By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The seventh week of the high school football season is upon us.

League-championship scenarios are starting to come into focus, while playoff hopes are beginning to take shape.

With the OHSAA’s postseason expansion, the top-16 teams from each region will once again advance to the playoffs.

Tonight’s matchups carry implications for both title and playoff hopes.

I will be in Streetsboro to cover the Rockets and their Metro Athletic Conference matchup with the visiting Field Falcons.

The Rockets have won the last eight matchups with the Falcons.

The last win for Field over Streetsboro came on Sept. 14, 2012, with the two teams not playing each other in 2013 and 2014.

WEEK 7 SCHEDULE

Aurora at Tallmadge

Crestwood at Cardinal

Field at Streetsboro

Garfield at Liberty

Highland at Kent Roosevelt

Mogadore at Canton Central Catholic

Coventry at Ravenna

Warren JFK at Rootstown

St. Thomas Aquinas at Southeast

Waterloo at Jackson-Milton

St. John School at Windham

Springfield at Norton

Cloverleaf at Woodridge

FRIDAY NIGHT’S FORECAST

We continue to be treated to beautiful fall nights for football.

Tonight will be the same.

Kickoff temperature will be in the mid-60’s, with no rain and just a few clouds.

By the fourth quarter, it will dip to the high 50’s, but still no rain.

For me, being in Streetsboro, I look forward to confirming this forecast with Bob Long.

STATISTICAL LEADERS

This week’s updated list of statistical leaders can be reviewed here.

PIGSKIN PICKS

This week’s Pigskin Picks Challenge is sponsored by Universal Concrete and Excavating. 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 postseason.

• DIVISION III, REGION 9

6. Aurora

16. Kent Roosevelt

• DIVISION III, REGION 10

2. Norton

19. Cloverleaf

• DIVISION IV, REGION 13

2. Streetsboro

13. Woodridge

15. Field

20. Ravenna

24. Coventry

T25. Springfield

• DIVISION V, REGION 17

6. Garfield

15. Crestwood

• DIVISION VI, REGION 21

2. Rootstown

5. Mogadore

9. Southeast

T17. Waterloo

• DIVISION VII, REGION 25

T20. Windham

ASSOCIATED PRESS STATE POLL

The third Associated Press state poll was released this week.

Three teams cracked the list.

In Division IV, Streetsboro was ranked for the first time this season. The Rockets are ranked 13th in Division IV.

In Division V, the Garfield G-Men remain ranked, but dropped to No. 12.

Rootstown, in Division VI, is ranked seventh.

The full AP state poll can be viewed here.

STANDINGS

METRO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Norton 6-0, 3-0

Streetsboro, 5-1, 2-1

Woodridge 3-3, 2-1

Field 2-4, 2-1

Cloverleaf 3-3, 1-2

Ravenna 1-5, 1-2

Coventry 1-5, 1-2

Springfield 0-6, 0-3

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE

Rootstown 6-0, 1-0

Mogadore 5-1, 1-0

Southeast 5-1, 0-0

Warren JFK 1-4, 0-1

St. Thomas Aquinas 0-6, 0-1

SUBURBAN LEAGUE

AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Aurora 5-1, 3-0

Highland 5-1, 3-0

Kent Roosevelt 4-2, 2-1

Barberton 3-3, 2-1

Revere 3-3, 1-2

Tallmadge 2-4, 1-2

Cuyahoga Falls 2-4, 0-3

Copley 0-6, 0-3

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

GREY DIVISION

Garfield 6-0, 3-0

Brookfield 3-3, 2-1

LaBrae 3-3, 2-1

Crestview 2-4, 2-1

Liberty 2-4, 2-1

Newton Falls 3-3, 1-2

Campbell Memorial 1-5, 0-3

Champion 0-6, 0-3

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

SCARLET DIVISION

Western Reserve 5-1, 3-0

New Middletown Springfield 4-2, 3-0

Jackson-Milton 5-1, 2-1

Lowellville 5-1, 2-1

McDonald 4-2, 1-2

Mineral Ridge 4-2, 1-2

Waterloo 2-4, 0-3

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE

VALLEY DIVISION

Kirtland 5-1, 1-0

Berkshire 3-3, 1-0

Painesville Harvey 3-3, 1-0

Crestwood 4-2, 0-1

Cardinal 3-3, 0-1

Grand Valley 2-4, 0-1

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Mathews 1-5, 1-0

Pymatuning Valley 3-3, 0-0

Fairport 2-4, 0-1

St. John School 2-4, 0-1

Windham 2-4, 0-1

LOOK 8 LOOK-AHEAD SCHEDULE

Friday, Oct. 6, 2023

Kent Roosevelt at Aurora

Berkshire at Crestwood

Coventry at Field

Garfield at Newton Falls

Southeast at Mogadore

Ravenna at Springfield

Streetsboro at Woodridge

Waterloo at Western Reserve

Windham at McDonald