From conference races to a battle of unbeatens, here’s what’s on The Slate for Week 6 of the Ohio high school football season.
Five weeks are in the books, and the second half of the Ohio high school football regular season begins Friday night.
Welcome to The Slate, a new weekly feature from CSwaff Media built to put some of the most notable matchups across the area — and the state — in one place.
No predictions. No picks. Just the teams, the numbers and the storylines worth knowing before kickoff.
Here’s what’s on The Slate for Week 6.
Marion Local (5-0) at St. Henry (3-2)
Friday, Sept. 25 | 7 PM
There isn’t much unfamiliar about this one.
Marion Local and St. Henry meet Friday night in a Midwest Athletic Conference matchup featuring two teams that have yet to lose in conference play.
The Flyers arrive at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the MAC after a 41-14 victory over Anna last week. That followed conference wins over Versailles and Delphos St. John’s, as Marion Local has continued its run as one of Ohio’s most consistent programs.
St. Henry’s season took a different path early. After opening 0-2, the Redskins have won three straight — all in conference play — including a 54-0 win over Parkway last Friday.
That puts Marion Local, St. Henry and Minster at 3-0 atop the MAC entering Week 6.
Something has to give Friday night.
St. Xavier (2-3) at Elder (5-0)
Friday, Sept. 25 | 7 PM
Two of Cincinnati’s most recognizable programs meet at The Pit with very different records — but plenty at stake in the GCL South.
Elder enters Friday unbeaten at 5-0 and has been dominant defensively. The Panthers have allowed just 30 points through five games while scoring 199.
The last two weeks have been particularly impressive: Elder shut out La Salle 35-0 before another 31-0 shutout last Friday against Louisville St. Xavier.
Cincinnati St. Xavier enters at 2-3 following a 30-15 loss to Moeller in its GCL South opener. The Bombers’ three losses have come against teams with a combined level of competition that makes the record worth examining beyond the win-loss column.
Friday represents another major test.
Elder is 1-0 in the GCL South. St. Xavier is 0-1.
And this one happens at The Pit.
Princeton (5-0) at Lakota East (4-1)
Friday, Sept. 25 | 7 PM
Princeton has answered every challenge so far.
The Vikings are 5-0 after knocking off Lakota West 27-24 last Friday, adding another notable win to a résumé that already includes a season-opening 31-24 victory over Moeller.
In between, Princeton handled Middletown, Colerain and Sycamore by a combined score of 133-20.
Now comes another GMC test.
Lakota East brings a 4-1 record into Friday night’s home matchup and gets its opportunity to hand Princeton its first loss of the season.
For Princeton, it’s the latest stop in an undefeated start that has included wins over some of Southwest Ohio’s most recognizable programs.
For Lakota East, it’s a chance to make some noise of its own.
Springboro (3-2) at Springfield (3-1)
Friday, Sept. 25 | 7 PM
The GWOC race is already beginning to take shape.
Springfield enters Friday at 3-1 overall and sits atop the conference at 2-0 after consecutive GWOC wins over Miamisburg and Centerville.
The Wildcats beat Miamisburg 41-14 before going on the road last Friday and beating Centerville 29-12.
Springboro comes in at 3-2 and 1-1 in conference play, but the Panthers will arrive in Springfield with momentum after a convincing 38-14 victory over Northmont.
Through two conference games, Springfield has scored 70 points. Springboro has scored 64.
With Springfield trying to remain unbeaten in the GWOC and Springboro looking to move back toward the top of the standings, Friday night’s result will carry weight beyond Week 6.
Valley View (3-2) at Oakwood (5-0)
Friday, Sept. 25 | 7 PM
Oakwood’s undefeated start gets another significant test Friday night.
The Lumberjacks are 5-0 overall and 2-0 in SWBL play after putting up 56 points against Waynesville last week.
Scoring hasn’t been difficult for Oakwood this season.
Through five games, the Lumberjacks have scored 228 points — an average of 45.6 per game — while allowing 56.
Valley View enters at 3-2 overall but is also unbeaten in conference play at 2-0. The Spartans have scored 149 points while surrendering 66 through five games.
There’s also a recent history worth remembering.
When these teams met last season, Valley View escaped with a 20-19 victory.
A year later, they meet again with both teams unbeaten in SWBL play — and Oakwood putting its perfect overall record on the line.
Big Walnut (5-0) at Ironton (5-0)
Friday, Sept. 25 | 7:30 PM
Two undefeated teams. Two No. 1 teams in their respective OHSAA computer regions. And a statewide television audience.
Big Walnut and Ironton provide one of Friday night’s most intriguing matchups anywhere in Ohio.
Big Walnut has overwhelmed its first five opponents, outscoring them 206-35. The Golden Eagles are coming off a 45-14 victory over Westerville South and have scored at least 39 points in four consecutive games.
Ironton’s defense has been just as impressive.
The Fighting Tigers are 5-0 and have allowed only 40 points all season. They beat Jackson 38-7 last week, and their first-team defense has surrendered only three touchdowns through five games.
Ironton sophomore quarterback Wyatt Wolfe threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns against Jackson while adding another score on the ground.
The first OHSAA computer ratings of the season have Big Walnut leading Division II, Region 7 and Ironton leading Division V, Region 19.
Friday night, they’ll meet in Ironton.
The matchup has also been selected as the statewide OHSAA Game of the Week on Spectrum News 1.
It’s hard to ask for much more from a Week 6 game.
Six games. Twelve teams. Plenty at stake.
That’s The Slate for Week 6.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Friday for five of the six matchups, with Big Walnut and Ironton scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
We’ll see what the board looks like when the lights come on.
