Week 5 preview: Dover, Steubenville clash in tradition-rich contest
(This story was updated to add new information.)
The high school football regular season reaches the midway point this weekend with some outstanding area games on tap.
Here’s a look at the matchups for Friday and Saturday:
Friday games (7 p.m.)
Dover (3-1) at Steubenville (4-0)
Last season: Steubenville 34, Dover 14
Tradition-rich Dover and Steubenville, who had their first meeting back in 1921, will collide in what figures to be one of the best games in the Ohio Valley Friday night at Steubenville’s Harding Stadium.
The game matches two of the legendary head coaches in Ohio high school football in Steubenville’s Reno Saccoccia and Dover’s Dan Ifft, both members of the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
“I know they consider us a rivalry and think we’ve worked hard to gain their respect, and they obviously have ours, and I do like going down there because it’s historic,” Ifft said. “I’ll tell my kids, 'Do you know how many great players have played in that stadium?'”
Dover enters with a 3-1 ledger and sustained a 45-41 setback to unbeaten Indian Valley last weekend at Crater Stadium.
In that game, Dover’s outstanding junior quarterback Jack Judkins threw for 300 yards and also had a great performance on the ground.
“It was a lot of offense, and a lot of players did a lot of good things on both sides,” Ifft said. “It was the first one to blink, and we were the first one to blink and have an error, and you get behind a little bit and they were really good. They earned their victory, I have no excuses, no qualms about that at all.”
The Tornadoes are averaging 35.5 points-per-game on offense and yielding just 10.2 points-per-game on defense.
Steubenville enters this week’s showdown with the Tornadoes unbeaten at 4-0 and posted a 38-8 win over winless University Prep (Pa.) last Friday.
The Big Red, who like to use a number of running backs in their rotation, rushed for 240 yards in the win. They were led by Jalen Minniefield and Landon Crosier with 90 yards rushing apiece.
“They are as advertised every year,” Ifft said. “The names change but the results usually stay the same. They play and coach at a very high level. They’re one of the blue bloods you could say of Ohio high school football.”
The Big Red quarterback is Aiden Davis, who is another top rusher as well as a passer. Big Red is averaging 28.5 points-per-contest and giving up 16.5 points-per-contest and has rallied to win two of its games.
“The one thing is they’ve been behind in some games, and they come back,” Ifft said. “That’s character and a tough-man thing. They work to out-tough you.”
Steubenville leads the all-time series with the Tornadoes, 21-6-1 and the first meeting between the two schools occurred in 1921, a 7-0 Big Red win.
“We’re going to have to move the football,” Ifft said. “We have to take our time, we can’t give them too many touches, they’re too explosive, and they can just grind on you, too. We’re going to have to be wise with what we do (offensively), we can’t have a fumble here or an interception, we can’t turn it over, because penalties and turnovers will kill you against a quality opponent.”
Ohio high school football rankings: USA Today Network Ohio Super 25 Poll for Week 5
Dynamic duo: Tornadoes' towering front line powering Dover volleyball to early success
Tigers, pirates, comets, a green wave: A look at Ohio high school mascots
Mansfield Senior (0-4) at New Philadelphia (2-2)
Last season: Mansfield Senior 35, New Philadelphia 14
New Philadelphia is coming off a tough 17-14 Ohio Cardinal Conference loss to unbeaten Ashland.
“We had some opportunities but didn’t make the most of them, and they did, and that’s unfortunately how it goes sometimes,” New Philadelphia head coach Mike Johnson said, looking back at last week’s close three-point setback. “Our defense is really doing a great job. Our offense moved the ball, we just couldn’t put it in the end zone.”
The Quakers were led last week by senior three-year starting quarterback Keaton Fausel.
“Keaton Fausel threw for almost 250 yards,” Johnson said. “He delivered down the field, and I thought CJ Carlisle had a great game receiving. And our defense as a whole just keeps running to the ball. Carter Watson got an interception, which was nice to see him get one of those. He’s been playing well for us on defense.”
Entering Week 5, New Philadelphia is averaging 19.2 points-per-contest, while its strong defense is giving up 14.5 points-per-game.
Mansfield, which lost a number of starters from its OCC championship team which finished 10-3 and advanced to the third round of the postseason a year ago, checks into Friday’s game 0-4.
The Tygers have had trouble scoring points. Through four games, they have scored just 21 points for an average of 5.2 points-per-game. Meanwhile, Mansfield is being gouged on defense for 33.5 ppg.
“They lost a lot of kids to graduation, and right now I think they’re banged up,” said Johnson of Mansfield. “They’ve had some injuries and things, and they just haven’t got untracked. I think they’re still looking for who’s who because we’ve seen a couple different quarterbacks play, and we’ve seen a couple running backs play.”
The Tygers are coming off a 33-7 OCC loss to the West Holmes Knights.
“I think (a win) comes down to we have to contain their athletes in space,” he said. “No. 2 (Guy Trader) is pretty scary and offensively we’re going to have to be better balanced. I think that’s one thing in watching us last week, I think we were better in the pass game but weren’t as good in the run game, so that’s going to be a point of emphasis moving forward, because I like to run the football.”
Mansfield Senior leads the all-time series with the Quakers, 3-1.
Malvern (4-0) at Garaway (4-0)
Last season: The teams did not play
These are two teams on a roll.
Garaway’s defense was outstanding in a 14-13 home win over eight-time state champion Youngstown Cardinal Mooney last week.
“Our kids battled for 48 minutes against a very talented Mooney team,” Garaway head coach Jason Wallick said. “Our defense stepped up multiple times with their backs against the wall in the fourth quarter. Overall, we did ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
On defense, Jayce Wallick and Bronson Speedy led the way for the Pirates with four tackles apiece. Through four games, Garaway’s defense has only surrendered 26 total points (6.5 points-per-game). Meanwhile, the Pirates’ offense is putting up an average of 32.7 points-per-outing.
Brady Geibel, Garaway’s outstanding signal-caller, threw for 86 yards and a touchdown against Mooney, while receiver Bronson Speedy led the Pirates with three receptions for 50 yards.
Malvern counters with tall and talented quarterback Jared Witherow, who has thrown for 780 yards and eight touchdowns, while his top target has been Rodney Smith, who has caught 19 passes for 400 yards and seven aerial scores. The Hornets are averaging 37.5 points-per-game, while its defense is giving up 17.75 ppg.
Malvern holds a 30-27 all-time lead in the series with the Pirates.
Buckeye Trail (3-1) at Indian Valley (4-0)
Last season: The teams did not play
Indian Valley, coming off one of its biggest regular season wins in school history, will look to remain perfect on the season. Led by junior All-Ohio running back Grady Kinsey, who is the leading rusher in the nation through four weeks with over 1,036 yards, the Braves knocked off previously unbeaten Dover 45-41 last Friday in an offensive shootout on the road.
In that game, Kinsey, averaging 259 yards rushing per game, rushed for 242 yards and five touchdowns. He has scored 16 touchdowns this season.
“He (Kinsey) is really good, and he’s been far superior to the teams we’ve played, I’ll tell you that,” Dover head coach Dan Ifft said of Kinsey.
Indian Valley’s talented sophomore quarterback Ryker Williams is averaging 102 yards per game on the ground. The Braves are averaging 49.7 points-per-game, while giving up 24 points-per-outing.
Buckeye Trail defeated Caldwell (21-19), Harrison Central (44-41) and Shenandoah (30-27) but lost to Barnesville (47-8). Here’s an odd stat on the Warriors: Buckeye Trail is averaging 25.7 points-per-game and surrendering 31.75 on defense, despite having a record of 3-1.
Indian Valley holds a 5-0 lead in the series with Buckeye Trail.
Strasburg (2-2) at Ridgewood (4-0)
Last season: The teams did not play
Strasburg hits the road to West Lafayette for an IVC crossover game with unscathed Ridgewood. The Tigers sustained a one-sided 39-6 IVC North setback to the Conotton Valley Rockets last Friday, while Ridgewood, which has played incredible defense through the first four games, blitzed the Utica Redskins, 35-0.
In that win, Ridgewood displayed excellent balance between the running and passing game and compiled 405 total yards of offense.
In four games this season, the Generals have shut out three teams and have only allowed two points all year. They are giving up an average of .05 points-per-game, while scoring 41 ppg.
By comparison, Strasburg is averaging 24 points per game on offense and giving up 23.2 ppg.
The Generals hold a 34-17 advantage in the all-time series with the Tigers.
East Canton (1-3) at Tusky Valley (1-3)
Last season: Teams did not play
Tusky Valley, which has only scored 10 points in its last two games, both losses, will look to get its offense untracked while improving its defense against the Hornets. The Trojans are averaging 16.2 points-per-game while allowing 38 ppg.
East Canton, which lost its first three games of the season to Toronto, United and Sandy Valley, got its first win of the season last Friday in a 43-6 win over winless St. Thomas Aquinas.
The Trojans and Hornets are currently tied 15-15 in their all-time series.
Tuscarawas Central Catholic (0-4) at Sandy Valley (2-2)
Last season: The teams did not play
After starting the season 0-2, Sandy Valley has won its last two contests with wins over East Canton (55-16) and winless Minerva (42-0) last weekend.
The Cardinals are led by quarterback Drew Graybill, who is averaging 133 yards passing per game and standout receiver Lukas Gilland, who is averaging five receptions per game for 90 yards and four touchdowns.
Tuscarawas Central was defeated by the Windham Bombers 42-0 last weekend. Tuscarawas Central is averaging 3.5 points-per-game and allowing 44.5 ppg.
Sandy Valley is scoring 28.2 points-per-game and surrendering 16 ppg.
Sandy Valley possesses a 14-8 advantage in the all-time series with the Saints.
Newcomerstown (4-0) at Claymont (0-4)
Last season: The teams did not play
Newcomerstown, which has picked right up where it left off last season, takes an unbeaten record to Uhrichsville. The Trojans, who returned a number of starters from last year’s playoff team, steamrolled their first four opponents in Berne Union (42-7), Beallsville (40-0), Conotton Valley (50-0) and a 3-1 Toronto team (34-6) last weekend.
Newcomerstown has been outstanding on both sides of the football. The Trojans are averaging 41.5 points-per-game and giving up a paltry 3.2 ppg., including two shutout wins.
Claymont, which has played a rugged early season schedule with losses to four teams in Harrison Central, Smithville, Fairless and Marietta with a combined 10-6 record, is coming off a 28-13 independent road loss to Marietta last Friday.
The Mustangs are scoring 14.7 points-per-game but continue to look for improvement on the defensive side of the football where they are allowing 28.5 ppg.
The Trojans and Mustangs all-time series is deadlocked at 3-3.
Bridgeport (2-2) at Conotton Valley (2-2)
Last season: Conotton Valley 46, Bridgeport 39
Conotton Valley will play host to the Bridgeport Bulldogs in an independent contest Friday night.
The Rockets’ two setbacks this season have been to a pair of powerhouse teams in unbeaten Newcomerstown and Malvern who are a combined 8-0.
Conotton Valley is averaging 24.5 points-per-game and giving up 24.2 ppg.
Bridgeport’s two wins were recorded against Frontier (38-34) in its season opener and against Mathews (44-14) last weekend.
The Bulldogs are averaging 21 points-per-game on offense and yielding 32 ppg.
In 16 previous meetings, Bridgeport leads the series with the Rockets, 10-6.
Fairless (3-1) at Northwest (3-1)
Last season: Northwest 42, Fairless 35
What should be a great matchup will take place at Dr. Martin Smilek Stadium Friday when the Fairless Falcons visit the Northwest Indians in a key PAC-7 contest.
The Falcons and Indians have strong offenses and both will be looking to get back on the winning track after suffering their first setbacks of the season last Friday. Fairless lost to unbeaten Triway 17-7 while Northwest sustained a 29-22 overtime setback to the Manchester Panthers.
Fairless has defeated Sandy Valley (21-14), Tusky Valley (42-14) and Claymont (28-6), while Northwest has topped Norton (29-14), Marlington (31-14) and Louisville (35-28).
Northwest holds a 23-13 all-time lead in the series with the Falcons.
Mansfield Madison (1-3) at West Holmes (2-2)
Last season: West Holmes 56, Mansfield Madison 35
West Holmes will be looking to get Win No. 3 when the Knights host Mansfield Madison in an Ohio Cardinal Conference game Friday evening.
West Holmes pounded Mansfield Senior 33-7 last weekend for its second win of the season. The Knights’ two losses this season have come at the hands of two teams in Dover and Triway with combined records of 7-1.
Mansfield Madison’s lone win this season occurred last week when it defeated a 1-3 Wooster team 35-24 in an OCC contest at Arlin Field.
The Knights own a 17-5 lead in the all-time series with the Rams.
Coshocton (0-4) at Maysville (1-3)
Last season: Maysville 48, Coshocton 13
Coshocton will travel to Zanesville Friday night to meet the Maysville Panthers.
The Redskins are still looking for their first win of the season after dropping a 49-14 decision to the John Glenn Little Muskies last Friday.
Meanwhile, Maysville hasn’t won since Week 2 when it defeated Lakewood, 35-12.
Coshocton enters Week 5 averaging 11 points-per-contest while giving up 40.5 ppg.
Maysville is averaging 13 points-per-game and surrendering 29.7 ppg.
Maysville owns a 6-4 lead in the 10-year-old series with the Redskins.
River View cancels game vs. West Muskingum
River View (0-4) announced Friday's football game with West Muskingum (2-2) has been canceled.
According to the school's Twitter account, due to number of injuries and number of players, the football program decided canceling the game was in the program's best interest.
Saturday’s game
Carrollton (2-2) at Akron Garfield (1-3) (2 p.m.)
Last season: Carrollton 41, Akron Garfield 20
For the second straight week, the Carrollton Warriors will be on the road, only this time on a Saturday afternoon when they travel to Akron to play the Garfield Rams at Kenmore Stadium.
The road was kind to the Warriors last week as they made the long trip to Warren pay off with a 21-14 triumph over the Howland Tigers.
Carrollton’s two losses have come against a pair of unbeaten teams in Ridgewood and Triway who have a combined 8-0 record.
Carrollton is averaging 12 points-per-game on offense and giving up 21 ppg.
Akron Garfield, coming off a 22-0 loss to Lutheran East, is scoring 10 points-per-outing and giving up 26.7 ppg.
Carrollton holds a 2-1 advantage in the series with the Rams.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Ohio high school football: Dover, Steubenville clash in Week 5
