Norwalk hosts Ontario in home opener

The Norwalk football team was the only SBC Lake Division team to win its season opener last week. The Truckers topped Start, 17-14 in overtime, on Aug. 22 in Toledo. Up next, Norwalk will host Ontario (0-1) at 7 p.m. Friday in the first game of the season at Contractors Stadium. The Warriors and Truckers played four consecutive years form 2013-16 as Northern Ohio League opponents. Norwalk went 3-1 with a one-point loss in that stretch. The two teams also last met in a non-conference game in 2019, a 52-7 win by the Truckers in Norwalk. Ontario is coming off a 26-16 loss at rival Lexington last week. W. Reserve at Margaretta The Roughriders (1-0) opened with a dominating 45-6 win at Wellington last week, and look to continue that momentum this Friday at the Duck Pond in Castalia. Margaretta is coming off a 21-20 loss at Vermilion last week. The three touchdowns came on long runs of 88, 58 and 63 yards, respectively. In the annual meeting in 2024, the 'Riders cruised to a 42-14 win at Bachelder Field in Collins. Calvert at Monroeville The Eagles are coming off a monster second half in a 46-20 win over McComb as they are home for the second straight week to begin the 2025 season. Monroeville was tied 13-13 at halftime of the Week 1 game at Marsh Field, but outscored the Panthers 33-7 in the second half after totaling more than 300 rushing yards over the final two quarters. The Senecas (0-1) are coming off a 39-6 loss at Mohawk on Aug. 21. In last season's game, defense helped spark the Eagles to a 23-9 win in Tiffin. Friday's game also marks the final meeting of the current series with the Senecas. With Calvert's addition to the Northern 10 next season, it will play eight league games instead of seven. As a result, Seneca East slides up from Week 3 to the second game in 2026 for Monroeville, which will then host Danville in the third game next season. South Central at Buckeye Central The Trojans will make the short trip to New Washington with hopes of earning their first victory of the season Friday night. South Central is coming off a 46-12 loss at Willard last week. Brayden Viock scored on a 2-yard run and threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Cole Frankart in the loss. The Bucks got 112 yards on 22 carries from Austin Bogner and 99 yards rushing with two TDs along with 72 yards passing from Jack Phillips in a 22-7 win over Crestline last week. Rosecrans at New London The Wildcats will play their first game in their brand new stadium on the high school campus against the visiting Bishops Friday night. The two teams met last year in Zanesville, a 41-14 win by Rosecrans. Last week, The Bishops won their opener at Beachwood, 42-8. New London is coming off a 28-14 win at Millersport last week. Quarterback Jarrett Mencl was 10-of-18 passing for 172 yards and two touchdown passes to Jackson Mitchell, who caught three passes for 102 yards. Hunter Chandley ran 19 times for 99 yards and the two TDs. From 1970-2024, New London played its football games at Recreation Park, located next to the village reservoir and Millstone Hills golf course as part of a campgrounds area. Willard at Plymouth Separated by seven miles, Plymouth and Willard started playing annually in 2015. Each team had split the first four meetings before the Crimson Flashes took last season's meeting in a tight 24-21 matchup in Willard. This season's game was moved to Thursday night to accommodate game officials. The Big Red are coming off a tough 51-0 loss at Lucas that saw the total just 21 yards of offense. Meanwhile, in the 46-12 win over South Central, quarterback Jake Rothhaar was 8-of-13 passing for 120 yards with a pair of TD passes to Paxton Flores and AJ Speller. Rothhaar ran 19 times for 205 yards and 3 TDs on the ground. Flores caught five passes for 82 yards.