Through seven weeks of the regular season in Ohio high school football, only 51 teams remain undefeated. There are 36 sporting perfect 7-0 marks, while another 14 are 6-0, and one school sits at 5-0. 

What You Need To Know

  • Spectrum News 1 will carry the OHSAA Game of the Week Friday at 7 p.m.

  • Viewers in northeast Ohio will see Aurora at Barberton

  • Viewers in central Ohio will see Hilliard Darby at Lewis Center Olentangy

  • Viewers in southwest Ohio and the Miami Valley will see Cincinnati Sycamore at Cincinnati Princeton

One of those without a loss is Aurora (7-0), which visits Barberton (6-1) as part of the Ohio High School Athletic Association Games of the Week on Spectrum News 1. Viewers in northern Ohio will see that game Friday at 7 p.m. 

The Greenmen — ranked third in this week’s Ohio high school Associated Press Division III poll — are trying to keep pace in a very tough Region 9 race that features three other unbeaten teams in Chardon, Dover and Hubbard. Aurora owns wins over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, and two Division I schools (Euclid and Cleveland Heights). 

Barberton is trying to recapture the magic of the Magics’ 2017 playoff run to the regional final. The 2021 version is 6-1, with the only defeat coming in Week 2 against Stow. The Magics have also notched a victory over Akron SVSM. Keep an eye on defensive lineman John Jackson (Kent State commit), who will look to have a few tricks up his sleeve for Aurora. 

While the pandemic-shortened schedule in 2020 prevented these two from playing, they’ve met six times since 2015, with the Greenmen winning four of those, including a 2016 postseason meeting. 

In Central Ohio, Hilliard Darby (4-3) is trying to claw its way out of a three-game losing streak. After opening 4-0, with wins over the other two Hilliard schools and Westerville South, the Panthers have lost to quality opponents Gahanna, Marysville and Olentangy Berlin. 

Darby is still squarely in the hunt for home field in the first round (currently sixth in Region 3), and will visit Olentangy (3-4) on Friday. The Braves will be in search of their first win over a team with a winning record this season. 

Olentangy leads the series (since 1999), 6-2, and won 37-6 a year ago, while the Panthers claimed a 23-13 victory in 2019. 

Checking in on Region 4 in Southwest Ohio, both Princeton (6-1) and Sycamore (3-4) figure to make the playoffs. After all, there are only 17 teams in the region, and 16 will get in. 

The Vikings lone setback came in week four to Lakota West, one of the Cincinnati area’s top teams. Princeton quarterback Mekhi Lynn is committed to play at Buffalo next year, but his thumb injury has opened the door for T.J. Engleman. The sophomore is second in the Greater Miami Conference in passing yards (1,033) and fourth in rushing (712). He’s thrown for 13 scores, while running for another 10. 

The Aviators counter with their own dual-threat signal caller. William Ingle may have only thrown for 467 yards and four touchdowns, but he’s the GMC’s leading rusher, with 1,061 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.

Sycamore may only be 3-4, but its losses are to Kings (7-0), Colerain (4-3), Lakota East (6-1) and Mason (3-4). Sitting 10th in Region 4, a win on Friday could help the Aviators soar to home field in the first round. 

Although these conference rivals haven’t met every year, Sycamore has an 11-6 advantage in the series since 1999. Although Princeton was victorious a year ago, the Aves have dominated of late, winning four of the last five, and eight of the previous ten. 

All three games begin at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1, and the Spectrum News App.