A number of big games to see highlight Week 3

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… Ada (2-0) at Arlington (2-0)For the second straight year, Ada and Arlington square off in their Blanchard Valley Conference opener with unbeaten 2-0 records. If this matchup ends up like the last one – Arlington winning 44-43 when Trenton Heacock threw an 8-yard TD pass to Brady Griggs on the final play of the game – fans from both sides are in for a thriller. Heacock is back this season and has led the Red Devils to wins over Hardin Northern and Riverdale. Arlington has averaged 37.5 points in those two games, but more importantly has been rock solid on defense, shutting out both opponents. Ada appeared to have a gaping vacancy at quarterback with the graduation of Levi Green, a first-team all-BVC athlete who led the league in rushing (1,417 yards), threw for over 1,000 yards and accounted for 28 total TDs. Blake Zoladz has stepped in nicely for the Bulldogs, though. The junior has thrown five touchdown passes and run for three more scores in two games. Ada also has break-away athletic talent in Kayleb Hickman, who returned the opening kickoff 80 yards for a score and caught two TDs passes in Friday's win over Waynesfield-Goshen, and Gavin Oldfield, who has three TD receptions on the season. McComb (1-1) at Liberty-Benton (2-0) Eight times in the past 11 seasons an outright Blanchard Valley Conference championship or at least a piece of the crown was on the line when McComb and Liberty-Benton squared off in a Week 10 showdown. This matchup is now the BVC opener for both schools, but the impact on the final standings looms just as large. Liberty-Benton, competing in the BVC one final time before transitioning to the Cardinal Division of the Northern Lakes League next year, has so far lived up to all preseason expectations. Led by a deep and talented senior class, the Eagles shutout Ottawa-Glandorf, 35-0, in its opener and last week dominated a Columbus Grove team, 41-3, that was coming off three straight trips to the state semifinals. McComb stumbled in its opener, falling 46-20 to a strong Monroeville program. The Panthersrebounded last week, though, with senior quarterback Grady Schroeder rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown and throwing for two more scores in a 41-7 win over Toledo Christian. Friday's game will be the third of four straight road games for McComb, although the Panthers do face current 2-0 teams Ada (Sept. 9), Leipsic (Oct. 3) and Arlington (Oct. 100 at home later this season. L-B also has key league games at home with Arlington (Sept. 26) and Leipsic (Oct.10). Lima Central Catholic (2-0) at Carey (0-2) andColumbus Grove (0-2) at Patrick Henry (2-0) Two teams with great pedigrees but off to uncharacteristically slow starts will be looking to get the o-fer off their record this week. Both will be facing a major challenge, though, with Carey (0-2) hosting Lima Central Catholic (2-0) and Columbus Grove (0-2) traveling to Patrick Henry (2-0). Grove and Carey have faced brutal schedules so far. Carey dropped its opener, 30-7, to a 2-0 Hopewell-Loudon squad, then fell 41-14 to a Division IV Galion team that is also 2-0 and led by multi-talented quarterback Ayden Schmidt. LCC, which reached the second round of the Region 26 playoffs a year ago, comes into the game owning wins over Lima Shawnee (22-19) and Delphos St. John's (28-7). Friday's game is Carey's lone home game the first half of the season. The Blue Devils are at Upper Sandusky next week and at Seneca East on Sept. 19. Grove dropped a tough 22-21 decision to Pandora-Gilboa in its opener, then fell 41-3 to Liberty-Benton's juggernaut. Now the Bulldogs go on the road to battle a Patrick Henry team that has outscored its opposition 86-0 in running-clock wins over Hicksville (45-0) and Ayersville (41-0).