Allen East will face a tough test this week when they face Crestview in the Northwest Conference opener Friday.
As the high school football season enters its fourth week, a number of schools begin conference play.
The Northwest Conference kicks off his week with a number of interesting story lines going. One of the top ones is can bump off Columbus Grove from the top of the heap after the Bulldogs have won or shared the league title the past four years. The Bulldogs shared the title in 2019 with Allen East and Spencerville and shared it with Crestview and Spencerville in 2018.
In the Northwest Central Conference, Upper Scioto Valley is looking to repeat as champions after going undefeated last year and will have its hands full with a number of contenders.
The Rams will find out this week when they face Waynesfield-Goshen who is unbeaten and has looked impressive in its first three games.
Here is a breakdown of the area teams in the respective division:
NORTHWEST CONFERENCE
Crestview (3-0)
Summary: Crestview is the lone school to come into conference play with an unblemished record. The Knights opened the year with a 51-14 win over Parkway and then continued the victories with a 42-12 win over Hicksville in week two and a 14-6 win over Wayne Trace in week three. Crestview has outscored its opponents 107-32.
Offense: Quarterback Carson Hunter has been impressive in his first three games, connecting on 33 of 58 passes for 489 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. Running back Isaac Kline is the team’s rushing leader with 272 yards on 52 carries and three touchdowns. Kellin Putnam is the top receiver with eight catches for 224 yards and three touchdowns.
As a team, Crestview is averaging 182.7 yards on the ground and 170.7 yards through the air.
Defense: The Knights are giving up 447 total yards as they are giving up 80 yards on the ground and 143.5 yards through the air. Crestview has 10 turnovers.
Allen East (2-1)
Summary: The Mustangs suffered its first loss of the season to a strong Elmwood team, 53-21. Prior to that the Mustangs knocked off a pair of NWCC teams as they opened with a 27-14 over Upper Scioto Valley and then followed it up with an impressive 64-0 victory over Perry. The Mustangs have outscored its opponents, 112-67.
Offense: The Mustangs pose a major threat on offense with dual quarterback Jacob Hershberger and running back Jack Hoel. For the season, Hersherger is 27 of 53 for 393 yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions and has rushed for 184 yards and one touchdown on 25 carries. Hoel leads the team in rushing with 235 yards and three touchdowns on 48 carries. K. Lehman is the team’s leading receivers with nine receptions for 133 yards and one touchdown.
As a team, Allen East is averaging 202.3 yards on the ground and 152.3 yards through the air.
Defense: The Mustang defense is giving up an of 283.7 total yards. On the ground the team is yielding 174.7 yards on the ground and 109 yards through the air. Allen East has forced six turnovers this year.
Columbus Grove: For the first time since 2019, the Bulldogs suffered a regular season loss in week two when they fell to Liberty-Benton 24-13. However, the Bulldogs still own a 16-game win streak in the NWC. The Bulldogs garnered a rivalry win in its opener over Pandora-Gilboa, 34-23, and after the loss to L-B the Bulldogs bounced back with a 7-0 win over Patrick Henry. The Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 54-47.
Offense: Bulldog signal caller Brenton Renner has passed for 272 yards, going 19 of 33 with one interceptions. Trent Barraza, who leads all NWC runners coming into this week, has collected 283 yards and two touchdowns on 39 carries. Lawson Maag is the team’s top receiver with three catches for 108 yards.
As a team, Columbus Grove is averaging 138.7 yards on the ground and 139 yards through the air.
Defense: The Bulldog defense is giving up an average of 334.5 total yards. The team is giving up an average of 99.3 yards on the ground and an average of 203.3 yards through the air. Columbus Grove has forced seven turnovers.
Bluffton (1-2)
Summary: The Pirates got the season rolling with a 67-7 win over Cory-Rawson but faltered in week two to Pandora-Gilboa 42-7 and then fell to Ayersville in week three 28-19. The Pirates are outscoring teams 93-77.
Offense: Quarterback Garrett Bogart is 25-of-46 for 383 yards, four touchdowns and one interception and the Pirate signal caller leads the team in rushing with 159 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries. Landon Shutler is second on the team with 130 yards and two touchdowns and Landen Worcester has gained 106 yards and scored three times. Hayden Dearth leads the team in receptions with seven catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
As team, the Pirates are averaging 146.3 yards on the ground and 127.7 yards through the air.
Defense: Bluffton’s defense is giving up an average of 301.3 total yards. Through the air, Bluffton is giving up an average of 140 yards and 161.3 yards on the ground.
Ada (1-2)
Summary: Ada scored its first win of the season Friday with a 57-40 win over Hardin Northern, the second straight year the Bulldogs have downed its Hardin County rival. The team opened the year with a 28-0 loss to Waynesfield-Goshen and then dropped a 38-22 decision to Arlington. Ada is being outscored 79-106.
Offense: Quarterback Levi Green has gone 19 for 36 for 304 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Jalee Bolden leads the team in rushing with 308 yards and three touchdowns on 42 carries. Green has rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns. Levi Sousley is the team’s top receiver with eight catches for 127 yards and two touchdowns.
As a team, the Bulldogs are averaging 216.7 yards on the ground and 115 yards through the air.
Defense: Ada is giving up an average of 200.3 total yards. The team is giving up an average of 121.7 yards on the round and 78.7 yards through the air. Ada has forced three turnovers.
Delphos Jefferson (1-2)
Summary: A 56-23 win over Perry gave the Wildcats their first win of the season last week. Back-to-back losses opened the year for Delphos as they fell to rival Delphos St. John’s,49-27, and then dropped a 41-21 game to Ayersville. The Wildcats are outscoring opponents 104-103.
Offense: Quarterback Trent Teman is 33 of 53 for 684 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions and the versatile signal caller leads the team is rushing with 177 yards and four touchdowns on 34 carries. Cole Hoersten had gained 137 yards on 10 carries. Karder Agner has hauled in seven catches for 254 yards and three touchdowns and Andrew Miller had caught 13 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns.
As a team, Delphos is averaging 149 yards on the ground and 235.3 yards through the air.
Defense: As a team, Delphos is giving up an average of 361.0 yards a game. Through the air, the Wildcats are giving up an average of 276 yards on the ground and 85 yards through the air.
Leipsic (1-2)
Summary: Leipsic is coming off a loss to Pandora-Gilboa 33-21 Friday after beating Fairview 48-6 in week two. In week won the Vikings were edged by Liberty-Benton 31-27. Leipsic is outscoring its opponents, 96-70.
Offense: Quarterback Quin Schroeder has passed for 504 yards, going 34 of 54 with six touchdowns and three interceptions. Schroeder also leads the team in rushing with 198 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Mike Jimenez has rushed for 98 yards on 19 caries. Estevan Carrillo is the team’s top receiver with is the team top receiver with 17 catches for 291 yards and three touchdowns.
As a team, Leipsic is averaging 221.7 yards on the ground and 185 yards through the air.
Defense: The Vikings are giving of an average of 230.3 yards a game. Through the air the Vikings are giving up an average of 68 yards and on the ground they are giving up an average of 162.3 yards.
Spencerville (1-2)
Summary: Switching up its offense from a wing-T to Spencerville was shutout in its season opener by Elida, 31-0, but recorded a 37-13 win over Paulding the next week. In week three, Fort Loramie defeated the Bearcats 35-7. The Bearcats are being outscored 44-79,
Offense: Quarterback Josh Henline has gone 44 for 78 for 536 yards and three touchdowns and Carter Layman leads the team in rushing with 94 yards on 34 carries. Nate Coulter is the team’s top receiver with 291 yards and three touchdowns on 17 catches. Grant Duty has hauled in 10 catches for 148 yards.
As a team, the Bearcats are averaging 30.3 yards a game on the ground and 178.7 yards through the air.
Defense: The Bearcat defense is giving up an average of 339.7 yards a game. Through the air, Spencerville is giving up an average of 204.7 yards and on the ground are surrendering 135 yards a contest.
NORTHWEST CENTRAL OHIO
Waynesfield-Goshen (3-0)
Summary: Waynesfield-Goshen is the lone school in the conference with an undefeated record coming into week four. The Tigers opened the year with a 28-0 win over Ada and followed up with a second straight shutout victory over Arcadia 41-0 in week two. In week three, the Tigers downed former NWCC rival Lehman Catholic 26-7.
The Tigers are outscoring opponents 97-7.
Upper Scioto Valley (2-1)
Summary: After dropping its season opener to Allen East, 27-14, the Rams have rebounded with back-to-back wins as they posted a 53-7 win over Cory-Rawson in week two and then beat future NWCC rival North Baltimore 46-8. The Rams have outscored their opponents, 113-42.
Hardin Northern (1-2)
Summary: The Polar Bears snared a 44-19 victory in the season opener but have dropped games the last two weeks, with a heartbreaking 35-34 loss to Riverdale in week two and a 57-40 defeat to Ada Friday night. The Polar Bears are outscoring opponents 118-11.
Ridgemont (1-2)
Summary: Ridgemont opened the season with a 52-16 win over Vanlue but then faltered against Southeastern Local 39-0 in week two and a 42-18 decision to Buckeye Central in week three. The Golden Gophers are being outscored 70-97.
Perry (0-3)
Summary: Perry has struggled out of the game this year. The Commodores opened the year with a 26-6 loss to Lehman Catholic and then were blanked by Allen East 64-0 in week two. Delphos downed Perry 56-13 Friday night. The Commodores are being outscored 146-19.
