic and Ada left the Northwest Conference for the BVC, the NWC added Lima Central Catholic (all sports) and Fort Loramie (football only) to the fold. Following an 0-2 start (losses to 5-1 teams Minster and Versailles) Fort Loramie has gone 2-1 in NWC play. The Redskins lost to LCC (28-21) and beat Convoy Crestview (28-21) and Spencerville (42-21) in league play, but now face the league's big dogs back top back, Grove on Friday and Bluffton next week. Grove is 6-0, ranked No. 2 in the state in Division VII and has outscored its six opponents 252-60. Bluffton is 6-0, ranked No. 5 in Division VI and has outscored its opponents 297-24.