By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Another Week 10 is upon us.

Just like all the others, arriving far too quickly.

Championships are on the line.

Playoff spots are within reach.

Those are two Week 10 moments that are filled with excitement.

For some, tonight will bring a much different emotion.

Some will play the final football game of their careers.

Best of luck to everyone for a safe and memorable final week of the season.

For the seniors who will say goodbye to the game tonight, congratulations to you for all of your hard work throughout your career and the legacies that leave behind for your program.

TONIGHT’S GAMES

Highland at Aurora

Revere at Kent Roosevelt

Field at Ravenna

Rootstown at Mogadore

Fairview at Crestwood

Southeast at Liberty

Garfield at Brookfield

Fairport at Windham

Waterloo at Campbell Memorial

Streetsboro at Cloverleaf

TONIGHT’S WEATHER

For Week 10, it would be difficult to complain about tonight’s weather.

A little bit of rain may peek its way into pregame warmups and ceremonies, but the radar shows that the rain should (*should*) subside by kickoff.

The temperature at kickoff is slated to be in the low 60s and hang in the mid to high 50s through the fourth quarter.

So, it will have a bit of chill in the air tonight, but it should still be a fun viewing experience and not miserably cold.

Bring a hoodie, jacket and blanket, but other than that, enjoy the game!

CHASING PERFECTION

Aurora and Streetsboro are seeking perfect 10-0 seasons.

Aurora hosts Medina Highland, which is also undefeated, in a Suburban League championship showdown.

Streetsboro plays at Cloverleaf (5-4).

There have been 25 10-0 undefeated seasons in Portage County history.

Streetsboro has done it only once before, coming in 2019.

Aurora’s program owns three 10-0 seasons, with theirs being in 1993, 1998 and 2019.

The complete list of 10-0 seasons include:

1966: Kent Roosevelt

1879: Mogadore

1980: Mogadore

1981: Rootstown

1983: Mogadore

1985: Mogadore

1987: Mogadore

1990: Crestwood

1990: Kent Roosevelt

1993: Aurora

1995: Mogadore

1996: Mogadore

1998: Aurora

2000: Mogadore

2001: Mogadore

2006: Kent Roosevelt

2010: Mogadore

2011: Southeast

2012: Mogadore

2014: Mogadore

2017: Rootstown

2019: Streetsboro

2019: Aurora

2021: Garfield

2023: Garfield

CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN

Aurora hosts Highland at Veterans Stadium in Aurora tonight.

The two teams enter perfect overall (9-0) and perfect in Suburban League play (6-0).

It is fitting for the two teams to meet tonight with a title on the line.

Both have been absolutely dominant all season — especially in league play.

In Aurora’s six league wins, it is outscoring its opponents 306-60.

In Highland’s six league wins, it is outscoring its opponents 332-21, with the Hornets posting defensive shutouts in four games this year. The Hornets have not given up more than 7 points since Week 2 in the team’s 50-20 victory over North Royalton.

For Aurora, every single one of its nine games this season have been played with a running clock at some point.

AURORA’S STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Rushing: Lucas Manderbach 72-798, 16 TDs; Xavier Board 79-634, 6 TDs.
• Passing: Ryan Dwyer 66-of-96, 1,188 yards, 14 TDs, 3 interceptions.
• Receiving: Ben Lukasik 20-220; Zach Pannetti 16-328; Quincy John 6-265.
• Defense: Tommy Tartabini 62 tackles, 11 TFLs; Lucas Manderbach 35 tackles, 9 TFLs, 7 sacks; Cole Walton 48 tackles, 6 TFLs.

HIGHLAND STATISTICAL LEADERS

• Rushing: Casey Myser 151-1,668, 31 TDs.
• Passing: Dylan Borla 71-of-94, 1,484 yards, 20 TDs, 1 interception.
• Defense: Ryan Zywiec 46 tackles, 15.5 TFLs, 7 sacks; Carson Noonan 37 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 6 sacks; Evan Foust, 61 tackles, 6 TFLs, 3 sacks.

UPDATED STATISTICAL LEADERS

This week’s football stats for multiple offensive and defensive categories can be found here.

UPDATED PLAYOFF RANKINGS

The complete listing for all teams can be found here.

Locally, here are where the coverage area teams (and some of their league members) are currently ranked.

Note that the top-16 teams from each region advance to the postseason.

DIVISION III, REGION 9

• 3. Aurora (clinched top eight and home game)
• 23. Kent Roosevelt (mathematically eliminated)

DIVISION IV, REGION 13

• 2. Streetsboro (clinched top eight and home game)
• 9. Norton (clinched playoff spot)
• 10. Field (clinched playoff spot)
• 16. Ravenna (playoff spot to be determined; could be in or out based on Week 10 region results)
• 19. Woodridge (mathematically eliminated)
• 23. Coventry (mathematically eliminated)
• 24. Springfield (mathematically eliminated)

DIVISION IV, REGION 14

• 12. Cloverleaf (clinched playoff spot)

DIVISION V, REGION 17

• 4. Garfield (clinched playoff spot)
• 16. Crestwood (control own destiny)
• 25. Southeast (mathematically eliminated)

DIVISION VI, REGION 21

• 15. Mogadore (playoff spot to be determined; could be in or out based on Week 10 region results)
• 16. Rootstown (playoff spot to be determined; could be in or out based on Week 10 region results)
• 21. St. Thomas Aquinas (mathematically eliminated)

DIVISION VII, REGION 25

• 4. Warren JFK (clinched top eight and home game)
• 8. Windham (clinched playoff spot)
• 18. Waterloo (playoff spot to be determined; could be in or out based on Week 10 region results)

LEAGUE STANDINGS

METRO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Streetsboro 7-0, 6-0

Norton 6-3, 5-1

Field 7-2, 4-2

Cloverleaf 5-4, 3-3

Ravenna 4-5, 3-3 

Woodridge 2-7, 2-4

Coventry 1-8, 1-5

Springfield 1-8, 0-6

PORTAGE TRAIL CONFERENCE

Warren JFK 8-2, 3-0

Mogadore 4-5, 1-1

Rootstown 4-5, 1-1

St. Thomas Aquinas 1-9, 0-2

SUBURBAN LEAGUE AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Aurora 9-0, 6-0

Highland 9-0, 6-0

Tallmadge 6-3, 4-2

Copley 5-4, 4-2

Revere 5-4, 2-4

Kent Roosevelt 2-7, 1-6

Barberton 1-8, 1-6

Cuyahoga Falls 2-7, 0-6

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Pymatuning Valley 8-1, 4-0

Windham 8-1, 3-1

Fairport Harbor 5-3, 3-1

St. John School 2-6, 1-3

Grand Valley 1-8, 1-3

Mathews 1-8, 0-4

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (SCARLET)

New Middletown Springfield 7-2, 6-0

Western Reserve 8-1, 5-1

Lowellville 6-3, 4-2

McDonald 6-3, 4-2

Mineral Ridge 4-5, 3-3

Campbell Memorial 3-6, 1-5

Waterloo 3-6, 1-5

Jackson-Milton 2-7, 0-6

MAHONING VALLEY ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (GREY)

Garfield 8-1, 6-0

Crestview 7-2, 5-1

LaBrae 7-2, 4-2

Liberty 4-5, 4-2

Southeast 3-6, 2-4

Brookfield 3-6, 3-3

Champion 0-9, 0-6

Newton Falls 0-9, 0-6

CHAGRIN VALLEY CONFERENCE (VALLEY)

Kirtland 9-0, 4-0

Chagrin Falls 6-3, 3-1

Berkshire 6-3, 2-2

Fairview 6-3, 2-2

Crestwood 5-4, 1-3

Cardinal 1-8, 0-4