GALION — Galion coach Matt Dick didn’t need to remind his team what awaited after last week’s win at Clear Fork.
The Tigers have had this one circled since last September.
Undefeated Galion will host undefeated Shelby on Friday in a game that could go a long way in determining the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship.
An almost identical scenario played out last autumn, when Shelby cruised to a 62-26 win over the Tigers en route to a share of the MOAC title. The 62 points were the most allowed by a Galion team since 2018.
“We had some guys get injured against them and had some opportunities to score right before half that we didn’t take advantage of,” Dick said.
“Then we went out and played the worst half of our season in the second half. I can tell you the old-timers in Galion don’t forget when you play a bad half against Shelby.
“It’s going to be a tall task,” he said. “Shelby is a great football team.”
Shelby (4-0, 1-0) at Galion (4-0, 1-0)
The Whippets turned up for Friday’s showdown with a 33-14 win over Marion Harding. Dual-threat quarterback Brayden DeVito accounted for 269 yards and three touchdowns against the President. Just a junior, DeVito has completed 48-of-80 passes for 941 yards and seven touchdowns and rushed for 471 yards and seven TDs on 64 carries. Running back Marcus Gumbert rushed for 136 yards and two TDs on 22 carries against Harding and ranks fifth in the MOAC with 336 rushing yards. Karsen Homan had four sacks among his 10 tackles against the Presidents.
The Tigers roared to a 27-0 first-quarter lead and cruised to a 41-21 win at Clear Fork. Zach Sallee blocked two punts in the first quarter, the first of which was returned for a touchdown by Camden Kuehlman. Freshman defensive back Kurt Hay returned an interception 47 yards for a score, his MOAC-leading third pick of the season. Linebacker Cameron Kuehlman sustained a lower body injury in the first half against Clear Fork and did not return. His status is unknown. Dual-threat quarterback Braxton Prosser is tied for the MOAC lead with nine touchdown passes. The senior has completed 44-of-77 passes for 597 yards and rushed for 223 yards and four scores. Wideout Jacob Chambers leads the MOAC with six TD catches among his 22 receptions.
Clear Fork (1-3, 0-1) at Ontario (4-0, 1-0)
The Colts outscored Galion 21-14 over the final three quarters last week, but couldn’t overcome a disastrous first quarter in which they allowed 27 points in a 41-21 loss. Quarterback Marcus Hoeflich left that game in the second quarter and didn’t return, but Mason Sansom filled in admirably in Hoeflich’s absence. The senior ranks third in the MOAC with five rushing TDs. Nick Appleman has rushed for a team-high 212 yards on 55 carries. Jay Jackson has 14 catches for 154 yards and a TD. Senior linebacker Blake Schlosser leads the defense with 34 tackles. Alekai Price has 33 stops.
Ontario remained unbeaten with a 27-14 win over River Valley. OSU recruit Bodpegn Miller rushed for 212 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and tossed a 40-yard TD pass to Landon Foltz. Running back Mason Vantilburg leads the MOAC in carries (66), rushing yards (554), rushing TDs (8) and yards per carry (8.4). Miller has completed 36-of-58 passes for 502 yards and eight TDs. Foltz has a team-high eight catches for 153 yards and two TDs, while Noah Poole has seven grabs for 114 yards and two scores. Landon Sowards ranks fifth in the MOAC with 48 tackles, while Rayvon Skelton is second with six sacks. Sowards has five sacks while Zane Curry and Trey Remy each have four.
Madison (1-3, 1-0) at West Holmes (2-2, 1-0)
The Rams picked up their first win last week, dispatching Wooster 35-24. It was Madison’s first win over the Generals since 2012. Khris Adkins-Tolbert rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, while quarterback Cam Kuhn completed 10-of-12 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Kuhn tossed an 83-yard TD pass to Camden Moysi in the first quarter as the Rams built a 14-0 advantage. Kuhn and Moysi hooked up on a spectacular, twisting, 13-yard scoring strike in the second quarter. Moysi caught five passes for 123 yards as Madison piled up 373 yards of total offense.
West Holmes quarterback Morgan Smith completed 10-of-15 passes for 163 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 58 yards and two scores in last week’s 33-7 win over Mansfield Senior. Brock Gallion caught three passes for 87 yards and two TDs. Lynn Cline led the defense with nine tackles, while Hunter McCluggage had two sacks.