LEXINGTON — After staggering through the non-conference portion of the schedule, the Minutemen have found their footing.
The same goes for West Holmes.
The Knights visit Lex on Friday with no worse than a share of the Ohio Cardinal Conference crown on the line. West Holmes sits atop the OCC standings at 3-0. The Minutemen and Ashland are both 2-0 in OCC play.
Lexington has won three straight after opening the season with three consecutive losses. West Holmes has won three in a row after going 1-2 during the first three weeks.
Friday’s showdown between the Minutemen and Knights tops a slate of area games that includes a pair of intriguing Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference matchups. Here’s a look:
West Holmes (4-2, 3-0) at Lexington (3-3, 2-0)
The Knights thumped Wooster 34-6 behind quarterback Morgan Smith. The senior threw four touchdown passes, including a 42-yarder to Maddax Graham. Logan Zollars had a TD reception, while Lyn Cline scored three touchdowns for the Knights. West Holmes has allowed just 34 points in three OCC games.
Seven Allen caught four passes for 83 yards and a touchdown in his return from injury Lexington’s 19-6 win over Mansfield Senior. Quarterback Joe Caudill completed 11-of-20 passes for 178 yards and a pair of TDs. The junior is 77-for-137 for 949 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Division I recruit Brayden Fogle has 26 catches for 342 yards and three scores. Allen has 18 catches for 280 yards and three TDs, while Gage Powell has 15 receptions for 168 yards and three TDs. Camden Boozer leads the defense with 54 tackles and had a pair of tackles for loss last week. Cole Eichorn has 51.5 stops.
Ontario (6-0, 3-0) at Pleasant (4-2, 2-1)
The Warriors roughed up Galion 49-0 as dual-threat quarterback and Ohio State recruit Bodpegn Miller had another big night. The future Buckeye ran for 224 yards and four touchdowns on just nine carries and completed 10-of-14 passes for 167 yards and a TD. Miller is the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference’s leading rusher with 827 rushing yards and eight TDs on 82 carries. Running back Mason Vantilburg ranks third in the MOAC with 682 rushing yards and 10 TDs on 83 attempts. Landon Foltz has a team-high 13 catches for 262 yards and two touchdowns, while Jon Mahon has 10 grabs for 113 yards and two scores. Ontario’s stingy run defense allows just 1.9 yards per carry. Senior linebacker Landon Sowards ranks second in the MOAC with 81 tackles. Senior defensive lineman Rayvon Skelton has seven sacks.
Pleasant survived a scare last week, knocking off Clear Fork 17-10 in overtime as tight end Jace Trachtenberg caught a pair of touchdown passes. The Spartans boast the MOAC’s top-ranked defense, allowing just 152.5 yards per game. Pleasant surrenders a conference-low 1.5 yards per carry. Senior linebacker Sam Mentzer leads the MOAC with 11 sacks among his 16 tackles for loss, while Brennan Ringer ranks third in the conference with 75 tackles and has 14 TFLs. Quarterback Owen Lowery triggers one of the MOAC’s most balanced offenses. Lowery has completed 77-of-128 passes for 940 yards and eight touchdowns. Running back Drew Neiderhouser has rushed for 437 yards and five TDs, while Lowery has 216 rushing yards and four scores. Alec Columber has a team-high 21 catches for 233 yards and two TDs. He is one of four receivers with at least 10 receptions and one of five pass-catchers with at least 100 receiving yards.
River Valley (4-2, 2-1) at Shelby (6-0, 3-0)
The Vikings held on for a 10-0 win over Marion Harding last week as All-Ohio quarterback Chase Ebert completed 14-of-30 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown in adverse conditions. Ebert leads the MOAC with 1,488 yards and 14 touchdowns on 126-of-259 passing. Eli Snyder leads the league with 43 receptions, good for 447 yards and three TDs. Luke Axline has 24 catches for 394 yards and four scores, while Kolton Lang has 11 grabs for 156 yards and four TDs. Tyson Waddle tops the MOAC with 91 tackles. Snyder has 73 stops, while Lang shared the conference lead with three interceptions.
Brayden DeVito, Shelby’s do-it-all quarterback, ranks second in the MOAC in completion percentage (77-126, 61.1%), passing yards (1,473), touchdown passes (12) and yards per completion (11.7). The junior also is the conference’s second-leading rusher with 703 yards and 11 TDs on 92 carries. Running back Marcus Gumbert has gained 481 yards and six touchdowns on 84 carries. Sophomore wideout Brady Bowman has emerged as Shelby’s top receiver, hauling in a team-high 25 passes for a conference-leading 509 yards and five scores. Senior receiver Nic Eyster has 20 catches for 381 yards and four TDs. Defensively, Karsen Homan ranks second in the MOAC with seven sacks. Dennis LaFon is Shelby’s leading tackler with 55 stops.