League titles, playoff berths on line in games to see

When it comes to high school sports, northwest Ohio has some of the strongest, staunchest fan support in the state. The local team obviously draws the most interest in this rural-rich, small-town area of the state. But there are also some games every week that coaches counting Harbin points and fans lining the fences and packing the stands will want to check the morning paper just to see "Who Won?" Here's a look at a few of them… McComb (8-1, 4-1 BVC) at Liberty-Benton (8-1, 6-0 BVC) McComb has won seven BVC football championships since 2010. Liberty-Benton has won eight since 2004. In many of those years, it was the result of this matchup, which has been a Week 10 showdown every season since 2016, that determined who wore the crown. McComb won outright titles in 2021 and 2022 thanks to Week 10 wins over L-B. L-B's win in 2019 gave the Eagles the outright crown that season. The two schools shared the 2017 BVC championship because of Liberty-Benton's 26-0 win in the final game of the regular season. McComb has won four straight since a 42-14 loss to Pandora-Gilboa. L-B has won six straight sine 24-14 loss to Columbus Grove. Both teams feature marquee talent surrounded by an excellent support system. Braxton Althauser is having an all-world season at McComb. The senor back leads the BVC in rushing (1,502 yards) and, including receiving yards and kickoff and punt returns, has 2,165 all-purpose yards and has scored 30 touchdowns. The Panthers lead the BVC in rushing (3,046 yards) and total offense (418.1 ypg). Defensively, Nic Bormuth leads the league with 19 tackles for loss and Owen DeWeese has 16. Central to Liberty-Benton's success has been the play of senior quarterback Mason Modd, who leads the BVC in passing accuracy (107-of-146, 73.3 percent), quarterback rating (144.2) and passing efficiency (222.0). He's thrown for 1,752 yards and 23 TDs, and has one of the top receivers in the league in Seth Elchert, tops the rankings in receptions (58) and yards (816) and is tied for most TD catches (11). Austin Collert (18 tackles for loss), Brady Birkemeier (81 tackles) and Zach Elchert (69 tackles) head up a defense that has allowed the fewest total yards (215.8 ypg) and points (12.6 ppg). Bluffton (9-0, 6-0 NWC) at Columbus Grove (7-2, 6-0 NWC) Bluffton and Columbus Grove are 1-2 in the Northwest Conference in offense and 1-2 in team defense. Only one can be No. 1 in the standings, though, after Friday's showdown between the co-leaders. Columbus Grove won outright or shared four straight NWC titles from 2018 through 2022. A trademark of those teams was steadfast defense, but it's Bluffton that is getting rave reviews for its defensive play this season. The Pirates have shut out seven straight opponents and are allowing just 3.1 points a game. Grove was outscored 79-74 during a 1-2 start to the season but has been defensively dominant as well, outscoring opponents 257-48 during the Bulldogs' current six-game win streak. Friday's matchup will feature two of the top backs in the league. Grove's Trenton Barraza leads the NWC with 902 yards rushing and has scored 10 touchdowns. Bluffton's Landen Worcester is right behind with 898 yards and 13 TDs. Both quarterbacks have been extremely effective and productive. Grove's Landon Best has competed 53-of-71 passes (74.6 percent) for 703 yards with 12 TDs and just one interception. Bluffton's Garret Bogart has completed 29-of-41 passes for 571 yards with nine TDs and no interceptions. Gavin Bogart is a dual thret with 291 yards rushing, 174 receiving and 10 total TDs. Tiffin Calvert (8-0) at Hopewell-Loudon (9-0) Talk about a battle of unbeatens for all the marbles. Both are already locked into the playoffs, but the little matter of the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division championship first. Hopewell-Loudon opened the season with a 36-19 win over Northern 10 Conference champion Carey and has been rolling ever since. Every win by the Chieftains has been by at least a two-touchdown margin. Calvert was tested right out of the gate, beating Mohawk 14-12 and going overtime to defeat Monroeville 45-34. Hopewell-Loudon has outscored its last two opponents 103-6; Calvert has outscored its last two 90-0, so neither team is lacking for the offense needed to get a lead or the defense needed to protect it. Elmwood (3-6, 2-3 BVC) at Pandora-Gilboa (6-3, 4-1 BVC) Pandora-Gilboa will need to be focused against an Elmwood team that has won two of its last three games. But the Rockets will also be keeping an ear out for updates on the McComb/L-B game. P-G lost a close 33--28 decision to Liberty-Benton in Week 8. But the Rockets also own a 42-14 win over McComb that has them in the thick of the BVC title chase. P-G features the BVC's top passing attack led by quarterback Cory Gerten (153-251, 2,015 yards, 23 TDs) and receivers Aidan Morris (54 receptions, 755 yards, 11 TDs), Chase Meyer (19, 283, 2 TDs) and Carson Meyer (21, 260, 2 TDs). They also have one of the top backs in the league in Andrew Miller (811 yards, 11 TDs). Elmwood should be well prepped for P-G's passing game. Last week the Royals faced veteran spread offense coach Bob Olwin and an Eden team that thrives on a wide-open offense and shut down the Bombers, 52-8. The Royals also got a workhorse 35-carry, 307-yard, six-touchdown game from senior back Brennan Hiser.