Week 6 preview: Indian Valley racking up rushing yards along with perfect record

It was a tough week for Times-Reporter-area teams in Week 5 of the high school football season, as five of the nine Tuscarawas County schools sustained losses, so it’s bounce back week as teams begin the second half of the regular-season.

Here is a look at the Week 6 matchups:

Friday’s games

(All 7 p.m. starts)

Canfield (2-3) at Dover (3-2)

Last season: Canfield 17, Dover 13

Dover has had a number of starters sidelined by injuries the past two weeks.

“As of this week, it might be as much as seven,” said Dover head coach Dan Ifft of the number of starters who may be out Friday night. “We’re waiting on (the results) on two of them (Monday). ... We have a little ways to go, we’re not quite at this point of the team that played Green in Week 1, I can tell you that. But you know what? Nobody feels sorry for us. Get up and let’s get better.”

The Tornadoes ventured to Steubenville’s Harding Stadium last Friday and sustained a 42-7 loss to the unbeaten Big Red.

“We’ve got to play better defense, obviously, and we’ve got to block better than we did last Friday,” said the Dover head coach.

Ifft did laud several players for top efforts last week.

“Daylen Clark has been playing tremendously steady for us,” the Dover coach said. “He plays very well defensively and offensively, and his younger brother, the freshman cornerback (Dante Clark), has been solid all year long. Those two kids did a great job of tackling in the open field and TJ Arnold has been a consistent guy for us, and so has Jack McKinnon. Those are the two kids up front that have been trying to hold us together a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Canfield is going through a rebuilding season by their standards after veteran coach Mike Pavlansky retired following last year’s campaign. The Cardinals are coming off a rare 22-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Youngstown Chaney Cowboys.

“(New Canfield head coach Joe Ignazio) has got a smattering of veterans, like we do,” Ifft said. “The similarities are we’re both proud programs, and we’re both limping a little right now, so both teams are going to come out scratching and clawing, I guarantee it.”

The Cardinals have had trouble scoring this season. Entering Week 6, they have scored just 50 points, an average of 10 points-per-game. On defense, Canfield is surrendering 21.6 ppg.

By comparison, Dover is averaging 29.6 ppg and giving up 24.6 ppg. The Tornadoes were only giving up 12.0 points-per-game through Week 3 before the injury bug hit them the past two weeks.

“We’re tinkering as coaches but (adjusting on the fly) is the beauty of high school coaching,” Ifft said. “If you can’t find the next man up, you better do something X and O’s-wise schematically to help the kids, and that’s kind of what we’re working on now.”

Dover leads the all-time series with Canfield, 6-5.

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New Philadelphia (2-3) at Linsly (W.Va.) (0-4)

Last season: The teams did not play

The two schools haven’t played since 1938 (a 20-0 home win by the Quakers). The game will be played at the West Family Stadium at West Liberty University in West Liberty, West Virginia.

“We’re fortunate we get to go play in a nice place,” New Philadelphia head coach Mike Johnson said. “It’s a new experience for our kids, we get to go to a college campus and play football and that in itself is pretty nice, and then to play a team we haven’t played for 80-some years."

New Philadelphia will try to rebound from a tough 20-19 overtime loss to a previously winless Mansfield Senior team last Friday night at home.

“We’ve got to play good enough to win and we had chances throughout the course of that game and didn’t make enough of the opportunities that we had,” Johnson said. “We had too many penalties, too many missed assignments, and when you get that, it stops momentum and puts them (the opponent) ahead of the sticks. We just didn’t do a very good job of that and that’s something we have to take a little time and a little pride in this week to rectify and fix.

“Collectively we had some kids make some nice plays,” the Quakers’ coach continued. “We had some kids make some nice runs and catches, throws and tackles, but in large when I look at what we did, it’s about us, and collectively we didn’t play well enough.”

Linsly, which is traditionally strong with DI-type players on its roster, has struggled this season with a young, inexperienced team. The Cadets are 0-4 and suffered a 54-8 pounding from Bridgeport (W.Va.) last week.

The Cadets have been shut out in two of their four games and have scored just 21 points all season, an average of 4.2 points-per-game. Meanwhile, the Linsly defense has surrendered a whopping 190 points, for an average of 38 ppg.

By comparison, New Philadelphia is averaging 18.8 points-per-contest on offense and its strong defense is yielding just 15.6 ppg.

“Their quarterback does a good job getting the ball out to his receivers, so defensively it’s about running to the ball, and after watching us last week, we just need to get back to those fundamentals,” Johnson said. “Just running, playing hard and physical.

“As far as a game to really focus on getting ourselves better, this is a great one.”

Garaway (5-0) at Claymont (0-5)

Last meeting: Garaway 42, Claymont 7

Unbeaten Garaway, which has moved up to Division V this season and is one of the powers in Region 17, along with South Range, Manchester and Poland, opens Inter Valley Conference South play vs. the Mustangs.

The Pirates, who advanced to the D-VI state semifinals last fall and returned a wealth of talent from that team, have been impressive on both sides of the football through the first half of the regular season. They are averaging 34.4 points-per-game and their traditionally strong defense has been lights out again. Garaway has given up just 34 total points.

The Pirates are coming off a 41-8 romp over previously unbeaten Malvern.

“After a sloppy first half, with three turnovers and multiple penalties, I thought we regrouped and played well in the second half,” Garaway head football coach Jason Wallick said of the Malvern game. “We were able to physically wear them down, and we took care of the football. They (the Hornets) are an extremely talented football team, and I expect them to have a long postseason run.”

The Pirates’ top offensive players from the Malvern game included running back Dillon Soehnlen, a returning All-Ohioan who had 147 yards rushing and three touchdown runs, as well as quarterback Brady Geibel, another returning All-Ohioan, who threw for 116 yards, including a 12-yard TD pass to Bronson Speedy.

Leading the Garaway defense last week were Speedy, who stopped a Malvern drive with an interception in the end zone, and Micah Yoder who had an interception return for a touchdown, as well as Dillon King (seven tackles and 3-1/2 sacks).

Claymont enters Week 6 with an 0-5 record and was defeated by unbeaten Newcomerstown, 43-8, last week. The Mustangs are averaging 13.7 points-per-game and allowing 33 points-per outing.

Garaway holds a 6-1 lead in the series with the Mustangs.

Sandy Valley (2-3) at Indian Valley (5-0)

Last season: Indian Valley 40, Sandy Valley 6

Unbeaten Indian Valley, which is one of the top D-IV teams in Ohio, and Sandy Valley open Inter Valley Conference South Division play. The Braves blasted Buckeye Trail, 39-8, last week, while Sandy Valley blanked a second consecutive opponent, shutting out Tuscarawas Central Catholic, 45-0.

The Braves’ rushing game has been nothing short of phenomenal through the first five weeks. Indian Valley is averaging 410 yards per game.

Indian Valley’s All-Ohio junior running back Grady Kinsey has rushed for 1,282 yards, an average of 257 yards per game, and scored 18 touchdowns. He leads Ohio (all divisions combined) in rushing yards. Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Ryker Williams gives the Braves a strong 1-2 punch in their rushing attack, as he has rushed for 486 yards (97.2 per game) and has tallied five touchdowns on the ground. He has also thrown for three scores.

As a team, Indian Valley, which leads the Division IV Region 15 computer rankings, is averaging 49.6 points-per-game, while its defense is surrendering 20.8 ppg.

Sandy Valley’s top offensive weapon is senior wideout-defensive back Lukas Gilland, a returning All-Ohioan who is averaging just over four catches per game for an average of 74 yards per-contest with five touchdowns. Sandy Valley’s first-year starting quarterback Drew Graybill has thrown for 643 yards and four touchdowns. As a team, Sandy Valley is averaging 33.6 points-per-game and allowing 12.8 ppg.

Indian Valley holds a commanding 21-3 lead in the series with the Cardinals.

Tusky Valley (2-3) at Ridgewood (5-0)

Last season: Ridgewood 14, Tusky Valley 7

It’s the IVC South opener for both teams. Ridgewood posted a 35-7 win over the Strasburg Tigers last Friday evening.

Ridgewood’s defense has dominated every team on its schedule thus far. The Generals have surrendered just nine points (1.8 ppg.) all season. They have shut out three teams in River View, Carrollton and Utica.

Tusky Valley enters Week 6 coming off a 21-20 win over the East Canton Hornets in an IVC crossover game. The Trojans are averaging 16.6 points-per-game on offense and allowing 34.4 points-per-outing on defense.

Tusky Valley holds a 15-12-1 edge over Ridgewood in their all-time series.

Strasburg (2-3) at Malvern (4-1)

Last season: Malvern 49, Strasburg 6

It’s the 63rd meeting between the Hornets and Tigers in their long-time series and the IVC North opener for both.

Malvern is coming off a one-sided 41-8 setback to unbeaten D-V power Garaway, while Strasburg also lost to an unbeaten team last week, dropping a 35-7 decision to the Ridgewood Generals in an IVC crossover battle.

Malvern has been paced all season by the quarterback-receiver combination of signal-caller Jared Witherow and receiver Rodney Smith, a pair of returning All-Ohioans. Witherow has thrown for 907 yards and nine touchdowns, while Smith has caught 23 passes for 500 yards and eight scores.

Malvern holds a 40-22-1 advantage in the series with the Tigers.

Newcomerstown (5-0) at East Canton (1-4)

Last season: Newcomerstown 46, East Canton 7

Newcomerstown, which is unbeaten and currently holds down the No. 3 spot in the D-V Region 23 computer rankings, will initiate IVC North action Friday when it ventures to East Canton to play the Hornets.

The Trojans, who made the playoffs last season and won a first-round playoff game, have returned many players from that team that has dominated their first five opponents on both sides of the ball.

Newcomerstown is averaging 41.8 points-per-game, while its defense has only given up 21 points, an average of 4.2 ppg.

The Hornets’ lone win this season occurred in Week 4 in a 43-6 win over winless St. Thomas Aquinas. East Canton is averaging 21.4 points-per-game and its defense is giving up 20.8 ppg.

East Canton leads the series with the Trojans, 10-5.

Buckeye Trail (3-2) at Conotton Valley (3-2)

Last season: Did not play

Both Conotton Valley and Buckeye Trail had their original opponents cancel because of injuries: Trail was set to play TCC and Conotton Valley was scheduled to host Trinity Christian (W.Va.).

Trail and Conotton Valley haven’t played since 1996.

Conotton Valley recorded a 41-6 win over the Bridgeport (Oh.) Bulldogs last weekend. The Rockets are averaging 27.8 points-per-game while surrendering 20.6 ppg.

Buckeye Trail is coming off a 49-8 defeat to unbeaten Indian Valley in an IVC crossover game. The Warriors check in to Week 6 averaging 22.2 points-per-game while giving up 36.6 ppg.

Conotton Valley leads the all-time series with the Warriors, 6-4.

Carrollton (3-2) at Marlington (1-4)

Last season: Carrollton 41, Marlington 35

Carrollton opens Eastern Buckeye Conference play. The Warriors pitched a second-half shutout to slip past the Garfield Rams 10-7 last Saturday afternoon in Akron. After falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter, the Warriors scored 10 points in the second quarter and made it stand up for the win.

Meanwhile, Marlington has struggled this season and had lost four straight games after winning its season opener against Warrensville Heights, 24-12.

Marlington owns a 25-11 lead in the series with the Warriors.

West Holmes (3-2) at Wooster (1-4)

Last season: West Holmes 43, Wooster 40

Wayne County rivals West Holmes and Wooster will collide in an Ohio Cardinal Conference game at Follis Field.

The Knights slipped past the Mansfield Madison Comprehensive Rams  23-21 in Millersburg last weekend in OCC action, while Wooster, which has lost three straight games, was defeated by the Lexington Minutemen 41-28 in a league matchup.

West Holmes is led by its standout dual-threat quarterback Morgan Smith. The Knights’ offense is averaging 23 points-per-game, while its defense is allowing 23.2 ppg.

Meanwhile, Wooster is scoring 21.6 points-per-outing and surrendering 31.8 ppg.

The Generals lead the all-time series with the Knights by a 15-6 tally.

Orrville (2-3) at Fairless (3-2)

Last season: Orrville 38, Fairless 28

Fairless will entertain the Orrville Red Riders Friday night in a Principals Athletic Conference encounter.

The Falcons will be looking to get back on the winning track after suffering defeats in the past two weeks to a pair of teams with a combined 9-1 record in unbeaten Triway and once-beaten Northwest (31-14) last weekend.

The Falcons are led by running back Peter Killy, who has rushed for 586 yards and quarterback Mikey Ritterback who has thrown for 675 yards and seven touchdowns.

Fairless is averaging 22.2 points-per-game, while allowing 16.4 ppg.

Like Fairless, Orrville is coming off a pair of setbacks, falling 42-28 to Canton South and  31-11 to unbeaten Manchester last week.

The Red Riders are averaging a solid 33.6 points-per-game, but where Orrville has lost games is on defense where it’s giving up 34.2 ppg.

Orrville leads the all-time series with the Falcons, 16-8.

New Lexington (4-1) at Coshocton (0-5)

Last season: New Lexington 19, Coshocton 7

Coshocton sustained a 20-13 league loss to Maysville last weekend, while New Lexington was whipped 41-14 by unbeaten Tri-Valley, suffering its first loss of the season.

Scoring has not been a problem for New Lexington, which is averaging 35 points-per-game while giving up 20.4 ppg.

Coshocton holds a 6-4 edge in the all-time series with New Lexington.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Week 6 preview: Indian Valley racking up rushing yards along with perfect record