High school football | Portage County-area Week 8 breakdowns, predictions

Check out our look at every Week 8 high school football game in Portage County:

Metro Athletic Conference

Cloverleaf (4-3, 2-2) at Field (6-1, 3-1)

• What to watch : After beating both Coventry and Springfield by 36-plus points, the Falcons enter a trickier part of their schedule with Cloverleaf followed by undefeated Streetsboro and resurgent Ravenna to close out the regular season. ... A year ago, the Falcons edged the Colts 14-0 in a low-scoring game, and it wouldn't be surprising if this year's game follows a similar script. Cloverleaf has scored just 13 points combined over the last two weeks against Norton and Ravenna — and the Falcons are known for their defense, which is allowing just 12.1 points per game. The Colts particularly struggled against the Panthers, who held them to just 208 yards of offense, with Ethan Gray's 89-yard rushing touchdown providing a good chunk of that total. Injuries have certainly played a role with Cloverleaf missing senior leaders QB Jordan Letner and RB Clay Combs ... Norton found plenty of success running the ball last week against Cloverleaf, tallying 233 first-half rushing yards, and Field will certainly look to do the same. Falcons star RB Drexal McAmis has hit the century mark seemingly every week , including 205 yards on just 15 carries Friday against Springfield.
• Who will win : Field 28-14

Ravenna (3-4, 2-2) at Streetsboro (7-0, 4-0)

• What to watch : The undefeated Rockets seek their sixth consecutive win over the Ravens, with the last four coming by at least 24 points. Then again, Streetsboro has been dominant against just about everyone this year , recording four straight shutouts and winning its last six games by at least 42 points. ... Expect an intriguing battle between a dominant Rockets ground game that amassed 331 yards last week (and 2,571 this season) and a Ravens defense that is allowing 6.7 points over the last three weeks. Ravenna's defense has sound players at all three levels, from DL Robert Melzer to LB Jaxon Kelly and DB Bryant Thompson, while Streetsboro has four players averaging at least 54.6 rushing yards per game — Cohen Klimak (80 carries, 900 yards, 18 TDs), Marcus Council (50 carries, 671 yards, 10 TDs), Logan Fincham (35 carries, 439 yards, seven TDs) and Janiere Cook (36 carries, 382 yards, seven TDs).
• Who will win : Streetsboro 42-14

Suburban American

Aurora (7-0, 4-0) at Roosevelt (2-5, 1-3)

• What to watch : The Greenmen aren't just undefeated. They are absolutely dominant, winning every game by at least 30 points. Their balance is a major factor as Ryan Dwyer has passed for 1,005 yards while completing 72 percent of his passes, and Aurora has also amassed 1,612 rushing yards at 7.2 per carry, led by Lucas Manderbach (61 carries, 599 yards, 12 TDs). ... Perhaps the biggest matchup, though, is between the Greenmen's stingy defense — they're allowing seven points per game — and ferocious pass rush and a Rough Riders team that loves to throw the ball. Aurora already has 16 sacks this year, led by Manderbach's six, increasing the pressure on Roosevelt QB Yahntae Smith to get the ball out quickly. The Rough Riders, trying to snap a three-game skid, have been held under 15 points in five of seven games this season.
• Who will win : Aurora 42-7

Chagrin Valley Conference

Crestwood (5-2, 1-1) at Berkshire (5-2, 1-1)

• What to watch : The league title is most likely going to Kirtland, which dispatched Berkshire 46-11 last week, but this is a huge game for playoff positioning with the Badgers and Red Devils sitting 10th and 13th, respectively, in Region 17. ... This CVC clash features two scorching backs. Berkshire's Justin Phillips has at least 60 rushing yards in three straight games, including 183 yards and four touchdowns against Cardinal. As for Crestwood's Nate Blasiole, well, he topped 300 rushing yards last week and already has 1,290 this season. ... Adding an extra wrinkle for the Badgers, QB Sam Barcikoski has passed for multiple touchdowns in three games this year, with five different players recording 90-plus receiving yards. .. Berkshire is looking for its third straight win against Crestwood.
• Who will win : Berkshire 28-14

MVAC Grey Tier

Newton Falls (0-7, 0-4) at Garfield (6-1, 4-0)

• What to watch : The G-Men have had to battle more for their wins this year after so many routs in past seasons, including last week's 20-13 victory over Liberty in which Garfield ran for 238 yards but gained just 4.4 yards per carry. That's fine for most teams but low by the G-Men's lofty standards. ... The beauty of this year's team is the way it spreads the ball around with Brandyn Bogucki and Harper Troyer tying for the team lead with 15 carries against the Leopards and Devin Bates close behind with 13. All four sit between 410 and 433 rushing yards this season. ... But let's not forget Garfield's defense, which amassed nine tackles for loss against Liberty (three by Logan Sell) and has yielded just 46 points combined over the last five weeks. ... That's a tough matchup for a Tigers team that hasn't scored since Week 4 and has racked up just 40 points all season.
• Who will win : Garfield 42-0

Brookfield (1-6, 1-3) at Southeast (3-4, 2-2)

• What to watch : The Pirates eked out a win at Champion last week but Brookfield is a tougher task, regardless of the Warriors' record. After all, Brookfield has taken on a challenging schedule and gave 6-1 LaBrae all it could handle last week. ... The Pirates have to be careful on special teams after the Warriors had two kickoff-return touchdowns a week ago. ... Otherwise, this is an enticing battle of electrifying athletes as Brookfield's Rico Smith had a rushing touchdown and a 75-yard kickoff-return score last week while Southeast's Bryer Pickana had 212 rushing yards to lead his team to victory at Champion.
• Who will win : Brookfield 35-28

MVAC Scarlet Tier

Western Reserve (6-1, 3-1) at Waterloo (3-4, 1-3)

• What to watch : Fresh off an emotional comeback win over Jackson-Milton , the Vikings get a Blue Devils team furiously seeking to bounce back from its first loss of the season. ... Last week was an aberration for Western Reserve. After scoring 35-plus points in four straight weeks, the Blue Devils were shut out 12-0 last week by Springfield. ... Both teams boast dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks. Reserve's Chris Pater has completed nearly two-thirds of his passes this season while racking up a team-leading 13 rushing touchdowns. Similarly, Waterloo quarterback Landon McClain leads his team in rushing (253 yards) to go with nine passing touchdowns. ... Both teams also boast bonafide top weapons, with Jack Darney leading the Blue Devils in rushing yards (822 yards at 9.2 per carry) and receiving yards and Matthew Ralston and Kade Thomas both topping 250 receiving yards for the Vikings.
• Who will win : Western Reserve 35-14

Nonleague

Grand Valley (1-6) at Rootstown (3-4)

• What to watch : Despite their record, the Rovers have been playing solid football of late, from lopsided wins over Akron North and St. Thomas Aquinas to hanging with Warren JFK, the top team in the Portage Trail Conference. ... Rootstown's ground game has really come together nicely, including 262 rushing yards against the Eagles, led by Damien Reuting (22 carries, 158 yards) and Nick Malek (nine carries, 88 yards). ... The Rovers, who had to contend with a very dangerous aerial attack last week, will have to be sound in the secondary against the Mustangs as well. Grand Valley's first win of the season last week started with a deep ball from QB Sammy Goforth to WR Ryan Waldo. Goforth later added a 41-yard TD pass to TE Nick Krieg, pointing to the havoc the Mustangs can wreak — although the Rovers, yielding just 14.1 points per game, are plenty capable of stopping them. Watch for Malek, also an electric defensive back, to lead that effort.
• Who will win : Rootstown 42-14

Collinwood (0-5) at Mogadore (2-5)

• What to watch : The Wildcats, off to their toughest start in decades, take on a new opponent in the Railroaders. Collinwood has had its own tough start, scoring just 22 points over its first four games (the fifth was a forfeit), as it seeks its first win since its 2023 opener against Lincoln West. ... Tough start aside, the Wildcats still have a decent shot at the postseason, but they need all the wins they can get, particularly to avoid an early trip to powerhouse Kirtland if they do qualify for Week 11. ... Mogadore gave Canton Central Catholic a solid battle last week, trailing 17-14 at the half, including a Will Baskey fumble-return touchdown, before going scoreless over the final 24 minutes.
• Who will win : Mogadore 42-7

Saturday, October 12

Windham (7-0) at Vanlue (0-7)

• What to watch : The Bombers take on a new opponent, and the Wildcats are interesting for reasons beyond the two-hour, 25-minute drive. Vanlue is in its second season as an independent after being dismissed from Blanchard Valley Conference football due to low numbers . The Wildcats, like the Bombers in recent years, have hovered precariously close to the 11 needed to field a full football lineup. ... That said, the teams find themselves in opposite places this year. While Windham is off to its first 7-0 start in several decades , Vanlue has lost seven straight, all by at least 32 points, and has dropped 14 straight going back to last year. ... The Bombers stayed undefeated by the tightest of margins last week, edging St. John in overtime behind yet another monstrous performance by Jack Eye, who had 332 rushing yards and four touchdowns against the Heralds.
• Who will win : Windham 42-0

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: High school football | Portage County-area Week 8 breakdowns, predictions