By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Here we go!

Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.

Week 1.

The 2024 high school football season.

January 1 may be when everyone recognizes the new year on the calendar, but in many cases, the “feel” for the start of a new year is connected to late August with the start of the school year, the start of fall sports, including the kickoff of another football season.

There is a unique enthusiasm that goes along with it, and we will all feel it on Friday night.

Here are some other things that will be happening around the county.

KENT ROOSEVELT-RAVENNA

The Game turns 110 this year.

It remains recognized as one of Ohio’s longest-standing rivalries and one of the most competitive in the state, as well.

After 109 years of competition, only two games separate the all-time standings, with Ravenna leading the series 54-52-3.

It is almost unfathomable to think that after that many years, the results would remain so tight.

But here we are.

While the on-field action keeps the rivalry stronger than ever, one of the most unique elements to the rivalry is how the two communities continue to support it with so much excitement.

Community members, city officials, alumni players, family members and everyone in between continue to turn the game into a week-long spectacle. It grows the anticipation for the players and makes The Game feel different than all of the other games.

Because it is.

Good luck to both teams and to both communities!

MOGADORE-FIELD

This rivalry game fails to live up to the historical context or competitive nature as Kent Roosevelt-Ravenna, but the communities of Mogadore and Field still prepare for the matchup with an equal level of excitement.

The rivalry went dormant for 14 seasons (2005-2018), but was revived in 2019 when the two districts signed a 10-year contract to meet for Week 1 to kickoff each season.

Mogadore leads the all-time series, 33-12, and has won the last four games and 10 of the last 11, with Field’s only win during that timespan coming in 2004.

This year’s game will be played on the new field turf at Kenneth Lohr Stadium. The turf’s installation was completed in July.

Another note for the game is that Field head coach Matt Furino, who is in his 20th season, enters Friday’s game with 99 career victories.

ROSTER NUMBERS

It is always interesting to see how the size of football programs fluctuate. Here is a look at the rosters of Portage County’s teams (in alphabetical order):

AURORA
Players: 89
Freshmen: 26
Sophomores: 16
Juniors: 24
Seniors: 23

CRESTWOOD
Players: 49
Freshmen: 15
Sophomores: 10
Juniors: 7
Seniors: 17

FIELD
Players: 62
Freshmen: 17
Sophomores: 15
Juniors: 12
Seniors: 18

GARFIELD
Players: 54
Freshmen: 13
Sophomores: 22
Juniors: 13
Seniors: 6

KENT ROOSEVELT
Players: 66
Freshmen: 18
Sophomores: 12
Juniors: 17
Seniors: 19

MOGADORE
Players: 30
Freshmen: 6
Sophomores: 6
Juniors: 4
Seniors: 14

RAVENNA
Players: 45
Freshmen: 9
Sophomores: 8
Juniors: 8
Seniors: 10

ROOTSTOWN
Players: 36
Freshmen: 11
Sophomores: 8
Juniors: 12
Seniors: 5

SOUTHEAST
Players: 46
Freshmen: 12
Sophomores: 13
Juniors: 13
Seniors: 8

STREETSBORO
Players: 58
Freshmen: 14
Sophomores: 14
Juniors: 18
Seniors: 12

WATERLOO
Players: 23
Freshmen: 4
Sophomores: 4
Juniors: 4
Seniors: 11

WINDHAM
Players: 25
Freshmen: 6
Sophomores: 2
Juniors: 4
Seniors: 13

SOUTHEAST’S NEW HOME

In a trend that has become common over the last few years, another Portage County team has a new league home for athletics.

Southeast enters its first season as a member of the Mahoning Valley Athetic Conference. The Pirates will compete in the Grey Division alongside Newton Falls, Crestview, Champion, Brookfield, LaBrae and Liberty.

It will be the fist time in school history, dating back to the opening of the school in 1950, that the Pirates will play outside of an athletic league that is not based out of Portage County.

The Pirates’ league matchup at home against Garfield in Week 6 (Sept. 27) will be Southeast’s only game against a Portage County school this season.

Southeast’s non-league games are against Akron Garfield, Mathews and Cuyahoga Falls.

SILVER ANNIVERSARY

The 2024 season marks my 25th covering high school football in Portage County.

My first coverage season was the 2000 season, making the 2024 season my 25th season of high school football coverage in Portage County.

I have had the opportunity to spend Friday nights across the county, sharing games with friends, watching great football with memorable players and inspiring coaches.

I anticipate that this season will be more of the same, and I am excited for it!

TOSS T-SHIRTS

Once again this season, I will deliver Toss T-shirts to cheerleaders for every game I cover on a Friday night.

So be ready student sections and fans!

For the Mogadore faithful, I also have a special batch of “The Chuck Moore” T-shirt from the Portage County Legends series that I will be bringing with me for Friday’s game at Field.

WEEK 1 SCHEDULE

Aurora at Twinsburg

Ravenna at Kent Roosevelt

Mogadore at Field

Crestwood at Rootstown

CVCA at Streetsboro

Akron Springfield at Waterloo

Edgewood at Garfield

Windham at Lisbon

Southeast at Akron Garfield (2 p.m. Saturday)