MANSFIELD — The Ohio Cardinal Conference championship may be out of reach, but Mansfield Senior still has plenty to play for during the final three weeks of the regular season.
The Tygers (3-4, 1-2) host OCC front-runner Wooster (5-2, 4-0) on Friday. A win would vault Senior High into playoff contention.
Mansfield Senior is ninth in the Division III, Region 10 computer ratings. The top eight teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.
A victory over a Division II team with five wins on its resume would deliver a wealth of second level points.
“We knew what’s in front of us,” Mansfield Senior coach Chioke Bradley said earlier this week. “We need to take care of ourselves and not worry about anything else.”
Senior High played its best game of the season last week, knocking off Ashland, 26-21, on a last-second touchdown pass from Cam Todd to Angelo Grose. The Tygers rushed for almost 300 yards in the win.
“That is Tyger football,” two-way lineman Anthony Hawkins said. “As an offensive lineman, you love to go out and establish the run.”
Establishing the run will be of paramount importance for Senior High on Friday. The Tygers would be well served to keep Wooster’s prolific offense off the field.
The Generals average almost 38 points a game and have scored 42 or more each of the past three weeks.
Wooster quarterback Dylan Dagley has completed 69.9 percent of his passes (123-176) for 1,572 yards and 17 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. Four receivers have 15 or more catches, led by Zach Marinello (31-541, 6 TDs).
“They are a talented bunch,” Bradley said. “We need to be at our best.”
In other key area games this weekend:
Lexington (3-4, 3-1) at Ashland (5-2, 2-1): After opening the season with three straight losses, the Minutemen have won two straight and three of four. The Minutemen are led, both offensively and defensively, by Ohio State recruit Cade Stover. The senior scored the game-winning touchdown on a 49-yard run in last week’s 34-33 win over West Holmes. Quarterback Jake Depperschmidt threw three TD passes. Ashland is led by quarterback Mitch Heilman, who came to life in the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to Mansfield Senior. Heilman completed 11 of 25 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns. Cade McQuate caught three passes for 53 yards and two TDs.
Clear Fork (7-0, 4-0) at Ontario (3-4, 1-3): The Colts surrendered a season-high 35 points — all in the first half — in a 69-35 win over Galion last week after allowing just 42 points in the first six weeks. Trevon Trammell rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Brennan South completed eight of 15 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown. The Warriors have lost three straight after going 3-1 in the first four weeks. Ontario’s last two losses were by a combined six points. The defense is led by Mitch Pittman, who averages almost 10 tackles a game. Owen Hatfield does a little bit of everything for the Warriors. He leads the team in receptions and has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.
Shelby (4-3) at Port Clinton (4-3): The Whippets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 33-7 win over Edison. Uriah Schwemley caught four passes for 181 yards and three touchdowns and added a team-best 13 tackles. Quarterback McGwire Albert tossed three TD passes and rushed for a 50 yard score, while Grant Gossom returned an interception 62 yards for a TD. Port Clinton hammered Vermilion 47-10 last week for its second straight win. Quarterback Kolton Clima has completed 45 of 89 passes for 570 yards and five touchdowns but has been picked off seven times. Running back Ian Willoughby has rushed for 351 yards while Cooper Stine has six rushing touchdowns.
Cincinnati Aiken (5-2) at Lucas (5-2), Saturday: Aiken has won three straight and is seventh in Region 16 of Division IV. The Falcons hammered Grant County (Kentucky) 48-7 last week. Lucas pounded Harrison Central as running back Jeb Grover became the program’s career rushing leader. The senior matched a single-game record with six touchdown and rushed for 350 yards, giving him 5,330 yards.
