ASHLAND — What happens when the Ohio Cardinal Conference’s version of an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?
Ashland and New Philadelphia fans will find out Friday at Community Stadium when the Arrows host the Quakers in a game that will go a long way in determining the OCC championship.
Ashland averages a conference-high 43 points a game. New Philadelphia allows a conference-low 13.7 points a game.
Ashland’s high-powered offense averages 413 yards a game. Quarterback Nathan Bernhard has completed 45-of-72 passes for 705 yards and nine touchdowns with just one interception. The junior also has rushed for 164 yards and four TDs on 35 carries.
Speedy senior Michael Franz has rushed for a team-high 190 yards and three scores on 25 carries while Grayson Baith has 112 yards and three TDs on 16 carries.
Gabe Baith has a team-high 20 receptions for 195 yards and two touchdowns. Killian O’Brien has a team-high 245 receiving yards and four TDs on nine catches.
New Philadelphia has won both meetings between the teams since entering the Ohio Cardinal Conference. The Quakers cruised to a 28-0 win last year.
“We’re a year older and we have a lot of guys back,” Ashland coach Scott Valentine said after last week’s win over Linsly. “That maturity and the growth they made in the offseason has really led to where we’re at now.”
New Philadelphia (2-1, 1-0) at Ashland (3-0)
The Quakers opened OCC play with a 28-7 win at Wooster. C.J. Carlisle provided some early fireworks, returning the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Carlisle added a TD reception. Quarterback Keaton Fausel threw a pair of TD passes and rushed for another score. Carson Long also had a touchdown reception for New Philadelphia.
The Arrows cruised to a 35-0 win over Linsly as quarterback Nathan Bernhard completed 7-of-16 passes for 138 yards and a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 60 yards and two scores. Sophomore Grayson Baith rushed for a team-high 81 yards and a touchdown on eight carries, while Michael Franz added 61 rushing yards on 11 carries. Junior receiver Gabe Baith had three catches for 35 yards and a touchdown, while Killian O’Brien had a 74 yard TD catch. Linebacker Gunner Lacey had 10 tackles, including three tackles for loss.
Hillsdale (3-0) at Chippewa (1-2)
The Falcons boast the top scoring defense in the Wayne County Athletic League, allowing nine points a game. Junior linebacker Brady Heller continues to lead the way with 30 tackles. Fellow junior LB Aidan Hoffman has 27 stops, while LB Jesse Trevathan has 24 tackles and an interception. Junior running back Owen Sloan rushed for 168 yards and three touchdowns in last week’s win over Loudonville and averages 11 yards per carry (32 carries, 352 yards). Sophomore quarterback Kael Lewis threw two more touchdown passes last week — both to Holland Young — and has completed 30-of-45 passes for 592 yards and 10 TDs. Young has a team-high 10 receptions for 250 yards and five TDs, while Brock Bower has eight catches for 167 yards and three scores. Hayden McFadden has seven grabs for 173 yards and two TDs and a 50-yard TD run.
The Chipps picked up their first win of the season last week, a 12-0 shutout of Coventry. Chippewa limited the Comets to nine passing yards. The Chipps are averaging a Wayne County Athletic League-low 6.3 points a game and allow 21 points a game.
East Knox (1-2) at Loudonville (0-3)
The Bulldogs managed just 139 yards in last week’s 33-0 loss to Colonel Crawford. Running back Blake Elliott rushed for 47 yards on 16 carries and has 293 yards and a touchdown on 60 carries through the first three weeks. Quarterback Jax Lester has completed 28 of 46 passes for 393 yards and two TDs. Logan Clark has nine receptions for 199 yards and a TD. Elliott leads the defense with 46 tackles, while Parker Kimball has 38 stops.
The Redbirds had 169 yards of total offense in last week’s 42-7 loss to Hillsdale. Quarterback Dilan Wade completed 12-of-23 passes for 100 yards, including an 11-yard TD to Josiah Hershberger. Wade also rushed for a team-best 60 yards, while Collin Caley added 21 rushing yards. Hershberger had 72 receiving yards.