From Ravenna-Roosevelt to Mogadore-Field, every local high school football game previewed

Here's our look at every Week 1 high school football game in Portage County:

Friday, Aug. 23

Ravenna (3-7 in 2023) at Roosevelt (4-6)

• What to watch : There are always plenty of angles to one of the state's greatest rivalries. A leading one this year is the promise of junior quarterbacks C.J. Ross and Yahntae Smith. Smith, who led a very promising Rough Riders drive down the field against the Ravens last year before suffering a season-ending injury, has the makings of a strong dual-threat quarterback with great athleticism and arm strength. Ross, who took over under center for the Ravens midway through the 2023 season, showed tremendous potential , particularly when he threw for three touchdowns against Field. ... Expect some great battles between standout wide receivers/defensive backs like Roosevelt's Jaden Dennison and Jaiden Portis and Ravenna's Bryant Thompson, regardless of which team is attacking or defending. ... Oh, and the rivalry will also feature the Ravens' Bobby Melzer and the Rough Riders' Carter Foreman, two of the area's top linebackers.
• Who will win : Roosevelt 28-21

Crestwood (5-6) at Rootstown (9-2)

• What to watch : There's a pretty obvious angle to this clash — the fifth straight season the Red Devils and Rovers have opened against each other — as well. That angle? New Rootstown head coach Tom Hannan, who spent a good portion of his coaching career leading the way at Crestwood. ... Friday's battle also represents a face-off between Red Devils senior Nate Blasiole (276 carries, 1,780 yards, 25 TD in 2023), one of Portage County's leading runners, and a Rovers team that will be breaking in a new lead back but one that has historically produced great runners. Indeed, Rootstown has had 2,000-yard runners in back-to-back seasons (Cody Coontz in 2022 and Dawson Morgan in 2023) with Damien Reuting looking to continue that legacy behind a strong line. ... It will also be intriguing to watch Blasiole run the ball against one of the area's top defenses, including an absolutely loaded Rovers linebacker corps led by Dalton Duvall, Brian Youngblood and Reuting.
• Who will win : Rootstown 21-17

Mogadore (11-3) at Field (4-7)

• What to watch : The Wildcats have won all four of their games against the Falcons since the rivalry resumed in 2019 — although Field came inches from pulling the upset in 2022 . Expect the 2024 battle to be one of inches as well as powerful Falcons runners Victor Brown and Drexal McAmis fight for every inch against a loaded Wildcats defensive front that includes linemen Dylan Benedum and Nick Stephenson and linebackers Will Baskey, Cole Reese and Aaron Rumschlag. ... On the other side of the ball, expect a similarly fun battle between a strong group of Mogadore runners highlighted by Reese and Rumschlag and Brown, one of the area's top linebackers.
• Who will win : Mogadore 24-21

Aurora (11-2) at Twinsburg (7-5)

• What to watch : The Greenmen open up against the Tigers for the second straight season after edging Twinsburg in a 17-7 battle a year ago. Can the Greenmen keep a very dangerous Tigers aerial attack in check again? It will certainly be a fascinating battle between Joey Pollock, Twinsburg's all-state quarterback who is set to break several school records, and a ferocious Aurora pass rush led by Lucas Manderbach, who set the program's single-season sack record last year.
• Who will win : Aurora 28-21

Edgewood (6-5) at Garfield (12-1)

• What to watch : After more than two decades of opening against Cardinal, the G-Men finally had to find a new Week 1 opponent: Edgewood, which is coming off a 6-5 season. ... The G-Men and Warriors actually have a lot in common. Both graduated particularly irreplaceable senior classes, with Garfield's highlighted by Eric Geddes, Keegan Sell and Jon Wiczen and Edgewood's highlighted by record-setting quarterback Tony Hall. Both will look to extend their winning ways on the strength of strong lines, with the G-Men set to be led up front by Mike Huebner and Ivan Trent.
• Who will win : Garfield 35-21

Springfield (0-10) at Waterloo (3-7)

What to watch : The Vikings add a new opponent this year in the Spartans , who look to snap a 27-game skid with their last win coming against St. John in September 2022. ... Waterloo, coming off three straight three-win seasons, actually went 3-1 in nonconference play last year, but has to adjust to the loss of Jayden Hakin, their leading ballcarrier over the last two years. ... Expect new Vikings quarterback Landon McClain and electric pass-catchers Keyshawne Anderson and Matthew Ralston to initiate a more open offense, while the Spartans are likely heading the opposite way as they look to run the ball more led by Mason Braswell, last year's lead back.

Who will win : Waterloo 21-17

Windham (2-8) at David Anderson (7-4)

• What to watch : Two veteran teams will meet in Lisbon as the Bombers seek revenge for last year's 41-6 rout at the hands of the Blue Devils. ... David Anderson, fresh off a 7-4 finish, should be formidable once again, with star runner Ashton Hinchliffe (1,269 rushing yards in 2023) back behind a line that returns four starters. ... Windham, which struggled to score last year (scoring in the single digits in seven of 10 games), should have no such issues in 2024 if healthy led by electric backs Carlos Bruton and Jack Eye. Don't be surprised if this game keeps the scoreboard operator busy.
• Who will win : David Anderson 35-21

CVCA (8-3) at Streetsboro (10-2)

• What to watch : The Rockets open up against the Royals for the second straight season after winning last year's game by two touchdowns. ... The rematch features two of the top athletes in the area: CVCA's Joey Kopec, an all-state linebacker who will become an increasingly important part of the Royals offense this year at running back, and Streetsboro's Cohen Klimak, a state-caliber wrestler who put up monster numbers in his first year under center . ... A year ago, Klimak ran for 123 yards (4.7 per carry) against the Royals while Jackson Gula and Trace Herman recorded double-digit tackles. ... Also watch for uber-talented running back Marcus Council in his Streetsboro debut.
• Who will win : Streetsboro 28-24

Saturday, Aug. 24

Southeast at Akron Garfield

• What to watch : The Pirates have a new opponent to open up the 2024 season. While the Golden Rams went 2-8 last year, they return considerable experience, including third-year starting quarterback Kevin Strickling and 6-4 wide receiver Brima Barry. ... Of course, Southeast has its own assortment of weapons to use against a Garfield team that yielded 31.6 points per game in 2023. The Pirates' toolbox includes quarterback Joe Sharish surrounded by brothers Antonio and Austin Mejia and tight end Jack Muldowney, with Antonio Mejia rushing for 1,053 yards last year.
• Who will win : Southeast 31-21

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: From Ravenna-Roosevelt to Mogadore-Field, every local high school football game previewed