By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The season has reached its halfway point.

Hard to believe, isn’t it?

I will be at Quinn Field at Rocket Stadium in Streetsboro, where the Rockets will host the Ravenna Ravens in a key Metro Athletic Conference matchup.

Full coverage will be posted to portagesports.com later tonight, along with coverage of other games from around Portage County tonight.

Enjoy another fun night of football!

TODAY’S THEME: RESPECT THE UNIFORM

Before tonight’s game, players across the county will prepare by putting on their uniform.

The idea that you get to play in the game is a privilege.

It is an honor that not everybody in your school gets to celebrate.

Wearing the uniform is an opportunity.

It is an opportunity to represent your family.

It is an opportunity to represent your school.

It is an opportunity to represent your community.

It is an opportunity to represent your team — both the current team you are on, and also all of the teams that have played before you.

Only after all of those is it an opportunity to represent yourself.

Putting on the uniform should not be taken for granted.

Your uniform unites you to all of your teammates — regardless of age or skill level.

The star player and the backup wear the same uniform.

You are not only a team, but a family.

You will celebrate success together and learn how to deal with defeat together.

All because of the uniform.

TONIGHT’S FORECAST

We have received week after week of beautiful football weather this season.

Tonight is not different.

At kickoff, the temperature will be 75 degrees and no rain.

By the fourth quarter, 70 degrees and still no rain.

Enjoy a great night of football with family and friends.

TONIGHT’S WEEK 5 SCHEDULE

Cuyahoga Falls at Aurora

Copley at Kent Roosevelt

Ravenna at Streetsboro

Cloverleaf at Field

Mogadore at Lucas

Southeast at Minerva

Rootstown at Conneaut

Crestwood at Beachwood

Western Reserve at Waterloo

Windham at St. Thomas Aquinas

Garfield at Newton Falls

WEEK 4 SCORES

Aurora 63, Copley 28

Barberton 30, Kent Roosevelt 7

Cloverleaf 42, Ravenna 17

Field 49, Springfield 0

Norton 35, Streetsboro 25

Mogadore 33, Liberty-Benton 28

Southeast 43, Akron North 12

Rootstown 48, Pymatuning Valley 6

Painesville Harvey 56, Crestwood 14

Garfield 34, LaBrae 0

Waterloo 47, Sebring McKinley 8

Windham 50, St. John 12

East Canton 35, St. Thomas Aquinas 0

Warren JFK 20, Sandusky Perkins 12

Woodridge 28, Coventry 14

PLAYOFF RANKINGS

Complete list of playoff points here.

DIVISION III, REGION 9

11. Aurora

T23. Kent Roosevelt

DIVISION III, REGION 10

4. Norton

8. Cloverleaf

DIVISION IV, REGION 13

5. Woodridge

7. Coventry

14. Streetsboro

16. Ravenna

17. Field

T21. Springfield

DIVISION V, REGION 17

9. Garfield

T21. Crestwood

DIVISION VI, REGION 21

2. Rootstown

4. Mogadore

11. Southeast

17. Waterloo

DIVISION VII, REGION 25

1. Warren JFK

17. Windham

T24. St. Thomas Aquinas

ASSOCIATED PRESS STATE POLL

The state poll releases weekly on Mondays.

You can view this week’s rankings here.

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Mogadore 4-0, 0-0

Rootstown 4-0, 0-0

Warren JFK 4-0, 0-0

Southeast 2-2, 0-0

St. Thomas Aquinas 0-4, 0-0

METRO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Cloverleaf 3-1, 1-0

Norton 3-1, 1-0

Woodridge 2-2, 1-0

Coventry 3-1, 0-1

Field 2-2, 1-0

Ravenna 2-2, 0-1

Streetsboro 2-2, 0-1

Springfield 0-4, 0-1

SUBURBAN LEAGUE AMERICAN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Highland 4-0, 1-0

Aurora 3-1, 1-0

Tallmadge 3-1, 1-0

Barberton 2-2, 1-0

Revere 2-2, 1-0

Copley 1-3, 0-1

Cuyahoga Falls 1-3, 0-1

Kent Roosevelt 1-3, 0-1

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE GREY DIVISION STANDINGS

Brookfield 3-1, 1-0

Garfield 3-1, 1-0

Champion 2-2, 1-0

Crestview 1-3, 1-0

Campbell Memorial 1-3, 0-1

Newton Falls 1-3, 0-1

LaBrae 0-4, 0-1

Liberty 0-4, 0-1

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE SCARLET DIVISION STANDINGS

Jackson-Milton 4-0, 1-0

Lowellville 4-0, 1-0

Mineral Ridge 4-0, 1-0

Waterloo 2-2, 1-0

McDonald 1-3, 0-1

Western Reserve 1-3, 0-1

Sebring McKinley 0-4, 0-1

Springfield 0-4, 0-1

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE VALLEY DIVISION STANDINGS

Hawken 3-1, 1-0

Berkshire 2-2, 1-0

Harvey 2-2, 1-0

Beachwood 1-3, 0-0

Cardinal 1-3, 0-1

Crestwood 1-3, 0-1

Grand Valley 1-3, 0-1

Wickliffe 1-3, 0-1

LOOKING AHEAD

WEEK 6 SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, SEPT. 23, 2022

Tallmadge at Aurora

Kent Roosevelt at Highland

Field at Ravenna

Springfield at Woodridge

Streetsboro at Cloverleaf

Coventry at Norton

Windham at Southeast

St. Thomas Aquinas at Rootstown

Warren JFK at Mogadore

Waterloo at Lowellville

Garfield at Champion

Crestwood at Berkshire