By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

With two weeks of the regular season remaining, Streetsboro has a chance to remain within the championship discussion, but will need to defeat a talented Woodridge team tonight to do so.

Both the Bulldogs and Rockets enter tonight’s Metro Athletic Conference showdown with identical 4-1 league records.

Both are trailing Cloverleaf, which is undefeated at 5-0, in the league standings.

After tonight’s matchup, the Bulldogs finish in Week 10 at home against Cuyahoga Falls. Woodridge does not play Cloverleaf this year, which is a result of the MAC expanding to 10 teams for the 2026 season only (with Ravenna and Springfield exiting the conference for the fall of 2027).

In Week 10, the Rockets end the year at Tallmadge. The Rockets did have to play Cloverleaf this season, with the Colts deliver the Rockets’ their only league loss of the year — 42-35 in Week 6.

Cloverleaf’s final game of the regular season, next week for Week 10, will be at home against Norton, which also enters tonight with a 4-1 league record.

1,000 MILESTONES

Three running backs have now eclipsed the 1,000-yard milestone for rushing this season.

Leading the way is Streetsboro senior Logan Fincham, who has 1,152 yards.

It has been an incredible bounce-back season for Fincham, who was injured midway through 2025 with a broken collarbone before returning to the Rockets for their final playoff game.

He has scored 21 touchdowns to lead Portage County players.

Waterloo senior Keyshawne King has now totaled 1,111 yards rushing. Incredibly for King, he has amassed his milestone on only 90 carries for an average of 12.3 yards per carry.

King is a game breaker every time he touches the ball.

The third runner is Garfield junior Ryder Cain, who has 1,045 yards rushing. His total could, arguably, be higher, but he oftentimes has not played in complete games for the G-Men, who are 8-0 and winning by an average margin of 34.6 points.

MORE STANDOUT RUNNERS

Crestwood does not have a 1,000-yard rusher at this point, but they definitely have one of the most balanced backfields in the area.

The Red Devils have three players that have at least 600 yards rushing, which is a testament to the team’s offensive execution, a powerful offensive line and the trust in more than one standout.

Nick Hess leads the way with 856 yards, and he is followed by quarterback Michael Kalista with 701 yards and then running back Chris Mory with 653 yards.

The trio have totaled 2,210 yards rushing, and they average 7.3 yards per carry.

WATERLOO CANCELS GAME

For the second time in three weeks, Waterloo canceled its Friday night football game.

The program has been on a week-by-week evaluation since Week 7.

That is when the Vikings had to cancel a game for the first time, when it was scheduled to play at McDonald (8-0), but did not have enough healthy and available roster players to compete.

Waterloo played last week, losing to Jackson-Milton (1-7) 26-8 at home.

The Vikings were scheduled at Lowellville (4-4) on Friday, but announced on Sunday that the game would be canceled.

Week 10 has Waterloo playing at Campbell Memorial (3-5).

Waterloo opened its season with an 8-3 win at home over Akron Springfield, but has since lost its last seven games.

FRIDAY NIGHT FORECAST

Well, the first eight weeks of the season provided us with some of the most picturesque weather nights that we could have asked for.

That changes for Friday.

Expect rain.

Expect cold.

Temperatures will be in the high 40s at kickoff and will hold there throughout the game, but will be made less favorable by the rain that almost certainly will fall throughout the night.

PLAYOFFS UPDATE

Note: The top-12 teams in each region qualify for the playoffs.

DIVISION III, REGION 9

19. Aurora

21. Kent Roosevelt

DIVISION IV, REGION 13

2. Streetsboro (clinched playoff spot)

18. Field

DIVISION V, REGION 17

4. Garfield (clinched playoff spot)

14. Ravenna

16. Southeast

22. Crestwood

DIVISION VI, REGION 21

20. Rootstown

DIVISION VI, REGION 25

5. Mogadore (control own destiny)

24. Waterloo

The complete list of computer rankings can be found here.

TEAM RECORDS

Aurora: 3-5 overall; 2-3 Suburban League American Conference

Crestwood: 2-6 overall; 2-3 Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division

Field: 2-6 overall; 1-4 Metro Athletic Conference

Garfield: 8-0, 5-0 Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Division

Kent Roosevelt: 4-4 overall; 2-3 Metro Athletic Conference

Mogadore: 6-2 overall (no league record)

Ravenna: 4-4 overall; 2-3 Metro Athletic Conference

Rootstown: 3-5 overall; 1-4 Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division

Southeast: 3-5 overall; 3-2 Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Gray Division

Streetsboro: 6-2 overall; 4-1 Metro Athletic Conference

Waterloo: 1-9 overall (includes forfeit loss to Lowellville), 0-5 Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Scarlet Division

Windham: 3-5 overall; 3-4 Northern 8 Conference

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

Aurora at Barberton

Rootstown at Crestwood

Tallmadge at Field

Garfield at Crestview

Kent Roosevelt at Cuyahoga Falls

Mogadore at Marlington

Cloverleaf at Ravenna

LaBrae at Southeast

Woodridge at Streetsboro

Windham at Kennedy Catholic (Oct. 17)

LAST WEEK’S SCORES

Friday, Oct. 9, 2026

Ravenna 47, Cuyahoga Falls 36

Streetsboro 42, Field 0

Aurora 27, Brecksville 21

Conneaut 35, Rootstown 13

Mogadore 37, Clearview 14

Garfield 50, Newton Falls 14

Norton 14, Kent Roosevelt 13

Brookfield 36, Southeast 21

Crestwood 28, Fairview 21

Jackson-Milton 26, Waterloo 8

LOOK-AHEAD WEEK 10 SCHEDULE

Friday, Oct. 23, 2026

Copley at Aurora

Crestwood at Chagrin Falls

Field at Springfield

Garfield at Brookfield

Ravenna at Kent Roosevelt

Brush at Mogadore

Fairview at Rootstown

Southeast at Liberty

Streetsboro at Tallmadge

Waterloo at Campbell Memorial

Windham at Danbury

This week’s games

Last week’s scores

Next week’s games