ONTARIO — The new-look Warriors just keep finding a way to win.
Ontario is unbeaten at the season’s midway point, but unlike last year’s senior-dominated team that thundered to a share of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship, the 2024 Warriors have been tested almost every week.
Ontario rallied from a 14-0 deficit in Week 1 to beat Lexington 31-14 and used a big second half to pull away from a 7-7 tie in a Week 2 win over Centerburg. The Warriors were clinging to a 17-14 lead over Clear Fork last week before scoring a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 31-14 win.
“Our O-line really stepped up and really took over the game at that point,” Ontario coach Aaron Eckert said. “Fortunately for us, we were able to … take care of business.”
The Warriors will face another tough test when they visit Galion on Friday. Here’s a look at some of the top Week 6 matchups:
Ontario (5-0, 2-0) at Galion (4-1, 1-1)
The Warriors had their hands full last week before pulling away in the fourth quarter of a 31-14 win over Clear Fork. Ontario led 17-14 in the fourth quarter before Mason Vantilburg and Bodpegn Miller ran for touchdowns to ice it. Vantilburg and Miller have combined to rush for 1,283 yards and 14 touchdowns. Vantilburg leads the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with 680 yards and 10 TDs on 82 carries. Miller, the Ohio State recruit, has run for 603 yards and four scores on 73 carries while completing 42-of-74 passes for 559 yards and eight TDs. Landon Foltz has a team-best 10 catches for 180 yards and two TDs, while Noah Poole has eight receptions for 122 yards and two scores. Landon Sowards ranks second in the MOAC with 70 tackles and is tied with teammate Rayvon Skelton with six sacks. The Warriors lead the conference with 27 sacks. Zane Curry and Trey Remy each have four sacks.
Galion suffered its first loss of the season last week, falling to unbeaten Shelby 35-6. The Tigers gave up 471 yards against the high-octane Whippets. Galion boasts the top passing defense in the MOAC, allowing 562 yards through the air. Freshman defensive back Kurt Hay leads the conference with three interceptions, including a pick-six against Clear Fork in Week 4. Trevor Shifley has a team-high 52 tackles while Zach Sallee has 42 stops. Offensively, dual-threat quarterback Braxton Prosser has rushed for 250 yards and four touchdowns on 51 carries and completed 56-of-99 passes for 722 yards and 10 TDs. Jacob Chambers is among the most prolific pass-catchers in the area with 25 receptions for 356 yards and a MOAC-leading six TDs.
Lexington (2-3, 1-0) at Mansfield Senior (1-4, 1-1)
The Minutemen have won two in a row after dropping three straight to start the season. Quarterback Joe Caudill had monster game in last week’s 41-28 win over Wooster, accounting for six touchdowns. The junior completed 16-of-24 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 113 yards and three TDs on 17 carries. Caudill has completed 65-of-115 passes for 774 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for a team-best 199 yards and four TDs on 63 carries. Brayden Fogle caught a pair of TD passes last week and has a team-high 21 catches for 281 yards and three scores on the season. Seven Allen, who has missed the last two games because of injury, is expected back this week. Allen has 14 catches for 197 yards and two TDs. Camden Boozer leads the defense with 46 tackles while Cole Eichorn has 43.5 stops. Caudill has been disruptive from his linebacker spot with a team-best seven tackles for loss.
Mansfield Senior picked up its first win of the season last week, knocking off New Philadelphia 20-19 in overtime. The game-winner came when receiver Ny Petty tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to Guy Trader on a trick play. Mansfield Senior’s defense registered a jaw-dropping 10 sacks as defensive lineman Symirr Phillips led the way with 3.5 sacks. Carter Kessler had 2.5 sacks and M.J. Bradley returned from an ankle injury to record two sacks among his 10 tackles. Bradley leads the defense with 32 tackles despite missing the last two games. Phillips and Kessler each have 6.5 sacks. Senior High’s offense continues to be a work in progress. Braylon Patterson and Jordan Ferguson have split time at quarterback and have combined to complete 45-of-96 passes for 355 yards and just one touchdown. Trader has a team-best 24 receptions for 187 yards, while Petty has 15 catches for 159 yards.
Ashland (5-0, 1-0) at Madison (1-4, 1-1)
The Arrows are 5-0 for the first time since 2020 after last week’s 37-20 win over Maple Heights. Quarterback Nathan Bernhard completed only 9-of-22 passes but threw for 256 yards. Bernhard had completions of 55, 50, 39 and 39 yards. Bernhard had a pair of 1-yard TD runs last week, while Killian O’Brien returned an interception 40 yards for a score. For the season, Bernhard has completed 67-of-117 passes for 1,116 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushed for 282 yards and seven TDs on 68 carries. Gabe Baith has a team-high 26 catches, while O’Brien leads the way with 339 receiving yards and four TD catches. Gunner Lacey leads the defense with 54 tackles.
The Rams nearly sprang the upset but gave up a last-second field goal in a 23-21 loss at West Holmes. Quarterback Cam Kuhn completed 16-of-25 passes for 164 yards and a 31-yard touchdown pass to Julian Washington. Ja’Karri Favers scored a pair of touchdown, while Khris Adkins-Tolbert rushed for 70 yards on 22 carries. Madison forced five fumbles.