By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The pageantry of Opening Night is now behind us, but the excitement for Week 2 is still there.

Before we get into the details of everything that will happen on the field, I want to first shine the spotlight all of the stuff that is happening around the field.

Thank you to the marching bands for creating some of the best atmospheres that high school sports has to offer.

Thank you to the cheerleaders for always adding a layer of enthusiasm to the night.

Thank you to the dance lines, majorettes and flag lines for the entertainment with their detailed and disciplined choreography. I do have to ask, where have all the majorettes gone?

Thank you for all of the volunteers at the ticket gates, concessions, 50-50 raffle callers, Public Address announcers, spotters, statisticians, clock operators, chain gang crews, water boys and water girls.

Thank you to all of the athletic trainers and the long days they dedicate to their athletic programs.

Thank you to the first responders, who are always on site.

Thank you to all of the business sponsors, who are always willing to step up to support their local student-athletes, teams and schools.

Thank you to the student sections for the effort the put in to coordinating themes and Game Day energy.

Thank you to the parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, extended family and community members that fill the bleachers every Friday to support, cheer and celebrate their student-athletes.

Thank you to all of the volunteer coaches at the youth level, who volunteer their time without any financial gain, but for the growth of the sport, for the dedication and commitment to teach the next generation of players, for the enjoyment of building lifelong relationships and for giving back to their communities. On Friday nights, these coaches stand on the sidelines and watch their former players with proud hearts.

OPENING NIGHT IS GOOD FOR THE CATS

Mogadore football’s 31-8 victory on opening night over Crestwood was the program’s 18th win in Week 1 in the last 20 seasons.

The only two losses in that timeframe came to South Range (26-21 on Aug. 24, 2007) and Field (14-12 on Aug. 23, 2024).

RAVENNA BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN

The Ravens’ 28-7 win at Field last Friday was the program’s first Week 1 victory since the COVID-shortened 202 season.

The Ravens had lost the previous five Week 1 games, including defeats to arch-rival Kent Roosevelt the last three years.

NO. 1 FOR NATHAN BRODE

Waterloo head coach Nathan Brode won his first game as a leader of the Vikings last week, helping guide his team to an 8-3 victory at home over the Springfield Spartans.

Brode is in his 10th year as a head coach, having previously coached at Jackson-Milton, but it was the veteran mentor’s first win with the Vikes after going 0-10 last year in his first season in Atwater.

FRIDAY NIGHT FORECAST

The temperature is forecasted to be in the low 70s at kickoff, then drop only to the mid-60s by the end of the game.

The skies are expected to be clear, with no rain and very slight wind.

WEEK 2 SCHEDULE

Aurora at Painesville Riverside

Garfield at Crestwood

Field at Ellet

Willoughby South at Kent Roosevelt

Mogadore at Canton Central Catholic

Normandy at Ravenna

Rootstown at Independence

Southeast at Grand Valley

Manchester at Streetsboro

Waterloo at Beachwood

Chalker at Windham

TEAM RECORDS

No league games have been played at this point.

Aurora 1-0

Crestwood 0-1

Field 0-1

Garfield 1-0

Kent Roosevelt 1-0

Mogadore 1-0

Ravenna 1-0

Rootstown 1-0

Southeast 0-1

Streetsboro 0-1

Waterloo 1-0

Windham 0-1

PLAYOFF UPDATE

Of course, it is too early for playoff rankings to be viewed with too much conviction, but we will continue to track placements throughout the season so teams and communities can see how their teams’ postseason hopes are shaping up.

There are currently many ties inside each region because of just one week of the season completed.

DIVISION III, REGION 9

T1. Aurora

T4. Kent Roosevelt

DIVISION IV, REGION 13

T12. Field

T12. Streetsboro

DIVISION V, REGION 17

T3. Ravenna

T11. Garfield

T15. Crestwood

T15. Southeast

DIVISION VI, REGION 21

T6. Rootstown

DIVISION VII, REGION 25

T3. Waterloo

T5. Mogadore

STATS UPDATE

Weekly high school football statistical leaders will publish on Portage Sports beginning next week.

WEEK 1 RESULTS

Garfield 37, Warren John F. Kennedy 28

Rootstown 14, Southeast 13

Ravenna 28, Field 7

Aurora 36, Stow 34

Waterloo 8, Springfield 3

Mogadore 31, Crestwood 8

Kent Roosevelt 22, Twinsburg 19

Copley 28, Streetsboro 20

Plymouth 29, Windham 20

WEEK 3 LOOKAHEAD SCHEDULE

Friday, Sept. 4, 2026

Tallmadge at Aurora

Crestwood at Mineral Ridge

Poland Seminary at Field

Garfield at Springfield

Kent Roosevelt at Ellet

Dalton at Mogadore

Niles McKinley at Ravenna

Trinity at Rootstown

Cuyahoga Falls at Southeast

Streetsboro at Alliance

Waterloo at Lisbon David Anderson

Stryker at Windham (Saturday, Sept. 5)