By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Tonight’s marks the tilt to the second half of the season.

Week 6.

All of the games have been important to this point, obviously, but the pressure of the schedule begins to heighten from this point forward.

As playoff positioning and league standings shape out, each game will be held to a higher standard.

Best of luck to all of the teams within these weeks.

And, as fans, enjoy the ride and support your team to the loudest of your ability!

STILL PERFECT IN AURORA, STREETSBORO AND WINDHAM

There are three teams still unbeaten in Portage County: Aurora, Streetsboro and Windham.

All three have been impressingly dominant.

Here is how they have gotten here, along with some historical perspective.

AURORA

   • Outscored opponents 218-28

   • Opponent’s combined win-loss record: 10-15

   • First 5-0 start since 2015

Week 1: at Twinsburg, 42-6

Week 2: vs. Lutheran West, 48-0

Week 3: at West Geauga, 37-0

Week 4: at Revere, 42-10

Week 5: at Copley, 49-12

STREETSBORO

   • Outscored opponents 269-27

   • Opponent’s combined win-loss record: 7-18

   • First 5-0 start since 2020

Week 1: vs. CVCA, 29-21

Week 2: vs. Normandy, 58-0

Week 3: at Alliance, 56-6

Week 4: vs. Coventry, 77-0

Week 5: at Springfield, 49-0

WINDHAM

   • Outscored opponents 223-58

   • Opponent’s combined win-loss record: 6-18

   • First 5-0 start since 1974

Week 1: at Lisbon, 49-6

Week 2: vs. East Palestine, 45-12

Week 3: vs. Jackson-Milton, 26-14

Week 4: vs. Tuscarawas Central Catholic, 42-0

Week 5: at Grand Valley, 61-26

FRIDAY’S GAMES

Cuyahoga Falls at Aurora

Copley at Kent Roosevelt

Ravenna at Cloverleaf

Warren JFK at Mogadore

St. Thomas Aquinas at Rootstown

Crestwood at Chagrin Falls

Springfield at Field

Streetsboro at Norton

Mathews at Windham

Waterloo at McDonald

Garfield at Southeast

FRIDAY’S WEATHER

The temperature at kickoff will be in the high 60’s and that will hold throughout the night and into fourth quarters.

Rain is definitely possible across Northeast Ohio.

This will be a night that a hoodie may be an outfit choice, with an umbrella in hand.

UPDATED STATISTICAL LEADERS

Check out the leaders across Portage County in multiple offensive and defensive categories here.

UPDATED PLAYOFF PICTURE

Here is a look at how area teams are sitting in the playoff discussion heading into tonight’s Week 6 games. The top-16 teams qualify for the playoffs. The complete listings for all divisions can be found here.

DIVISION III, REGION 9

2. Aurora

T18. Kent Roosevelt

DIVISION IV, REGION 13

4. Streetsboro

8. Field

19. Ravenna

DIVISION V, REGION 17

5. Garfield

10. Crestwood

22. Southeast

DIVISION VI, REGION 21

17. Rootstown

19. Mogadore

DIVISION VII, REGION 25

6. Windham

15. Waterloo

TEAM RECORDS

Aurora 5-0

Crestwood 4-1

Field 4-1

Garfield 4-1

Kent Roosevelt 2-3

Mogadore 2-3

Ravenna 1-4

Rootstown 2-3

Southeast 2-3

Streetsboro 5-0

Waterloo 2-3

Windham 5-0

PORTAGE COUNTY FOOTBALL COACHING WINS

1. John Nemec, Kent Roosevelt, 231
2. Bob Mihalik, Aurora, 206 (active)
3. Matt Adorni, Mogadore, 204 (active)
4. Tom Campana, Kent Roosevelt, 158
5. Norm Lingle, Mogadore, 150
6. Scott Pollock, Streetsboro/Mogadore/Southeast, 147
7. Tom Hannan, Crestwood/Rootstown, 134
8. Jim Lunardi, Ravenna, 126
9. Joe Leigh, Ravenna, 115
10. Jack Bair, Southeast/Aurora, 106
11. Matt Furino, Field, 103 (active)
12. Pete Thompson, Crestwood/Streetsboro, 100 (active)

PORTAGE COUNTY VS. PORTAGE COUNTY

For the 2024 season, the 12 Portage County football programs will play a total of 120 regular-season games.

Of those 120 games, only 11 games will include a Portage County team vs. a Portage County team. And three of those came in Week 1.

WEEK 7 LOOK-AHEAD SCHEDULE

Tallmadge at Aurora

Kent Roosevelt at Highland

Springfield at Ravenna

Canton Central Catholic at Mogadore

Rootstown at Warren JFK

Cardinal at Crestwood

Southeast at Champion

Liberty at Garfield

Windham at St. John (Saturday, Oct. 5)

Jackson-Milton at Waterloo

Field at Coventry

Woodridge at Streetsboro