Friday Four: Big tests await in Week 2

1. Ada (1-0) at Spencerville (1-0)

Last week: Ada - defeated Hardin Northern, 28-0; Spencerville - defeated Indian Lake, 28-21.

Last meeting: Aug. 31 - Ada, 38-18

When Ada has the ball

If Week 1 was any indication, the Bulldogs offense shouldn't miss much of a beat. Junior quarterback Mitchell Faine was responsible for all four touchdowns, two passing and two rushing. Of their 270 total yards, 139 were rushing and 131 were passing. Talk about balanced.

The Bearcats gave up three touchdowns in the first game, including an 81-yard pass.

Edge: Ada

When Spencerville has the ball

The Bearcats sure got the job done on the ground, with 244 of their 312 total yards coming from rushes. But it was the passing game which put points on the board; Zach Bowers and QB Tyler Deitering combining for two TDs. Scott Barnes led the team with 54 rushing yards, and one TD.

Sure, Hardin Northern might not have the teeth it's had in years past, but Ada still held the Polar Bears scoreless and to just 163 total yards.

Edge: Ada

Odds and Ends: Ada hasn't opened the season 2-0 since 1996, when they beat Hardin Northern in Week 1 and Perry the following week. Spencerville was last 2-0 in 2000, beating Minster and Paulding. ... The Bulldogs have won the seven of the last 10 meetings. ... .

The Brass Tacks: A Northwest Conference loss in the second week of the season does little for any title hopes of these teams.

The Picks

Jeremy Schneider's pick: Ada

Tom Usher's pick: Ada

Ross Bishoff's pick: Ada

Mark Altstaetter's pick: Ada

Vince Koza's pick: Ada

Jon Scott's pick: Ada

Todd Walker's pick: Spencerville

Andy Young's pick: Ada

2. Kenton (0-1) at Shawnee (0-1)

Last week: Kenton - lost to Coldwater, 58-19; Shawnee - lost to Columbus DeSales, 28-0.

Last meeting: Aug. 31 - Kenton, 30-24

When Kenton has the ball

There's never any doubt what Kenton wants to do with the football - throw it. And they have a new quarterback, with a familiar name, in freshman Maty Mauk. Yes, the son of coach Mike and brother of Ben has taken the reigns for the Wildcats.

Shawnee didn't have problem stopping the pass against DeSales, but maybe that's because DeSales didn't need to pass. The Stallions ran for 315 yards.

Edge: Push

When Shawnee has the ball

There's too many good, experienced players on the Shawnee roster to have two straight weak weeks. Against DeSales, the Indians totaled 63 yards. All game. But with star RB Brandon Stephenson and QB Josh Miller, the question isn't if the offense gets going, but when.

In the first half loss to Coldwater, the Wildcats gave up 44 points and 280 yards. The 44 points were more than Kenton gave up in any full game last year.

Edge: Shawnee

Odds and Ends: Shawnee has taken three of the last four games. Prior to that, Kenton won 11 straight. ... Kenton has started 0-2 in four of the last nine seasons.

The Brass Tacks: This is the first game, and test, in the Western Buckeye League for the favored Indians.

The Picks

Jeremy Schneider's pick: Shawnee

Tom Usher's pick: Shawnee

Ross Bishoff's pick: Shawnee

Mark Altstaetter's pick: Shawnee

Vince Koza's pick: Shawnee

Jon Scott's pick: Shawnee

Todd Walker's pick: Shawnee

Andy Young's pick: Shawnee

3. Paulding (1-0) at Delphos Jefferson (1-0)

Last week: Paulding - defeated Wayne Trace, 56-14; Delphos Jefferson - defeated Perry, 74-6.

Last meeting: Aug. 31 - Delphos Jefferson, 31-28

When Paulding has the ball

In preseason chatter, a couple of Jefferson players named Panthers RB Corbin Rhonehouse as the toughest player they've faced. In the win over Wayne Trace, Rhonehouse had 153 yards and 16 carries, with a TD run of 57 yards. Don't look for the ball to ever be far away from his hands.

Jefferson stuffed Perry. Completely. It can't be said enough - the LB duo of Stuart Miller and Bubba Shivley are the best in the area, this side of Shawnee.

Edge: Push

When Delphos Jefferson has the ball

There are so many backs for Jefferson's coaches to pick from, it has to keep the defenses wondering where the ball will come next. Last week, Tyree Dewitt had 82 yards. Last year, the Wildcats had four rushers gain more than 300 yards.

Where does the defense head from here for Paulding? Last year, they gave up six points to Wayne Trace. From there, they couldn't hold anyone to less than 14 points, including four games of 30 or more points.

Edge: Delphos Jefferson

Odds and Ends: Delphos Jefferson is 9-1 in the last 10 meetings. The average score is 42-16. ... Jefferson has started the last two years 2-0. ... Paulding last started a season 2-0 in 1988, when they went 10-0 and won the Northwest Conference title.

The Brass Tacks: How much did the dismantling of Perry show us about Jefferson?

The Picks

Jeremy Schneider's pick: Delphos Jefferson

Tom Usher's pick: Delphos Jefferson

Ross Bishoff's pick: Delphos Jefferson

Mark Altstaetter's pick: Delphos Jefferson

Vince Koza's pick: Delphos Jefferson

Jon Scott's pick: Delphos Jefferson

Todd Walker's pick: Delphos Jefferson

Andy Young's pick: Delphos Jefferson

4. Elida (0-1) at Van Wert (1-0)

Last week: Elida - lost to Marion Local, 64-0; Van Wert - lost to Bryan 13-10.

Last meeting: Aug. 31 - Van Wert, 24-6

When Elida has the ball

Coach Jason Carpenter has installed a new offense, one he says resembles what is ran at West Virginia. Now, does he have the athletes to pull it off? The Bulldogs were held scoreless and to negative 5 yards in the loss to Marion Local.

Van Wert gave up 101 passing yards and 124 rushing to Bryan.

Edge: Van Wert

When Van Wert has the ball

The numbers weren't huge - they only rushed for 116 yards - but it was balanced for the Cougars. Donny Sites had 49 yards and a score, while Sam Tindall had 64 yards on eight carries. They held a 10-6 lead at halftime, after scores from Sites (one yard rush) and a 27-yard field goal from Austin Reichart.

Van Wert and defending state champ Marion Local might be like apples and oranges, but Elida gave up 343 rushing yards and six TDs.

Edge: Van Wert

Odds and Ends: Van Werts owns a 9-1 record in the last 10 meetings. All time, the Cougars lead the series, 19-14. ... Van Wert has not dropped the first two games of a season since 1991.

The Brass Tacks: Is this the week Elida breaks its losing streak? Or do the Cougars continue the Bulldogs misery?

The Picks

Jeremy Schneider's pick: Van Wert

Tom Usher's pick: Van Wert

Ross Bishoff's pick: Van Wert

Mark Altstaetter's pick: Van Wert

Vince Koza's pick: Van Wert

Jon Scott's pick: Van Wert

Todd Walker's pick: Van Wert

Andy Young's pick: Van Wert

GO TEAM LIMA NEWS!

It was a good week for the staffers at The Lima News in the pick ‘em contest. Sports editor Ross Bishoff and sports writers Tom Usher (as he noted, the two-time defending champ), Jeremy Schneider and Mark Altstaetter each finished Week 1 with 4-1 records.

Close behind are WIMA-AM sports director Todd Walker, Sports Talk with Koza (ESPN 940-AM) host Vince Koza and WLIO-TV 35 sports reporter Andy Young at 3-2.

And bringing up the rear is WOHL-TV sports director Jon Scott, who struggled to a 2-3 finish.

The Game of the Week is St. Marys at Bath. While it was tempting for some of us to go with the Wildcats, everyone fell on the same side of the aisle. The picks follow:

Jeremy Schneider's pick: St. Marys

Tom Usher's pick: St. Marys

Ross Bishoff's pick: St. Marys

Mark Altstaetter's pick: St. Marys

Vince Koza's pick: St. Marys

Jon Scott's pick: St. Marys

Todd Walker's pick: St. Marys

Andy Young's pick: St. Marys

THE STANDINGS

Usher             4-1 (80%)

Altstaetter       4-1(80%)

Bishoff            4-1 (80%)

Schneider       4-1 (80%)

Koza               3-2 (60%)

Walker             3-2 (60%)

Young             3-2 (60%)

Scott              2-3 (40%)