Grove aiming for outright title, NB a perfect season

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… Bluffton (8-1, 5-1 NWC) at Columbus Grove (6-3, 6-0 NWC)When these two programs get together, it's just become an annual tradition that both teams bring all the marbles to the playground. This will be the third straight season that this matchup will determine whether the Northwest Conference crown is won outright or ends up shared. Columbus Grove, unbeaten since starting the season 0-3 against a gauntlet of strong teams, already has a share of the 2025 title in pocket. It's the Bulldogs third straight NWC championship and sixth in seven years. Bluffton needs a win to gain a share of the league title. If that would happen, Lima Central Catholic, which beat Bluffton 31-21 but last week was beaten by Grove 33-25, would earn a slice of the NWC pie as well. Bluffton leads the NWC in scoring (42.3 ppg) and total offense (389.7 ypg). Grove leads the league in defensive average (13.4 ppg). In addition to league ramifications, the outcome of this game could have a major effect on playoff positioning. Bluffton sits fifth among Division VI teams in Region 22. Beating Grove would elevate the Pirates into a top four spot, which would mean a first-round bye and a second-round home game. Columbus Grove is eighth in Division VII, Region 26. Grove is already in the playoffs; a win Friday would likely lock down a first-round home game at Clymer Stadium, where the Bulldogs are 34-2 over the past six seasons. Upper Scioto Valley (5-4, 5-2 NWCC) at North Baltimore (9-0, 7-0 NWCC) The 1995 season was a magical one for North Baltimore. The Tigers went 10-0 that year and have the chance to repeat history when they look to complete a perfect regular season – and claim and undisputed, outright Northwest Central Conference championship – when Upper Scioto Valley makes a Week 10 visit to Memorial Stadium. Luke Long is at the controls of a potent North Baltimore offense that has averaged 44.7 points a game. The 6-foot, 220-pound junior has completed 121-of-175 passes for 2,313 yards with 30 touchdowns and just three interceptions. He's also rushed for 537 yards and eight TDs. His top targets have been senior Cooper Clark, who has 59 receptions for 1,279 yards and 19 TDs, Zander South (25 recps., 406 yards, 3 TDs), Isaiah Hyden (12, 248, 4 TDs) and Brody Walter (8, 194, 2 TDs). Walter also has 1,190 yards and 17 TDs rushing. Junior linebacker Emmitt Heldberg leads the defense with 95 total tackles, including 16 tackles for loss. Walter has 53 tackles and four interceptions, South has 51 tackles with 10 being tackles for loss and Hyden has 44 tackles. Upper Scioto Valley has won two straight and three of its last four. When it comes to the playoffs, the Rams are right on the bubble, sitting in 12th place and owning a .05 edge over Toledo Christian, which is at Cory-Rawson today. Liberty-Benton (9-0, 7-0 BVC) at Van Buren (6-3, 5-2 BVC)In its last football game before making the jump from the Blanchard Valley Conference to the Cardinal Division of the Northern Lakes League, Liberty-Benton will be looking to complete one of the most dominant seasons in league history. Led by quarterback Connor Barbara (1,508 yards passing, 23 TDs, 3 ints.), running back Zach Elchert (568 yards, 14 TDs) and receiver Seth Elchert (44 recps., 867 yards, 16 TDs) the Eagles have averaged 47.7 points on offense and have won every game by at least a 35-point margin of victory. Defensively, L-B has allowed just 4.4 points a game with linebackers Austin Collert (55 tackles, 14 tackles for loss) and Grayson Wages (42 tackles, 13 tfl) and linemen CJ Barbara (52 tackles, 26 tfl) and Will Granger (46 tackles, 17 tfl) leading the way. The Eagles also lead the league in interceptions (13). Van Buren enters the game on a roll as well, having won five straight in which the Black Knights have outscored their opponents 221-17. Senior running back Brody Scoles leads the BVC with 1,145 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Senior quarterback Brady Lance has thrown for 1,173 yards and 13 TDs while also running for 612 yards and nine scores. Alex Homan (33 recps., 485 yards, 8 TDs) and Will Rampe (27, 454, 5 TDs) are among the BVC's top receivers. Brooks Hill has 72 total tackles and leads the league in tackles for loss with 27. Caleb Mason (58 tackles, 13 tfl), Jacob Harrington (58 tackles), Lance (47 tackles) and Haiden Orr (40 tackles, 10 tfl) have also put up impressive numbers on defense. Like many Week 10 matchups, this one carries considerable Harbin hopes as well. L-B sits in the No. 4 spot among Division V teams in Region 18 with 16.1278 points. A win would almost assuredly lock down a first-round bye for the playoffs and a second-round home game, although No. 5 Creston Norwayne (15.2980), which hosts a 9-0 Hillsdale team, and No. 7 Fredericktown (14.4667), which hosts 8-1 Centerburg, have the kind of matchups that could generate for those teams the kind of points available to make a significant move in the final rankings. Van Buren is right on the playoff bubble in Division VI, Region 22. The Knights have 7.0056 points and trail No. 11 Patrick Henry (10.4389) by a noticeable number heading into Week 10. Evergreen is No. 13 (6.9944), but plays Patrick Henry (7-2) this week. No. 14 Convoy Crestview (5.9556) has an opportunity to jump up as well, but goes up against Lima Central Catholic (8-1) today.