Pigskin Pick’Em: Week No. 8

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

Where has the time gone? It’s already Week No. 8 of a seemingly lightning fast football season. As we head down the home stretch, some teams are still fighting for a conference or league title or at least share of one. Others are fighting for higher playoff seeding or just a playoff spot period. A handful of games on this week’s schedule, including Van Wert at Ottawa-Glandorf, could help secure a home playoff game in the opening round.

For the third straight week, I went 16-3 (84.2 percent), which takes my overall season record to 118-39 (75.1 percent), still notably short of my stated goal of at least 80 percent correct picks. 19 more games are on this week’s Pigskin Pick’Em slate, including one that will be played tonight.

Games of the Week

Parkway (2-5) at Fort Recovery (2-5)

Parkway snapped a five game losing streak with a 23-7 win over Delphos St. John’s. Two of Fort Recovery’s losses have come by scores of 28-21, while another loss was by one, 29-28 to Anna, a team that upended previously undefeated Minster last Friday. The other losses have come to Coldwater and Marion Local. I do believe Parkway is improving and the Panthers are becoming more competitive, but I think Fort Recovery is the favorite in this one. I wouldn’t be shocked if Parkway wins but I’m going with the Indians.

The pick: Fort Recovery

St. Henry (4-3) at Minster (6-1)

Is this the game of the week in the MAC? It could be. These two state ranked teams appear to be pretty evenly matched. It is fair to note that all three of St. Henry’s losses have come to teams with a combined record of 21-0 (Celina, Archbold, Marion Local). Minster has a couple of quality wins (Fort Loramie, Coldwater), but the Wildcats were upset by Anna 14-13 last week. I feel like I should pick Minster in this one but something is telling me St. Henry is the correct pick. It really should be a great game, probably on the low-scoring side. I’ll go with the Redskins in a close one.

The pick: St. Henry

Tinora (3-4) at Wayne Trace (5-2)

Never mind Tinora’s 3-4 record. Two of the losses came to Liberty Center (7-0) and Archbold (7-0). There was another loss to Ostego, a Division IV team, and to Fairview, 28-26. The Rams had Fairview on the ropes, but the Apaches pulled out the win on the game’s final play. Having said that, Tinora hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record. Wayne Trace is on a bit of a roll right now and a win would help the Raiders in terms of playoff seeding. Honestly, I think this game is a tossup and one could argue Tinora is actually a slight favorite. However, I’m going with the Raiders at home in this one.

Cougars to face undefeated Titans

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

The Western Buckeye League has been full of surprises this football season. Among them – Celina and Ottawa-Glandorf. While the Bulldogs were expected to move up in the standings this season, an undefeated record after seven weeks didn’t appear to be in the cards. Then there’s Ottawa-Glandorf, a team that went 0-10 last season and had lost 11 straight games, but now is 7-0 (6-0 WBL) and ranked among the top 10 teams in Division IV.

Longtime O-G head coach Ken Schriner (30 seasons, 204 wins) retired after last season and assistant coach Ben Kaufman was hired to replace him – no easy task. However, under Kaufman’s guidance, the Titans steamrolled their first three opponents – Liberty-Benton, Defiance and Kenton, then snapped Wapakoneta’s long home winning streak in Week No. 4 with a 27-24 victory. Since then, O-G has topped Elida, St. Marys Memorial and Bath. The Titans and Wildcats were tied 0-0 at halftime last Friday, but Ottawa-Glandorf went on to post a 23-7 win.

“The big reason for the turnaround is that the players and coaches have bought in to the vision that I had in mind,” Kaufman said. “Our staff is doing an amazing job of coaching up our guys and instilling the mentality in them that is needed to overcome tough situations. The players are the main reason for this turnaround. They work their tails off every day and hold each other accountable.”

“Coach Kaufman has obviously injected excitement into their football program,” Van Wert head coach Keith Recker said. “To take them from 0-10 to undefeated this far is impressive and they are playing with a ton of confidence. I think our league, maybe even more than usual, is so competitive each and every week.” 

“O-G is obviously one of the best teams in the league and they were tied with Bath at halftime last week. So each and every week is going to be a competition that very well could come down to one or two plays that we have to make to get wins.”

Offensively, the Titans have been remarkably balanced this season and Kaufman credited offensive coordinator Darrin Fox. O-G averages 197 yards passing and 188 yards rushing per game. Running back Oscar Salsburey leads the team in rushing with 67 carries for 561 yards and seven touchdowns, while quarterback Tanner Vogt has 66 carries for 351 yards and eight scores. Vogt also has completed 103-of-145 passes for 1,340 yards, 15 touchdowns and just one interception. Deegan Miller has 30 receptions for 471 yards and four touchdowns, while Gage Bellman has grabbed 21 passes for 297 yards and four scores.

Another reason for the big turnaround – Ottawa-Glandorf rarely turns the ball over. The Titans have been intercepted just twice all season and have not lost a fumble. Meanwhile, the defense has forced a dozen turnovers.

Cougars vs. Titans have been close games

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

In recent years, the series between Van Wert and Ottawa-Glandorf has been a close one and Friday night has the potential to continue that trend.

Going back to the 2017 season, when Van Wert defeated the Titans 19-17, the game has been decided by a touchdown or less seven times. Three of those games went to overtime. While the games have been close in most of those years, the Cougars are 7-2 against O-G in the last nine games.

Here is a brief breakdown of Van Wert vs. Ottawa-Glandorf games going back to the 2017 season.

2017

At Eggerss Stadium, Van Wert led state-ranked Ottawa-Glandorf 19-3 after three quarters, then held on for a 19-17 victory. It was Van Wert’s first win over the Titans since the 2004 season. Van Wert’s three touchdowns came on a 21-yard pass from Nate Place to Jacoby Kelly, a 3-yard run by James Acquaviva and a 3-yard run by Jake Hilleary. Ottawa-Glandorf scored with less than 3:30 left in the game to pull within two, but the Cougars were able to run out the clock.

2018

Jake Hilleary had a 2-yard touchdown run in overtime and the defense stiffened, giving Van Wert a 40-34 win over the Titans. Van Wert led 14-3 midway through the second quarter but O-G came storming back and led 18-14 early in the third quarter. Nate Place scored twice in the third period, going in from 74 and three yards out, then Hilleary plowed in from three yards out nearly midway through the fourth quarter to give Van Wert a 34-18 lead. However, the Titans scored twice, including a 69-yard punt return by Jarrod Beach with 1:35 left, then scored a pair of two-point conversions to force the extra session.

2019

For the second straight season, Van Wert and Ottawa-Glandorf went to overtime but this time it was the Titans who came out on top 35-28. The game was tied 7-7 after one quarter and O-G led 14-7 at halftime. The Titans led 21-14 after three quarters and the Cougars scored a pair of touchdowns in the final period – a 1-yard run by Jake Hilleary and an 18-yard touchdown pass from Owen Treece to Dru Johnson, a score that sent the game to overtime. Van Wert had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but a 35-yard field goal attempt was wide left as time expired. Ottawa-Glandorf scored to open overtime then on their possession, Van Wert was hit with a personal foul penalty that created a second and 25 situation. The game ended with two incompletions and a failed hook and ladder play.

2020

Van Wert’s late two-point conversion pass was intercepted and Ottawa-Glandorf held on for a 35-34 win over Van Wert. The Cougars led 14-7 at halftime, but the Titans outscored Van Wert 21-6 in the third quarter and led 28-21 entering the fourth quarter. Owen Treece scored on a 25-yard run and ran for the two point conversion to tie the game 28-28. O-G scored on a quarterback sneak to regain the lead 35-28, then held on for the win. It was the only loss of the season by Van Wert, as the Cougars went on to win the Division IV state championship.

Knights prepping for state ranked Bluffton

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

CONVOY — The biggest challenge of the season awaits Crestview.

The Knights (2-5, 2-2 NWC), fresh off a 12-7 win over Delphos Jefferson, will finish the regular season with games against three opponents – all state ranked – that have a combined record of 19-2. First up on the list – the Bluffton Pirates.

The Pirates (6-1, 3-1 NWC) are coming off their first loss of the season, 26-21, to Lima Central Catholic, the second ranked team in Division VI. Bluffton led 14-0 in the second quarter before the Thunderbirds rallied for the win. However, the loss hasn’t changed how the Pirates are preparing for this week’s game.

“We approach every week the same, regardless of outcome the game before,” Bluffton head coach Jeff Richards said. “Our goal has always been to be better each day than we were the day before, and I feel our guys have done pretty well with that. We saw on the Lima Central Catholic film where we needed to improve, so our players are very motivated to put out a more complete performance this week.”

Bluffton is the top scoring team in the NWC, averaging nearly 44 points per game and the Pirates are second in scoring defense, give up 13 points per outing. On the offensive side of the ball, Bluffton, a senior laden team, has put up some gaudy numbers. Quarterback Tayte Giesige is the NWC’s leading passer, going 74-of-100 passes for 1,337 yards, 15 touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s also rushed for 393 yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries. Running back Parker Lovell is the NWC’s leading rusher with 93 carries for 956 yards (10.3 yards per carry) and 18 touchdowns. Blayne Hill leads the team’s receivers with 21 catches for 398 yards and five touchdowns. As a team, the Pirates lead the NWC with 423 yards of total offense per game.

“I have been very proud of the senior leadership of this group, and the commitment to keeping our standards high,” Richards said.

“They are a very good football team with some great athletes,” Crestview head coach Cole Harting said of the Pirates. “They have big play potential every time they snap the ball.  Defensively, they fly to the football and have done a great job creating turnovers. We will have to execute and be physical every single play.”

Prep roundup: volleyball and soccer

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Volleyball

Ottawa-Glandorf 3 Van Wert 0

State ranked Ottawa-Glandorf (No. 4, Division IV) overwhelmed Van Wert 25-7, 25-11, 25-7 on Tuesday. The Cougars will travel to Shawnee on Thursday.

Lincolnview 3 Allen East 0

HARROD — Lincolnview had no trouble with Allen East, winning 25-16, 25-9, 25-17 on Tuesday. The Lancers (14-5, 5-1 NWC) will host New Knoxville on Monday.

Crestview 3 Columbus Grove 1

COLUMBUS GROVE — Crestview remained unbeaten in NWC play with a 25-15, 25-17, 21-25, 26-24 win over Columbus Grove on Tuesday.

During the action-packed match, Kaci Gregory had 18 kills, while Ayla Kreischer and Kenadie Schwartz each had nine kills. Gregory and Kreischer each had 12 digs and Kinley Crider added nine digs. Nora Perkins and Crider finished with 24 and 22 assists. Delanie Balliet was 22-of-23 serving with five aces.

Crestview (10-8, 5-0 NWC) will travel to Wapakoneta on Monday.

Soccer

Bluffton 5, Lincolnview 0

The Lancers were shut out at home by Bluffton 5-0 on Tuesday. 

“We have to keep competing,” head coach Eli Alvarez said. “We have to keep showing up ready to work, ready to get better, and willing to be coached. That has to continue to be our focus as we move forward.”

Lincolnview will return to action Thursday at Fort Jennings.

OPSMA football notebook: Week No. 7

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COLUMBUS — Week 7 of the 2026 high school football season is in the books.

Football players from all over Ohio put up some amazing performances in the seventh week of the season. Here, the Ohio Prep Sports Media Association compiles the best of the best with the OPSMA High School Football Notebook.

Let’s take a look.

Best of the Best

-Highland’s Kane Stover had a hand in every point scored for his team as he ran 30 times for 187 yards, five touchdowns and one 2-point conversion, plus a 2-point conversion pass. On defense and special teams he was just as active, making 10 tackles with two for loss and punting three times for an average of 34.7 yards per punt in a double overtime 34-33 win over River Valley. Carter Myers of River Valley caught eight passes for 136 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Highland.

-Fairmont blanked Northmont 27-0 as Damien Patten caught 2 touchdown passes from Reagan Heffner. The craziest stat? Northmont never touched the ball on offense the entire second half. They fumbled both kickoffs and never touched the ball again, losing on possession 35:12 to 12:48.

-Mechanicsburg continued its dominance from the top of the OHC with a 49-15 win over Fairbanks. Quarterback Matthew Davis threw for 289 yards and 3 touchdowns, but get this: he also ran for 4 more touchdowns (16 rush, 148 yds) while wide receiver Camryn Runyon had 5 catches for 228 yards and 2 touchdowns in a huge win. Runyon also grabbed a interception. Junior linebacker Aidan O’Neal lead the defense with 13 tackles. They stay at 2-0 in the league and 6-1 overall.

-Devin McCormick was 18-25 for 373 yards and 5 touchdowns as Stebbins dominated West Carrollton 42-6. Anthony Harris caught 6 passes for 133 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win and a 35-yard interception returned for a touchdown.

-Troy defeated Butler in a shootout as the Trojans ran for 460 yards as a team. Casey Anderson (27 rush, 293 yards, 4 TD) was completely unstoppable, as was quarterback Colton Akins (11 rush, 140 yds, 2 TD). Drew Seuss was 31-41 with 441 yards and 3 touchdowns in the loss. Landon Thompson caught 12 passes for 186 yards for Butler. Troy stays undefeated in conference play.

-Running back Kenyon Norman had a day to remember, as he ran for 145 yards and 4 touchdowns as Lakota West shut out Middletown 35-0. Wide receiver Karmelo Jordan caught another touchdown (5 rec, 135 yds, 1TD), junior linebacker Jimme Green (11 tackles,1.5 TFL, 1 pass defended) & Judah Blair (9 tackles, 2.5 sacks) lead the defense, which was outstanding, and West (5-1) stays in contention for a conference title.

-Legendary Kettering Alter head coach Ed Domsitz became the third coach in Ohio history to reach 400 career wins. His Knights defeated Dayton Carroll 50-7. Miami-Ohio commit Drew Cripps had two touchdown runs and 77 yards rushing, in the process becoming the school’s all-time leader in career yards gained and touchdowns scored.

-Preble Shawnee’s Cole Deaton completed 12 of 13 passes for 262 yards and four touchdowns in a 62-6 win against Mississinawa Valley.

-Waverly senior quarterback Gunnar Myers had another big performance running and passing the ball Friday night as the Tigers defeated the Minford Falcons 48-24. Myers had two rushing touchdowns and three passing touchdowns. On the ground, he ran 26 times for 127 yards and 2 TDs. Through the air he was 17-of-28 for 320 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs. Up to this point in the season, he had only thrown two interceptions in total. His leading receiving target was senior Hez Nelson with seven catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

-Quarterback Key’Sean Torbert was fabulous directing the offense, throwing for 4 touchdowns and running for another as Princeton stayed undefeated with a 47-0 victory over Mason. Torbert connected with Lorenzo McMullan for 10 catches for 148 yards and 3 touchdowns. Anthony Jackson lead the defense with 7 tackles and a sack, 2 TFL and a pass defended. Princeton is 7-0 on the season.

-Austin Tatulinski, a sophomore running back at Strongsville, put on an impressive performance while also making a historic mark. He rushed for 145 yards on just 12 carries and scored two touchdowns as his team beat Mentor 56-30. This victory was special because it was the first time in 18 years that Strongsville had managed to win against Mentor and snapped their 21-game win streak.

-Dyllan Fink of St. Marys ran the ball 28 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns during a 43-42 win over Van Wert on Friday night in which he hit Tre Moore with a 20-yard TD pass as time expired.

-Liberty Center continued its myriad of winning streaks with a 62-0 blanking of Evergreen. The win for the 7-0 No. 1 Tigers is their 22nd straight overall, 52nd straight regular season win, 38th straight home win and 37th straight NWOAL victory. LC outgained Evergreen 491-29 with Garrison Kruse rushing nine times for 182 yards and three TDs and Penn commit Jaxton Lawniczak with two rushes for 64 yards and a TD, three catches for 57 yards and another score and six tackles with two sacks defensively.

Random Thoughts: Wynk, NIL, more

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports

This week’s installment of Random Thoughts includes some great news, plus toughts on an apparent NIL blunder, an interesting time in Colorado, a struggling college football team and the Chicago Bears.

Great news

It is certain to be an emotional night in Celina on Friday.

The game against Bath will be the final regular season home game for the Bulldogs and it will be Senior Night and one of the seniors will be on the field for the first time since the season opener. Quarterback Parker Wynk, who was severely injured in the Week No. 1 win over St. Henry, is expected to return home this week and will take part in senior night festivities.

It’s safe to say there won’t be a dry eye at Celina Football Stadium Friday night.

NIL blunder

I can’t tell you if it’s a big swing and miss on his evaluation, poor coaching or maybe a bit of both. I do know this – schools may want to reconsider paying a high school kid big bucks to play quarterback at the Division I level, at least until they’re sure they’re going to get their money’s worth.

I’m referring to Michigan and Bryce Underwood, who reportedly received a $12 million NIL deal over four years to come to Ann Arbor. Right now, it’s not working for anyone. Who knows, maybe things will turn around but that possibility seems light years away.

To me, this is something like the old NFL draft, pre-slotted first round salary era, when the first quarterback drafted would get a ton of money before ever taking a pro snap. More often than not, it wouldn’t work out. 

I can’t help but think schools are going to be much more conscious about agreeing to any deal like Underwood’s. The money could still be there – after they’re sure the player is the real deal.

Interesting weekend

Colorado State’s defensive coordinator apparently walked off in the middle of Saturday’s game. He was supposedly told in-game that he was being relieved of his play-calling duties and left. He was fired after the game.

Prep recap: soccer and volleyball

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Soccer

Delphos Jefferson 3 Crestview 1

DELPHOS — Emma Ward had one goal with the assist going to Evie Williman, but Crestview fell to Delphos Jefferson 3-1 in NWC soccer action on Monday. Williman had three shots on goal and Emily Foudy had a shot on goal. Ella Lamb had 14 saves on goal.

Crestview (1-11-1) will play at Fort Jennings on Saturday.

Volleyball scores

Delphos Jefferson over Van Wert 25-19, 21-25, 26-24, 25-8

Kalida over Crestview 26-24, 22-25, 25-27, 25-21, 15-7

Soccer finals to be played at new location

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COLUMBUS — The Ohio High School Athletic Association has announced that the OHSAA soccer state championships November 13-16 will be played at ScottsMiracle-Gro Field, home of Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew.

The 20,139 seat stadium in the Arena District near downtown Columbus opened in 2021 and hosted the OHSAA soccer state championships in 2021 and 2022 before the finals moved back to Historic Crew Stadium in 2023, 2024 and 2025. The OHSAA soccer finals were at Historic Crew Stadium from 1999-2020.

In addition to Columbus Crew matches, the stadium has hosted the U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Teams, the Big Ten Women’s Soccer Conference Championship, the Mid-American Conference Women’s Soccer Championship and many other events. The venue will also be home to Columbus NWSL 2028, the elite professional women’s soccer league’s 18th club that was announced in April.

The move is due to turf maintenance at Historic Crew Stadium, causing the OHSAA soccer finals, as well as other fall and winter events, to be relocated to ScottsMiracle-Gro Field to ensure the quality player and fan experience and pitch conditions desired for the competition in 2026.

2026 OHSAA soccer finals schedule

• Friday, November 13: Girls Division IV at noon; Girls Division V at 3 p.m.
• Saturday, November 14: Girls Division I at 1 p.m., Girls Division III at 4 p.m., Girls Division II at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, November 15: Boys Division IV at 1 p.m., Boys Division V at 7 p.m., Boys Division I at 7 p.m.
• Monday, November 16: Boys Division III at 4 p.m., Boys Division II at 7 p.m.

Local runners enjoy another strong showing

VW independent sports

OTTAWA — Another invitational, and another outstanding showing by local cross country runners.

Van Wert won the boys’ team title, while the girls’ team finished as the runner-up. In addition, Crestview’s Derek Young was the invididual champion and Lincolnview’s Maeleigh Evans was the runner up at the Kalida Wildcat Invitational at the Kalida Fish and Game Club.

The Cougar boys finished with 55 team points while Crestview finished with 66 points at the 21-team invite.

Once again, Van Wert was led by freshman Oliver Scott (fifth place, 16:16.96), while senior Quintin Parrish placed ninth (16:38.62). Along with Scott and Parrish, the Cougars had five finishers in the top 18. Calvin Byrum finished 15th (16:53.36), Alex Bauer was 16th (16:53.87) and Harrison Sloan was 18 (16:57.21).

Young was the day’s individual champion, racing to a winning time of 15:26.81, a mark that broke his own Crestview school record and continued his exceptional senior campaign. Crestview backed up Young’s victory with a tight, disciplined pack: Kale Vining placed seventh in 16:37.00, Hudson Perrott (17th, 16:56.32), Caleb Thomas (23rd, 17:20.44), and Andy Heth (25th, 17:27.09).

Lincolnview finished seventh as a team and the Lancers were led by Aaron Sawyer, who placed with a time of 16:50.35. He was followed by Max Hammons (42nd, 17:58.39), Evan Young (55th, 18:25.31), Ethan Renner (56th, 18:26.00), and Zander Coil (63rd, 18:31.71).

On the girls’ side, Evans finished as the runner-up behind Napoleon’s Gwen Huddle, who clocked a time of 17:33.49. Evans finished the course in 18:58.70, followed by Lancer teammates Kassidy Hammons (19th, 20:39.58), Josie Miller (23rd, 21:02.09), Addie Breese (44th, 21:58.20) and Moriah Bertsch (64th, 22:50.61). As a team, Lincolnview finished fourth (133 points).

A pair of top seven runners helped secure Van Wert’s runner-up finish in the team standings. Noelle Byrum led the Cougars (fifth, 19:17.28) and Symphony Schuerman (seventh, 19:46.58). Jasleen Sharma (14th, 20:14.37), Ava Keuneke (18th, 20:36.92), and Faith Stoller (20^th, 20:40.90) rounded out the top five for Van Wert (54 points).

The Lady Knights placed 12th out of 18 teams, led by a standout run from Emily Heth, who claimed 13th overall in 20:12.73. Lydia Grace followed with a steady performance, finishing 34th in 21:26.23. Kenzie Harting added a 79th place finish in 23:24.30, while Jetta Merkle crossed in 112th at 25:06.73. Ava Motycka placed 118th in 25:29.85.

Ottawa-Glandorf was the team champion with 50 points. Full results can be found here.

Van Wert, Crestview and Lincolnview will compete at this Saturday’s Coldwater Invitational, a meet known for fast times and deep competition.