WEEK 5: Perkins needs a win as Bellevue comes to town

Perkins hosts Bellevue on Friday. One team is 3-1, the other 1-3. Based on recent history, an uninformed observer might not guess that the Redmen have the winning record and the Pirates — Division IV state runners-up last year — have won just once as the high school football regular season reaches the halfway point. "We're turning in the right direction, but we've gotta learn how to win games," Perkins coach Jalen Santoro said. "You look at the last three games and if two or three plays are different we're sitting at 4-0. "Our goals are still in front of us, but every game is a big game now." Both teams are in Region 14 and could use all the quality wins they can get when it comes to piling up playoff points. The Pirates, with three one-score losses, are averaging just 40 yards rushing per game. They hope to change that narrative on homecoming. Santoro said his offensive line is "as healthy as it's been since the Liberty Center scrimmage (in mid-August)." Perkins welcomed back All-Ohio lineman Eli Sanchez last week after he had to sit out two games. Senior quarterback Sam Schweinfurth has thrown for 848 yards and eight touchdowns. Perkins lost 20-13 last week at Division V power Harvest Prep. The Pirates had a chance to win or tie late, but turned the ball over on downs after reaching the HP 3-yard line. Bellevue is 3-1 with a 49-6 loss to Division IV No. 1 Shelby. The Redmen, who shut out Norwalk 19-0 last week, received votes in this week's Division IV poll. Alex Shepherd, who took over this year for legendary coach Ed Nasonti, is wary of Perkins, which shut out the Redmen 43-0 last year. "Their record is deceiving," Shepherd said. "They've had a couple kids out here and there. They're big up front and their quarterback is experienced. "We have to come with the mentality that they're one of the best teams we'll play, because I think they are." Quarterback Ike Brown has thrown five touchdown passes this season and Evan Bova has rushed for five scores. He gained 149 yards on 18 carries last week. "We just play hard," Shepherd said. "They're tough kids and they want to do well. We're not real big or real fast, but make up for it with our effort. I just want us to keep that mentality." Santoro, who was a star player at Bellevue, knows all about that mentality. "Obviously it's be a little different with Coach Nasonti being gone, but they're still Bellevue kids," he said. "They play hard. It's a different scheme, but it's still Bellevue." A look at the other area games in Week 5: Sandusky at Vermilion Sandusky (1-3) was roughed up by Parma Padua, 47-13, last week while Vermilion (3-1) was shut out by Elyria Catholic, 17-0. Blue Streaks quarterback Dale Johnson has completed 21 of 60 passes for 394 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions while Sandusky has totaled just 158 yards rushing in four games. Vermilion's Evan Kuhns has rushed for nine TDs in three games. The Sailors scored 102 points in their previous two games before the loss to EC. Norwalk at Edison The Chargers (3-1) have dominated recent meetings with Norwalk (1-3), outscoring the Truckers 97-0 over the last three years. Edison responded to a Week 3 loss to Hopewell-Loudon with a 20-0 shutout of Johnstown-Monroe. Cole Leimeister threw a touchdown pass in the win while Caden Clere had 14 carries for 88 yards. Ryder Kramb ran 13 times for 78 yards and a TD. Norwalk has scored just 24 points this season. Brady Singer has completed 15 of 35 passes for 115 yards and Norwalk has 84 carries for 121 yards. Clyde at Port Clinton The Fliers are 0-4 for the first time since 2000 and face a challenge against a rising Port Clinton (3-1) team. Johnathan Lantz is 59 of 112 passing for 638 yards, one TD and eight interceptions for Clyde, which has won four straight against PC. Adam Young tops the ground game with 92 rushes for 412 yards and four TDs. Landon Leis has been solid in the pocket this year for the Redskins. He has completed 33 of 71 passes for 529 yards, 11 TDs and one interception. Malakii Pinkelton has run 56 times for 277 yards and four TDs. Huron at Columbian SBC crossover action wraps up when the Tigers (2-2) head to Frost-Kalnow Stadium to take on Tiffin Columbian (1-3). Huron has a top-10 offense in Division V, averaging 45.5 points per game. Landon Hohler has completed 81 of 108 passes for 1,180 yards and 12 TDs. Caleb Staley has caught 23 passes for 452 yards and five TDs for the Tigers, who defeated Columbian 38-20 last year in Huron. Columbian lost 81-7 to Division III No. 1 Bishop Watterson last week. Logan Gooding is 57 of 91 passing for 745 yards with nine TDs for the Tornadoes. Despite not playing against Watterson, Masen Seitz leads the ground game with 53 rushes for 235 yards and three TDs. Northwood at Margaretta The Polar Bears (3-1) have allowed a total of seven points over the last three weeks, including a 42-0 shutout of Willard in Week 4. Margaretta has 128 carries for 1,020 yards and 14 TDs this season. Judah Keller (46-408-5) and Jake Bouy (28-255-6) lead the way. The Rangers won their first two games of the season, but lost to Upper Sandusky (28-18) and Gibsonburg (45-8) the last two weeks. Northwood has allowed 40-plus points in three games. Western Reserve at St. Paul Neither team had issues last week as the Flyers (2-2, 1-0 Firelands) thumped Plymouth 57-0 and Western Reserve blitzed Ashland Mapleton 43-2. For St. Paul, Grant Kuhnle has completed 55 of 100 passes for 840 yards, six TDs and two interceptions. Landon Fries has four rushing touchdowns. Western Reserve (3-1, 1-0 FC) has scored at least 43 points in each of its three wins. New London at Monroeville Monroeville (2-2, 1-1 Firelands) dominated South Central last week, 67-0. Quarterback Chase Colt accounted for five scores and had touchdown passes of 48 and 15 yards before rushing TDs covering 23, 8 and 10 yards. New London (2-2, 0-1) lost 42-0 to Ashland Crestview last week. 8-MAN SMCC at Danbury (Sat.) Two of the best teams in the Northern 8 Conference meet as the Panthers (4-0, 3-0 N8) travel to Lakeside to take on the Lakers (4-0, 2-0). SMCC needed just nine offensive plays to build a 36-0 lead last week en route to a 42-0 thrashing of Stryker. Bryan Gibson has 30 carries for 429 yards and 10 TDs this season. Grant Swain and Josh Will have each have three rushing TDs. For Danbury, Tommy Dean has completed 11 of 15 passes for 337 yards and seven TDs while adding 49 rushes for 256 yards and four TDs. SMCC defeated Danbury last year, 43-14. --- High school football standings SBC Lake Team Conf. All Columbian 0-0 1-3 Norwalk 0-0 1-3 Perkins 0-0 1-3 Sandusky 0-0 1-3 Clyde 0-0 0-4 Friday, Sept. 19 Bellevue at Perkins Clyde at Port Clinton Huron at Columbian Norwalk at Edison Sandusky at Vermilion SBC Bay Team Conf. All Bellevue 0-0 3-1 Edison 0-0 3-1 Port Clinton 0-0 3-1 Vermilion 0-0 3-1 Huron 0-0 2-2 Friday, Sept. 19 Bellevue at Perkins Clyde at Port Clinton Huron at Columbian Norwalk at Edison Sandusky at Vermilion SBC River Team Conf. All Hopewell-Loudon 1-0 4-0 Woodmore 1-0 4-0 Gibsonburg 1-0 3-1 Margaretta 1-0 3-1 Lakota 0-1 3-1 Northwood 0-1 2-2 Willard 0-1 2-2 Calvert 0-1 1-3 Friday, Sept. 19 Hopewell-Loudon at Gibsonburg Lakota at Calvert Northwood at Margaretta Woodmore at Willard Firelands Conference Team Conf. All Western Reserve 1-0 3-1 Crestview 1-0 2-2 Monroeville 1-0 2-2 St. Paul 1-0 2-2 New London 0-1 2-2 Mapleton 0-1 1-3 Plymouth 0-1 0-4 South Central 0-1 0-4 Friday, Sept. 19 Crestview at South Central Mapleton at Plymouth New London at Monroeville Western Reserve at St. Paul Northern 8 Team Conf. All St. Mary CC 2-0 4-0 Chalker 2-0 3-0 Danbury 1-0 4-0 Holgate 1-1 2-1 Fremont SJCC 1-1 2-2 Sebring McKinley 1-2 2-2 Stryker 0-2 1-3 Cardinal Stritch 0-2 0-4 Friday, Sept. 19 Kennedy Catholic (Pa.) at Chalker Saturday, Sept. 20 Holgate at Fremont SJCC SMCC at Danbury Stryker at Cardinal Stritch