By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Welcome to Week 5 of the high school football season.

Like all seasons, the weeks come and go quickly.

I will be in Windham tonight to watch the Bombers host St. Thomas Aquinas at Ed Liddle Field.

Good luck to all teams tonight!

WEEK 5 SCHEDULE

Copley at Aurora (Thursday)

Beachwood at Crestwood (Thursday)

Field at Cloverleaf

Champion at Garfield

Kent Roosevelt at Barberton

Streetsboro at Ravenna

Shenandoah at Rootstown

Minerva at Southeast

Waterloo at Mineral Ridge

St. Thomas Aquinas at Windham

Columbus Crusaders at Mogadore (Saturday)

FRIDAY NIGHT’S WEATHER FORECAST

Fall is here — and it will be a gorgeous night for football.

There is no signs of rain at any point on Friday night.

At kickoff, it will be 65 degrees and clear skies.

By the fourth quarter, the temperature will drop to the low 60s and maybe even into the 50s so bring a hoodie and a blanket.

Once the sun sets, fall football will absolutely be with you.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Check out this week’s updated list of statistical leaders here.

PIGSKIN PICKS

This week’s Pigskin Picks Challenge is sponsored by LeeAngelo’s Pizzaria in Aurora. Updated standings and this week’s game selections by all of the competitors can be found here.

UPDATED PLAYOFF RANKINGS

The top-16 teams qualify for the playoffs.

DIVISION III, REGION 9

9. Aurora

T10. Kent Roosevelt

DIVISION III, REGION 10

2. Norton

DIVISION IV, REGION 13

2. Streetsboro

13. Woodridge

T19. Field

T21. Coventry

T21. Ravenna

T21. Springfield

DIVISION V, REGION 17

3. Garfield

14. Crestwood

DIVISION VI, REGION 21

 1. Rootstown

5. Southeast

9. Mogadore

13. Waterloo

DIVISION VII, REGION 25

19. Warren JFK

T21. Windham

ASSOCIATED PRESS STATE POLL

The first Associated Press state poll was released this week. Portage County only had two teams make the list.

Garfield was ranked 10th in Division V, receiving 24 points.

Rootstown was ranked sixth in Division VI, receiving 80 total points, including one first-place vote.

The full AP state poll can be found here.

STANDINGS

METRO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Norton 4-0, 1-0

Cloverleaf 3-1, 1-0

Woodridge 2-2, 1-0

Field 1-3, 1-0

Streetsboro 3-1, 0-1

Coventry 0-4, 0-1

Ravenna 0-4, 0-1

Springfield 0-4, 0-1

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE

Rootstown 4-0

Southeast 4-0

Mogadore 3-1

Warren JFK 1-2

St. Thomas Aquinas 0-4

SUBURBAN LEAGUE

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Aurora 4-1, 2-0

Kent Roosevelt 3-1, 1-0

Highland 3-1, 1-0

Barberton 2-2, 1-0

Cuyahoga Falls 2-2, 0-1

Revere 2-2, 0-1

Tallmadgge 1-3, 0-1

Copley 0-5, 0-2

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

GREY DIVISION

Garfield 4-0, 1-0

Newton Falls 3-1, 1-0

Brookfield 2-2, 1-0

Liberty 1-3, 1-0

Campbell Memorial 1-3, 0-1

LaBrae 1-3, 0-1

Champion 0-4, 0-1

Crestview 0-4, 0-1

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

SCARLET DIVISION

Jackson-Milton 4-0, 1-0

Lowellville 4-0, 0-0

Western Reserve 3-1, 1-0

New Middletown Springfield 2-2, 1-0

McDonald 3-1, 0-1

Mineral Ridge 3-1, 0-1

Waterloo, 2-2, 0-1

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

VALLEY DIVISION

Crestwood 4-1, 1-0

Kirtland 3-1, 1-0

Cardinal 2-2, 1-0

Grand Valley 1-3 1-0

Painesville Harvey 1-3, 1-0

Berkshire 1-3, 0-1

Wickliffe 1-3, 0-1

Beachwood 0-5, 0-2

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Pymatuning Valley 2-2

Fairport 1-3

St. John  School 1-3

Windham 1-3

Mathews 0-4

WEEK 6 LOOK-AHEAD SCHEDULE

Aurora at Cuyahoga Falls

Painesville Harvey at Crestwood

Ravenna at Field

Campbell Memorial at Garfield

Kent Roosevelt at Copley

Mogadore at Warren JFK

Rootstown at St. Thomas Aquinas

Cloverleaf at Streetsboro

McDonald at Waterloo

Windham at Fairport