Bellevue, Edison to open SBC Bay slate

Two teams who have shaped the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division in recent years will meet in the league opener Friday when Bellevue (3-2) visits Edison (4-1) at Freedom Field in Milan. The Redmen are coming off two blowout losses in their last three games, albeit to two of the best teams in Division IV. The Redmen lost to AP No. 1 Shelby (5-0), 49-6, on Sept. 5. They rebounded with a 19-0 win over Norwalk on Sept. 12, then took a 41-0 loss at Perkins last week. Bellevue quarterback Ike Brown has completed 29 of 68 passes for 360 yards, five TDs and two interceptions. Evan Bova leads the Redmen with 54 carries for 286 yards and five TDs. Edison made it two wins in a row when it beat Norwalk, 45-14. The Chargers are 28-4 over their last 32 games since the start of the 2023 season. Edison beat Bellevue on the road last season, 21-6. The Chargers cruised to a 41-7 win in 2023, but the Redmen held on for a 24-21 win over the Chargers in 2022 in Milan. The two teams met twice in Bellevue in 2021. The Redmen won the regular season game, 21-14, only for the Chargers to flip the script in the first round of the playoffs, 23-22. Cole Leimeister is 41-of-67 passing for 600 yards with 6 TDs and 3 INTs for the Chargers, who have five different backs with more than 116 yards. That group is led by Bryson Wittmer (461 yards, 10 TDs) and Caden Clere (277 yards, 2 TDs). Coltyn MEagrow leads the receiving with 13 catches for 257 yards and 2 TDs, while Andy Strecker adds nine catches for 134 yards and 2 TDs. Ryder Kramb has 45 tackles and three sacks on defense for Edison. Brody McFadden has 26 tackles and two sacks, while Meagrow has 33 tackles and Clere and Jacob Kuhl each have two sacks. South Central at Mapleton The Trojans (0-5, 0-2 Firelands Conference) are still searching for their first win of the season when they head to John E. Camp stadium Friday night. Quarterback Brayden Viock is 51-of-105 passing for 591 yards with a TD and 4 INTs. Cole Frankart has 21 catches for 331 yards and the TD catch, while Greyson Fisher adds 10 catches for 130 yards. Viock also has 97 yards and 4 TDs rushing for South Central. The Trojans are coming off a 44-7 home loss to Crestview. The Mounties (2-3, 1-1) scored a TD with 1:09 left to edge Plymouth last week, 30-28. Northwood at Willard A pair of 2-3 teams meet in SBC River Division play Friday night at Terry King Stadium. Both teams were also 2-1 after three games, but have dropped their past two games to open River play. Willard lost 42-0 to Margaretta and 62-20 last week vs. Woodmore (5-0). Northwood is coming off losses of 45-8 and 49-14 to Gibsonburg (3-2) and Margaretta (4-1). Quarterback Jake Rothhaar is 40-of-54 passing (62 percent) for 647 yards with 5 TDs and 3 INTs for the Crimson Flashes. He is also their leading rusher with 454 yards and 7 TDs on 74 attempts. Paxton Flores has 20 catches for 420 yards and 3 TDs, and Grant Poston adds 12 catches for 173 yards with a TD. Roger Whetstone paces the Willard defense with 61 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Flores adds 25 tackles with a sack and a fumble return for a touchdown. Plymouth at Crestview The Big Red (0-5, 0-2) have a challenging task Friday when they take on the host Cougars (3-2, 2-0) at Scott Bailey Field. After an 0-2 start, Crestview has won three straight games. Running back Isaiah Miller has rushed for 482 yards and 6 TDs on 72 attempts (6.7 yards per rush) for Plymouth. Keegan Beverly adds 96 yards and a TD, while QB Lincoln Distl is 17-of-33 passing for 100 yards.