OHIO — Forgive the obvious geographic contradiction, but Northeast Ohio’s Southwestern Conference produces huge matchups each season. It takes center stage for this week’s Ohio High School Athletic Association Game of the Week on Spectrum News 1. 

What You Need To Know

  • The OHSAA Game of the Week on Spectrum News 1 enters week five

  • Second-ranked Avon (Division II) hosts North Ridgeville in battle of unbeaten Southwestern Conference foes
  • Fourth-ranked Grove City (Division I) heads to Hilliard Darby

  • Loveland hosts Turpin in the Eastern Cincinnati Conference

Comprised of schools from suburbs southwest and west of Cleveland, the SWC features teams like Avon, Avon Lake and Olmsted Falls, which are used to double-digit win totals and deep playoff runs.

The Eagles are off to a 4-0 start and are ranked second in Division II in this week’s Ohio Associated Press High School Football Poll. Avon has won a regional championship in six of the past seven years, including in 2023.

Meanwhile, North Ridgeville would love to use this game as a measuring stick. The Rangers have improved their win totals from three (2021) to five (2022) to eight (2023) in the last three seasons and are halfway there in 2024 with a 4-0 record of its own. 

Two significant streaks will need to end if things go North Ridgeville’s way. Avon has won the last 14 meetings in the series, with the last Rangers triumph coming in 2009. Additionally, the Eagles have won their last 23 games (playoffs included) against fellow Southwestern Conference opponents.

Both have been impressive so far this season, with North Ridgeville’s average margin of victory over 35 points a contest.

Avon knocked off St. Ignatius, Canton McKinley and Glenville in its first three games, all quality opponents with marquee names. 

Since 1972, the Eagles hold a 18-8 series advantage. 

Viewers in Central Ohio will catch the AP’s fourth-ranked team (tied with Moeller) in Division I, as Grove City (4-0) heads to Hilliard to play Darby (0-4).

The Bulldogs have won all four games by double digits and are headed toward a fifth straight playoff appearance. 

The Panthers’ tough schedule (Anthony Wayne, Hilliard Bradley, Olentangy Orange & Hilliard Davidson) has the school in danger of its first regular season with a losing record since 2009. Darby could still get into the playoffs for a fifth straight season, as well, as only one school in Region 2 will be left out. 

Remarkably, this is the first meeting between the two schools. While Grove City had a rivalry with the original Hilliard High School (now Davidson), Darby didn’t open until 1997.

In Southwest Ohio, Turpin (2-2) travels to Loveland (0-4) for an Eastern Cincinnati Conference meeting. 

The Spartans have wins over Little Miami and Walnut Hills, before falling to Winton Woods—one of Cincinnati’s top teams—last week. 

The Tigers are still seeking their first win, but the last three losses were by a combined 24 points to teams (Lebanon, Kings & Milford) with cumulative 8-4 records. 

Turpin leads the series 10-6, but Loveland captured the last two meetings, including a 49-23 decision in 2023. 

Both games begin at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App. 

Stay with Spectrum News 1 all season for the OHSAA Game of the Week, including live playoff action beginning Nov. 1, and the state championship games in Canton Dec. 5-7.

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