WEEK 8: Top SBC Bay backs try to shake off injuries

High school football has reached the time of the year where just about everybody is banged up. The first practices were more than two months ago, and after some 7-on-7s and scrimmages, the season has reached Week 8. Bellevue running back Evan Bova still leads the Redmen with 66 carries for 325 yards and five touchdowns this season, but hasn't played the last two weeks. Bellevue coach Alex Shepherd said Bova is questionable this week when the Redmen travel to Tiffin to take on Columbian. "We have had some guys limited throughout the season and that limited some of the things we were able to do, but overall we are pretty healthy," Shepherd said. "You can game plan around injuries a little bit, but we do a good job in getting other guys reps during the week in case we need to sub." Injuries to running backs in the Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division don't stop with Bellevue. Edison has played without Bryson Wittmer the last two weeks. He was hurt in a Week 3 loss to Hopewell-Loudon before missing Week 4. He returned in Week 5 as the Chargers defeated Norwalk, but that was the last game of Wittmer's football career. In Vermilion, Evan Kuhns missed a Week 1 win over Margaretta. He has racked up 106 rushes for 1,120 yards and 12 touchdowns since, but was banged up last week against Port Clinton. Vermilion coach Bill DiFucci said Kuhns is dealing with an ankle injury and is day-to-day ahead of the Sailors' game against Edison this week. "It's that time of the year when everyone is dealing with the physicality of the game. We have some players dealing with minor injuries," DiFucci said. "We limit our full contact periods as we get later in the year. Do more live work on bags and emphasize hand and foot placement when we get into team sessions." Malakii Pinkelton paces Port Clinton with 83 rushes for 503 yards and six touchdowns, but sat out last week's five overtime win over Vermilion. The Redskins are hoping to be back at full strength in all positions, PC coach Eric Leuthold said. Pinkelton is a game-time decision. "Our trainer does a heck of a job getting kids back or close to full strength," Leuthold said. "She has done a good job of providing treatment to the kids as well as help them through the recovery and rehabilitation process. We always attack injuries with a next man up mentality. However, it's important to remember oftentimes that next man up is an underclassman. "We try to be strategic in how we approach these so that it both puts the player and team in a position to be successful." Clyde picked up one of the biggest wins in the area last week when it defeated Edison. Adam Young has been solid this year for the Fliers with 115 carries for 505 yards and four touchdowns. But he missed Clyde's wild 55-48 win over Port Clinton in Week 5. He's played the last two games for the Fliers including 16 attempts for 59 yards against Edison. "We are banged up just like everyone else at this time of the year," Clyde coach Ryan Carter said. "Kids have had to change roles and play different positions to do what is best for the team. We have some guys out this week. But we will fill that in the best we can." A look at the area games in Week 8: Sandusky at Clyde Defensive woes continued for the Blue Streaks (1-6, 0-2 SBC Lake) in last week's 44-6 loss to Perkins. Sandusky has allowed at least 44 points in a game five times this year. Dale Johnson has completed 53 of 133 passes for 881 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions for Sandusky. He leads the Blue Streaks with 57 carries for 156 yards. Jonathan Lantz is 111 of 190 passing for 1,206 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions for the Fliers. Clyde has won two of its last three after starting 0-4. Last year, Sandusky won on a touchdown as time expired to defeat Clyde 22-21. Norwalk at Perkins The Pirates (4-3, 2-0 SBC Lake) have outscored opponents 158-20 during a three-game winning streak. Norwalk (2-5, 0-1) upset Vermilion two weeks ago before a close 21-16 loss to Columbian last week. Sam Schweinfurth has completed 99 of 158 passes for 1,483 yards, 17 touchdowns and just one interception for Perkins. Braxden Martin leads the ground game with 60 carries for 275 yards and four touchdowns. Brady Singer is 28 of 62 passing for 272 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions for Norwalk. AJ Weilnau tops the ground game with 60 rushes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. Perkins defeated Norwalk last season, 49-0. Edison at Port Clinton The Chargers (5-2, 1-0 SBC Bay) look to bounce back after a loss to Clyde. Port Clinton (4-3, 1-1) won with a two-point conversion in the fifth overtime to knock off Vermilion. Edison is still looking for answers after the loss of Wittmer for the season. Cole Leimeister has completed 59 of 92 passes for 793 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions while running 49 times for 208 yards and two touchdowns. Caden Clere is the top active back for the Chargers with 51 rushes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Beckett Meizner stepped in for Pinkelton and ran 26 times for 86 yards against Vermilion. Landon Leis is 84 of 169 passing for 1,327 yards, 19 TDs and four INTs for Port Clinton. Last year, Edison clobbered Port Clinton, 41-7. Vermilion at Huron The Sailors (4-3, 1-1 SBC Bay) have a two-game losing streak following losses to Norwalk and Port Clinton. Huron (3-4, 1-1) has alternated losses and wins this year, losing to Bellevue (28-14) last week. Drake Hooks has completed 47 of 99 passes for 687 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions this season for Vermilion. Isaac Kyser split carries with Kuhns last week, picking up 67 yards on 20 rushes. Landon Hohler has been outstanding for the Tigers. He is 142 of 188 passing for 1,909 yards, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions. Hohler has nine rushing scores. Vermilion kicked a late field goal last season to top Huron 13-10, snapping a 15-game losing streak to the Tigers and reclaiming the Win Oar. Bellevue at Tiffin Columbian The Redmen (4-3) broke a two-game losing streak by defeating Huron last week. Columbian (4-3) has won three in a row since an 81-7 loss to Division III No. 1 Bishop Watterson. Ike Brown has completed 68 of 143 passes for 700 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions for Bellevue. Nolan Hartman has stepped in for Bova and racked up 21 carries for 119 yards last week against the Tigers. Logan Gooding is 99 of 162 passing for 1,345 yards, 13 touchdowns and one interception for TC. The Tornadoes have been without leading rusher Masen Seitz the past four weeks. Columbian leads the all-time series 47-45-2, having first played in 1915. Last season, Columbian won 28-14. Margaretta at Calvert The Division VI No. 9 Polar Bears (6-1, 4-0) sit atop the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division standings after a stunning 29-26 win over Hopewell-Loudon last week. Judah Keller leads Margaretta with 75 carries for 622 yards and nine touchdowns while Tyson Bailey has 45 rushes for 328 yards. Calvert (3-4, 2-2) enters following a 48-32 win at Northwood. Tucker Coleman started at quarterback last week, completing 6 of 8 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Nolan Lee leads the Senecas with 118 carries for 524 yards and nine touchdowns. Last year, Margaretta shut out Calvert 10-0.Plymouth at Monroeville Since losing back-to-back games to Calvert and Seneca East, the Eagles (5-2, 4-0 Firelands Conference) have won four games in a row. Plymouth (1-6, 1-3) enters after its first win of the year, beating New London last week. In Monroeville's 56-8 win over Mapleton a week ago, Colt Clark completed 7 of 8 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns. Cooper Cleary led the running game with 91 yards on two carries — both touchdowns. Last year, Monroeville pummeled Plymouth 59-0. South Central at St. Paul The Flyers (3-4, 2-2 FC) have lost two of their last three games, including a 30-21 setback to Crestview last week. South Central (1-6, 1-3) was clubbed by Western Reserve a week ago, 39-0. Grant Kuhnle has completed 77 of 141 passes for 1,124 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions for St. Paul. Nick Pocos leads the ground game with 68 attempts for 453 yards and six touchdowns. St. Paul topped South Central last season, 34-20. 8-MAN Cardinal Stritch at SMCC The Panthers (6-1, 5-1) picked up a much-needed Northern 8 Conference victory by topping Chalker on the road last week. Bryan Gibson finished with 28 carries for 206 yards and four touchdowns against Chalker. He has 98 rushes for 856 yards and 17 scores this season. For his efforts against Chalker, he was named the N8 Conference Player of the Week. SMCC defeated Cardinal Stritch (0-7, 0-6) 43-0 in Week 1. Stryker at Danbury (Sat.) The Lakers (6-1, 3-1 N8) have bounced back from a Week 5 loss to SMCC by defeating its last two opponents by a combined 100-18. Tommy Dean completed 6 of 8 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns in last week's 56-6 win over McKinley. Dean, Drake Turinsky, Zyler Manning and Brexton Masters each had a rushing touchdown against McKinley. Danbury topped Stryker twice last year, 52-26 at home and 64-32 at Stryker. Area Football Standings SBC Lake Team Conf. All Columbian 2-0 4-3 Perkins 2-0 4-3 Clyde 0-1 2-5 Norwalk 0-1 2-5 Sandusky 0-2 1-6 Friday, Oct. 10 Bellevue at Columbian Norwalk at Perkins Sandusky at Clyde SBC Bay Team Conf. All Edison 1-0 5-2 Bellevue 1-1 4-3 Port Clinton 1-1 4-3 Huron 1-1 3-4 Vermilion 0-1 4-3 Friday, Oct. 10 Bellevue at Columbian Edison at Port Clinton Vermilion at Huron SBC River Team Conf. All Margaretta 4-0 6-1 Hopewell-Loudon 3-1 6-1 Gibsonburg 3-1 5-2 Woodmore 2-2 5-2 Calvert 2-2 3-4 Lakota 1-3 4-3 Northwood 1-3 3-4 Willard 0-4 2-5 Friday, Oct. 10 Gibsonburg at Lakota Hopewell-Loudon at Willard Margaretta at Calvert Woodmore at Northwood Firelands Conference Team Conf. All Crestview 4-0 5-2 Monroeville 4-0 5-2 Western Reserve 3-1 5-2 St. Paul 2-2 3-4 New London 1-3 3-4 Mapleton 1-3 2-5 South Central 1-3 1-6 Plymouth 0-4 0-7 Friday, Oct. 10 Crestview at Western Reserve New London at Mapleton Plymouth at Monroeville South Central at St. Paul Northern 8 Team Conf. All St. Mary CC 5-1 6-1 Fremont SJCC 4-1 5-2 Danbury 3-1 6-1 Chalker 3-1 5-1 Holgate 3-2 4-2 Sebring McKinley 1-4 3-4 Stryker 1-4 2-5 Cardinal Stritch 0-6 0-7 Friday, Oct. 10 Cardinal Stritch at SMCC Chalker at Sebring McKinley Saturday, Oct. 11 Stryker at Danbury Sunday, Oct. 12 Kennedy Catholic (Pa.) at Fremont SJCC