OHIO — If going purely off records, Friday’s Ohio High School Athletic Association Game of the Week slate doesn’t appear to be impressive, as the schools hold a combined 12-18 record.  

What You Need To Know

  • The OHSAA Game of the Week on Spectrum News 1 moves past the halfway point of the regular season

  • Stark County rivals meet when GlenOak takes on Hoover
  • Winner of Westerville South and Westerville North will be unofficial city champion

  • Wayne visits Northmont in a GWOC match-up

However, on closer inspection, as the web site Martin RPI provides, these schools are playing extremely challenging schedules. 

In Division I, GlenOak has played the fifth-toughest gauntlet of games in the entire state, two spots ahead of Wayne. Friday’s opponent, Northmont, is 23rd, while Westerville North is 25th. 

That strength of schedule also has all six schools firmly in the playoff hunt, with only one of them (GlenOak, just one spot back in a tie for 17th in Region 1) outside looking in if the regular season ended after week five. 

Speaking of the Eagles, they visit Hoover in the OHSAA Game of the Week in Northeast Ohio. Still seeking its first win, GlenOak’s five opponents (Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Massillon, Fitch, Canton McKinley and Uniontown Lake) are a combined 21-4.

The Vikings (3-2) are coming off a win last week against Louisville, and are currently ninth in Region 5, fighting to host a first round postseason game.

These Federal League rivals, located just three and-a-half miles apart in Stark County, have played each season since 1975, with Hoover holding a 30-20 advantage. The Eagles were 27-24 winners a year ago, while the Vikings claim a 41-31 victory in 2022. 

In Central Ohio, Westerville North hosts Westerville South with city pride on the line. Both schools were already victorious against Westerville Central, so the winner will be the unofficial city champ. 

The Wildcats (3-2) are currently tied for tenth in Region 7, while the Warriors (also 3-2) sit 12th in Region 3. North has scored 30 or more points in four of its five games this season. 

All-time, Westerville South leads the series 27-12 and has won the last 17 consecutive meetings. The last North win came back in 2005.

In Southwest Ohio, the Game of the Week lands in the Greater Western Ohio Conference. Wayne (1-4) makes the short, 20-minute trek on I-70 West to play Northmont (2-3). 

The Warriors are tied for 12th in Region 2, with their win coming in the opener against Fairfield (31-13). 

The Thunderbolts have won two of their last three and would be ninth in Region 2 if the playoffs began this week. 

Wayne leads the series 17-11, with each team splitting the last two meetings. Northmont was a 26-24 winner a year ago, with the Warriors triumphant (49-14) in 2022. 

All three 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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