MIKE BROWN: Many Mahoning Valley schools pick up new football opponents
There will be many new opponents on Mahoning Valley-area high school football schedules this fall.
Ursuline to face two new teams
Youngstown Ursuline, which finished 10-3 last season, will play two new foes.
The Irish will host Steubenville Big Red in their season opener on Thursday, August 17.
Ursuline has also picked up the Lakeside Dragons and will host them in Week 3.
Cardinal Mooney has two new opponents
Cardinal Mooney, which moves up from Division 5 to Division 4 this autumn, has two new opponents on its slate.
The Cardinals will host the Villa Angela-St. Joseph Vikings in Week 2 on Saturday, August 25. They will also play the Clyde Fliers in Week 4 in a battle of teams with state titles in their past.
Boardman to face three new teams this season
Boardman, which finished 4-6 last fall, has added three new opponents to its slate.
One of those will be the Kenston Bombers who the Spartans will play in their season-opener Friday night, August 18 on the road.
The Spartans have also added Lake for a home game in Week II and Painesville Riverside in a away date in Week 5.
Austintown Fitch has four new opponents
The Austintown Fitch Falcons, who are expecting another big season after finishing 10-2 last autumn, will play four new teams in 2023.
The Falcons will open the season against the Euclid Panthers in an away contest. They will also play Central Valley, Pa., at home in Week II, Cleveland St. Ignatius at home in Week 4 and the Stow Bulldogs at Falcon Stadium in Week 5.
Canfield to face three new teams
Canfield, the defending D3 state champion, will have a trio of new opponents.
Coach Mike Pavlansky’s Cardinals will play at Arlin Field in Mansfield against the Mansfield Tygers in Week 2 of the campaign. They will also host Olmsted Falls in Week III and entertain Cleveland Holy Name, a team the Cards defeated 38-21 in a state semifinal playoff game last fall, on October 6.
Poland, coming off a 5-6 finish last season, has picked up a new season-opening opponent in the Salem Quakers. The Bulldogs will travel to Sebo Stadium in Salem for the season opener August 18.
The Bulldogs will also play the Howland Tigers on the road in Week II and will host Oberlin Firelands in Week 3.
Howland to face Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in Week 3
Speaking of Howland, the Tigers, who were 2-8 last fall, will host Poland, as noted in Week 2 and will also entertain Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in Week 3.
Struthers to take on four new opponents this year
Struthers, which finished 7-5 last season and should be one of the top D4 teams in the area this season, has three new opponents on its schedule.
The Wildcats will open the season in a much-anticipated game against a talented Beaver Local team led by an outstanding quarterback. They will then host Brookville, Pa. in a Week 2 matchup and will entertain Youngstown East in Week 8.
Girard to face West Branch, Pymatuning Valley
Girard, another team expecting big things this season after going 8-3 last fall, will play two new opponents.
The Indians will battle fellow D4 power West Branch in Week 3 of the season in Beloit. That game will feature two of the most explosive offenses in the Mahoning Valley.
Girard will also host the Pymatuning Valley Lakers in Week 5.
South Range to face three new teams in 2023
South Range, the defending D5 state champion which finished with a perfect 16-0 record last year, will play three new teams on its 2023 slate.
The Raiders will host the Green Bulldogs of the Federal League in Week 2.
South Range will also entertain the Warren JFK Eagles in Week 3 and host the Louisville Leopards in Week 9.
West Branch ready to face Girard in 2023
West Branch, a D4 regional finalist which finished 12-2 last season, will play one new opponent in 2023 when it hosts Girard, as noted, in Week 3.
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