Sports

Here are the top 5 Mahoning Valley-area games this week

By Mike Brown

Updated September 8, 2023 7:49 AM

Youngstown Ursuline quarterback Jack Ericson (far right) prepares to take a shotgun snap as teammate D.C. Ferrell (0) goes in motion during Thursday night’s season-opening football game against Steubenville at Youngstown State’s Stambaugh Stadium. Ursuline won the game, 36-28. Mike Brown/Mahoning Matters

Week IV will offer some outstanding high school football matchups for Mahoning Valley-area teams.

One of the best games that intrigues me will be the Northeast 8 showdown between a pair of talent-laded squads when Struthers plays at Girard.

Both the Wildcats and Indians are 2-1 on the season and attack offensively with contrasting styles.

The Wildcats feature an outstanding run game, while Girard has a lethal passing attack.

Girard is averaging 43 points per game, while Struthers is scoring at a 35.6 points-per game clip, so there should be plenty of offensive fireworks in that one.

Another big game Friday will match longtime rivals Canfield (1-2) playing at unbeaten Poland (3-0).

After opening the season with a 38-19 win over West Branch, Canfield has been playing without some key starters the last two weeks and dropped back-to-back games to Mansfield Senior and Olmsted Falls.

Meanwhile, Poland is led by an outstanding defense which has only allowed just three touchdowns all season.

The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with Canfield, 40-34-3.

A key big school game of interest Friday will feature Cleveland St. Ignatius (1-2) and Austintown Fitch (2-1) playing at Falcon Stadium.

The Falcons are coming off a 35-3 rout of Federal League member GlenOak.

St. Ignatius defeated the Mentor Cardinals 16-14 for its lone win in Week 2, but lost last week 47-6 to Pittsburgh Central Catholic.

A key small-school game Friday evening will feature two unbeaten teams when Jackson-Milton travels to Mineral Ridge in a key Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference battle.

Both teams are 3-0 on the season.

The Rams are coming off a 42-6 win over St. Thomas Aquinas, while the Bluejays defeated the Windham Bombers 50-6 last weekend.

An interesting Northeast 8 battle Friday night will send 2-1 South Range, the defending Division 5 state champion, to Cortland to play the unbeaten Lakeview Bulldogs (3-0).

South Range posted a 41-3 win over the Warren JFK Eagles last weekend, while Lakeview, which has been a surprise so far this season, is coming off a 40-31 triumph over the Liberty Leopards.

Some changes in this week’s Super 7 football rankings

There are some changes in my Super 7 football rankings this week.

But, my number 1 stays the same.

No. 1:

The Ursuline Fighting Irish remain firmly positioned atop my rankings.

The 3-0 Irish, who have also beaten Steubenville this season, rolled to a 50-0 win over the Ashtabula Lakeside Dragons last Friday. In three games this season, head coach Dan Reardon’s Irish have outscored their opponents, 132-35.

The Irish play Youngstown East Friday in a road game.

No. 2:

Austintown Fitch is ranked No. 2 this week.

The Falcons (2-1) went on the road Friday and crushed Federal League member GlenOak, 35-3. Fitch has outscored its first three foes, 110-45.

The Falcons have a huge game Friday night when they host perennial big-school power Cleveland St. Ignatius (1-2).

No. 3

Checking in at No. 3 this week are the Poland Bulldogs (3-0). The Bulldogs have steamrolled their first three opponents in Salem, Howland and Oberlin Firelands (49-14) last Friday night.

Poland’s defense has allowed just three touchdowns all season.

The Bulldogs host arch-rival Canfield (1-2) Friday night.

No. 4

West Branch, which was not in the initial poll last week, jumps into the Super 7 at No. 4 this week after posting a 52-43 win over a very talented Girard team, now 2-1, last weekend. In that game, Warrior quarterback Beau Alazaus threw for 370 yards and five touchdowns, while wideout Joey Jackson scored five touchdowns, including four as a receiver and one on defense on an interception.

The Warriors (2-1) make the long trip to Coshocton County Friday night to play the unbeaten Ridgewood Generals (3-0).

No. 5

Defending state Division V champion South Range is this week’s No. 5-ranked school in the Super 7.

The Raiders are 2-1 on the season and their only loss has been to Division II Federal League member Green, which is unbeaten at 3-0.

South Range is fresh off a 41-3 romp over Warren JFK last Friday.

The Raiders will begin defense of their Northeast 8 title Friday night when they travel to Cortland to play the unbeaten Lakeview Bulldogs (3-0).

No. 6

United Local jumped up one spot to No. 6 in this week’s Super 7.

The Golden Eagles of head coach D.J. Ogilvie are 3-0 and are coming off a 35-14 romp over the Crestview Rebels.

United, which is the favorite in the Eastern Ohio Athletic Conference title chase, has outscored its first three opponents 118-41, led by talented quarterback-kicker Luke Courtney.

The Golden Eagles travel to Columbiana Friday evening for an EOAC game against the winless Clippers.

No. 7

Jumping into the poll at No. 7 this week is tradition-rich McDonald, which is 3-0 on the season.

The Blue Devils cruised to a 28-6 win over the Campbell Memorial Red Devils last weekend.

McDonald has outscored its first three opponents, 74-42.

The Blue Devils host Western Reserve in a Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference game Friday night.

East Liverpool off to best start in 21 years

The East Liverpool football team is off to its first 3-0 start in 21 years.

The Potters, under new head coach Paul Cusick, defeated Columbiana County rival Salem 28-0 last Friday at Patterson Field.

Potters’ quarterback Gavin Wright has played a big role in East Liverpool’s offensive success this season and had another big night against Salem with over 200 yards of offense between passing and running.

East Liverpool’s defense has also been impressive, surrendering just seven total points in three games.

The last time the Potters had opened the year at 3-0 was in 2002.

East Liverpool plays its big rivalry game Friday night when it treks to Beaver Local, which is 2-1 on the season.