SHELBY — It’s the biggest game of the season and the biggest game ever between Shelby and Ontario.
The Whippets (8-0, 5-0) welcome the Warriors (8-0, 5-0) to the Whippet Athletic Complex on Friday for what is the de facto Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship game.
It’s the 15th meeting ever for the Richland County rivals, all since 2008. Shelby owns a 10-4 advantage in the all-time series, including last year’s 37-31 thriller that included a trick play in the final minute that resulted in Shelby’s game-winning touchdown.
The programs met every year from 2008 to 2016, the first five during the non-conference portion of the schedule, then as members of the now-defunct Northern Ohio League from 2013 to 2016.
After a two-year hiatus, the rivalry resumed when Shelby joined Ontario in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in 2019. The Whippets have won four of the five meetings since then.
This year’s game will be the first in series history when both teams are undefeated. Ontario was unbeaten when the teams met last fall, but Shelby had two regular-season losses.
Last year’s game was one of six decided by one score or less. All four of Ontario’s victories in the series have been one-score games. The other came in 2010 when Shelby won 34-31 in overtime. Both teams qualified for the playoffs that fall.
Both teams will advance to the postseason again this year, as they did in 2020, 2022 and last year.
Ontario and Shelby are ranked second and third, respectively, in the Region 14 ratings of Division IV, meaning they could meet again in the playoffs. If the current seeds held into the postseason, that meeting would come in the regional semifinals.
Here’s a closer look at the area game of the year:
Ontario (8-0, 5-0) at Shelby (8-0, 5-0)
The Warriors tuned up for Friday’s showdown with a 45-14 win over Marion Harding. Quarterback and Ohio State recruit Bodpegn Miller accounted for 453 yards of total offense and four touchdowns.
He rushed for 186 yards and two scores on 12 carries and completed 11-of-21 passes for 267 yards and two TDs.
Miller leads the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with 1,182 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 107 carries. He has completed 84-of-137 passes for 1,267 yards and 13 TDs.
Running back Mason Vantilburg has rushed for 798 yards and 13 touchdowns on 106 carries. Ontario ranks first in the MOAC in rushing offense (293.8 ypg) and second in total offense (452.1 ypg) and scoring offense (35.9 ppg).
Defensively, the Warriors rank first in rush defense (70.6 ypg) and second in total defense (210.5 ypg) and scoring defense (13.1 ppg). Landon Sowards leads the way with 98 tackles. Sowards and teammate Rayvon Skelton rank among MOAC leaders with seven sacks apiece. Alan O’Blisk has 52 tackles, while Jon Mahon and Brady Rowe each have a pair of interceptions.
Shelby ranks first in the MOAC in total offense (484.3 ypg), passing offense (281.5 ypg), and scoring offense (36.6 ppg) and second in rushing offense (202.8 ypg) and turnover ratio (plus-8). If there’s a more dynamic offensive player in north central Ohio than Ontario’s Miller, it’s Shelby quarterback Brayden DeVito.
The junior completed 22-of-30 passes for 490 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s 34-7 win at Clear Fork and leads the MOAC with 2,244 passing yards on 116-for-177 passing with 18 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for 848 yards and 16 TDs on 107 carries. Brady Bowman has emerged as DeVito’s top target.
The sophomore leads the MOAC with 762 receiving yards and six TD catches on 36 receptions. Nic Eyster has 32 catches for 538 yards and four TDs. Running back Marcus Gumbert has rushed for 656 yards and seven TDs on 110 carries.
Defensively, Shelby leads the MOAC in scoring defense (9.8 ppg) and ranks third in total defense (224.5 ypg). Dennis LaFon leads the way with 75 tackles. Defensive end Karsen Homan ranks third in the MOAC with eight sacks among his team-high 15 tackles for loss. Sam Gwirtz has 68 stops, 13 TFLs and six sacks, while Brayden Scharitger has 11 TFLs. Brock Fisher ranks among MOAC leaders with three interceptions.