ASHLAND — It’s been nearly 20 years since Ashland last went undefeated during the regular season.
Hillsdale has has waited even longer.
The Arrows and Falcons moved another step closer to perfection last week. Ashland thumped West Holmes 56-28, while Hillsdale dispatched Northwestern 36-6.
Ashland’s last undefeated regular season came in 2006.
The Taylor Housewright-led Arrows won the Associated Press Division II poll championship that year and reached the regional final before falling to eventual state champ Piqua and Mr. Football winner Brandon Saine.
Meanwhile, the Falcons have never gone unbeaten during the regular season.
Hillsdale’s closest call came in 2011, when the Falcons fell to Norwayne in the regular season finale to finish 9-1.
While Ashland and Hillsdale already have locked up playoff spots, Crestview is playing for its postseason life. Here’s a look Week 9’s marquee matchups:
Ashland (8-0, 4-0) at Wooster (2-6, 1-4)
The Arrows roughed up West Holmes 56-28 behind a record-setting night by quarterback Nathan Bernhard. The major college Division I recruit completed 22-of-25 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 172 yards and four TDs on 15 carries. Bernhard has completed 120-of-199 passes for 1,857 yards and 19 touchdowns and rushed for 740 yards and 16 TDs on 117 carries. Gabe Baith has a team-best 41 catches for 567 yards and four touchdowns, while Killian O’Brien has 21 receptions for 437 yards and a team-high six TDs. Defensively, Gunner Lacey leads the squad with 81 stops and 19 tackles for loss. Gavin Hoffman has a team-high nine sacks among his 47 tackles, while Tyler Sauder has 79 stops.
Wooster piled up 268 rushing yards in last week’s 42-24 win at Mansfield Senior. Julian Franklin ran for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries. Quarterback Calin Baxstrom completed 8-of-12 passes for 38 yards and a touchdown, while Hayden Meese had four catches for 27 yards. Simon Yount led the defense with six stops.
Hillsdale (8-0, 5-0) at Rittman (4-4, 1-4)
The Falcons roughed up Northwestern as running back Owen Sloan rushed for 72 yards and three touchdowns. On the season, Sloan has gained 722 yards and 15 touchdowns on 115 carries. Quarterback Kael Lewis has completed 95-of-149 passes for 1,536 yards and 17 touchdowns. Holland Young is Lewis’ favorite target. The senior has 33 catches for 543 yards and six touchdowns. Hayden McFadden has 27 receptions for 524 yards and five TDs, while Brock Bower has 17 grabs for 242 yards and three scores. Linebacker Brady Heller leads the defense with 73 tackles, while Aiden Hoffman has 71 stops. Jake Haven has a team-high seven sacks while Bradey Krichbaum has six sacks, including a single-game record four in last week’s win over Northwestern.
Rittman has dropped two in a row and four of five after last week’s 42-13 loss at Smithville, but is still in the hunt for a playoff berth in Region 21 of Division VI. Last week’s loss was closer than the final score indicated. Rittman trailed 21-13 in the third quarter before giving up 21 unanswered points. Quarterback Brayden Louk threw for 62 yards and a touchdown, while running back Artie Songego rushed for 73 yards and a TD on nine carries. Jaxon Miller caught four passes for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Western Reserve (6-2, 4-1) at Crestview (3-5, 3-2)
The Roughriders got more than they expected from South Central in last week’s 41-14 win. Western Reserve trailed 15-12 in the second half before scoring 29 unanswered to close the game. Quarterback Hayden Keith completed 8-of-12 passes for 127 yards and rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns. Landyn Wiegel added 44 yards on the ground and a score.
Crestview’s playoff hopes took a hit in last week’s heartbreaking 16-15 loss at St. Paul. The Cougars scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter when quarterback Liam Kuhn hooked up with Tyson Ringler on a 50-yard scoring strike. But St. Paul scored the game-winner with 26 seconds remaining. Kuhn has completed 61-of-114 passes for 842 yards and five touchdowns, while Ringler has a team-leading 26 catches for 377 yards and three TDs. Ayden Reymer has rushed for 476 yards and six TDs on 78 carries, while Bransen Hider has 328 yards and three TDs on 54 carries. Ringler leads the defense with 72 tackles. Gavin Barker has 38 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions.