NEO High School Football Week 9: Cuyahoga Hts and Stow impress

Week 9 has come and gone, meaning there is just one more week in the Ohio high school football season. Week 9 provided some big games and results that have affected the playoff seeding in every division. The matchup of the week was supposed to be a close one, but turned out to be a one-sided defensive performance. This week also had a huge surprise that saw one of the state’s best teams fall and suffer its first loss of the season. It was another fun week of football. The weather is getting colder, which means the high school football playoffs are drawing near.

So, what happened in Week 9? Let’s take a look at what went on this week in the high school football season in Northeast Ohio.

NEO HS Football Recap: Season Preview, Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9

Notable Scores from Northeast Ohio

St. Ignatius 31 St. Xavier 14

St. Edward 24 Archbishop Moeller 21

Archbishop Hoban 41 Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 21

Avon 42 Berea-Midpark 7

Mentor 22 Brunswick 16

Solon 43 Shaker Heights 6

Stow 41 Brecksville 7

Chardon 49 Brush 28

Cuyahoga Heights 21 Kirtland 0

Hudson 24 Wadsworth 17

Midview 55 Avon Lake 34

Glenville 36 John Hay 0

Medina 26 Euclid 19

Cleveland Heights 15 Shaw 10

Strongsville 15 Elyria 8

Lorain 42 Bedford 7

Aurora 36 Canada Prep Academy 13

Copley 45 Kent Roosevelt 7

Massillon Jackson 31 Green 14

Independence 47 Berkshire 7

Mogadore 48 Waterloo 0

Canton GlenOak 35 Uniontown Lake 28

Massillon Washington 21 St. Vincent-St. Mary 12

Massillon Perry 7 Canton McKinley 6

Recap of the Top Matchup of the Week

Stow cruises past Brecksville, 41-7

The matchup of the week was not really a contest, as Stow flew past Brecksville, 41-7. Coming into the game, I touted the matchup as a high-scoring affair, but it was the Stow defense that controlled the game. The Bulldogs defense held Brecksville to just seven points and also scored its own touchdown on an interception return by Joe Gobble. Gobble also rushed for a score on offense. Stow quarterback Kyle Vantrease ran for a touchdown and threw a touchdown in the victory. The game was tied after one, but Stow stormed away, outscoring 34-0 for the rest of the game. Brecksville suffers its first loss as they fall to 8-1, while Stow moves to 8-1.

Best Performance

Cuyahoga Heights shuts out Kirtland, 21-0

The best performance of the week was Cuyahoga Heights’ shutout victory over previously unbeaten Kirtland. Kirtland was the defending Division VI state champion and undefeated. But, Cuyahoga Heights completely dominated the game. Cuyahoga Heights held Kirtland’s high-powered offense to just 131 yards of total offense. On offense, Cuyahoga Heights had an exceptional game from quarterback Brett Lowther, scoring all three touchdowns for the team. He threw for 116 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 80 yards and two touchdowns. It was an impressive performance by Cuyahoga Heights, who lost to Kirtland twice last season, including in the playoffs.

Biggest Surprise

Cuyahoga Heights blanks Kirtland, 21-0

Kirtland getting shut out by Cuyahoga Heights is the biggest surprise of the week. Cuyahoga Heights and Kirtland both came into the game undefeated, but Kirtland was the reigning state champion in Division VI. Kirtland also had beaten Cuyahoga Heights twice last season. So, a dominant shutout victory by Cuyahoga Heights was a huge surprise. The way the Redskins shut down Kirtland’s high-powered offense was a shocker because not many teams over the last few seasons have been able to slow it down. Cuyahoga Heights is obviously a great team and a contender for the state championship, but the way they handled Kirtland was a huge surprise.

Best Individual Performance

QB Dustin Crum, Midview

Midview quarterback Dustin Crum had the best individual performance of the week in his team’s 55-34 victory over Avon Lake. He completed 20 of 27 for 328 yards and five touchdowns. On the ground, he rushed 20 times for 200 yards and three touchdowns. He was responsible for eight touchdowns on the night.

Top 10

10. Medina (8-1)

Last Week Ranking: Unranked

Past Week: Win @ Euclid 26-19

Next Week: vs. Solon on Friday

Medina returns to my rankings after their big win over Euclid this past week. Medina has scored at least 41 points in seven of their nine games this season.

9. Cuyahoga Heights (9-0)

Last Week Ranking: Unranked

Past Week: Win @ Kirtland 21-0

Next Week: vs. Independence on Friday

Cuyahoga Heights enters my rankings for the first time this season, after their huge shutout victory over Kirtland. Cuyahoga Heights has held its opponent to ten or less points in five of its nine games.

8. Chardon (9-0)

Last Week Ranking: 9

Past Week: Win @ Brush 49-28

Next Week: @ Willoughby South on Friday

Chardon moves up one spot this week, after beating Brush, 49-28, this past weekend. Chardon is looking to finish off a perfect regular season next week when they travel to Willoughby South.

7. Midview (8-1)

Last Week Ranking: 8

Past Week: Win vs. Avon Lake 55-34

Next Week: @ North Ridgeville on Friday

Midview moves up one spot this week, following their shootout victory over Avon Lake this past weekend. Dustin Crum had another amazing performance, scoring eight touchdowns versus Avon Lake.

6. Avon (9-0)

Last Week Ranking: 7

Past Week: Win vs. Berea-Midpark 42-7

Next Week: vs. Olmsted Falls on Friday

Avon moves up one spot in my rankings with their 42-7 victory over Berea-Midpark. Avon is looking to polish off their undefeated regular season next week versus Olmsted Falls.

5. Solon (8-1)

Last Week Ranking: 5

Past Week: Win vs. Shaker Heights 43-6

Next Week: @ Medina on Friday

Solon had another easy victory, taking down Shaker Heights 43-6 this past weekend. The Comets have a big matchup against Medina that will affect playoff seeding for both teams.

4. Stow (8-1)

Last Week Ranking: 4

Past Week: Win vs. Brecksville 41-7

Next Week: @ North Royalton on Friday

Stow won the matchup of the week in convincing fashion, cruising past Brecksville, 41-7. The Bulldogs are one of the top teams in Division I and a definite contender for the state championship.

3. St. Edward (7-1)

Last Week Ranking: 3

Past Week: Win @ Archbishop Moeller 24-21

Next Week: @ St. Ignatius on Saturday

St. Edward squeezed past Archbishop Moeller with a last second game-winning field goal this past weekend. St. Edward plays archrival St. Ignatius this coming week, in a matchup that will decide playoff seeding.

2. St. Ignatius (8-1)

Last Week Ranking: 2

Past Week: Win @ St. Xavier 31-14

Next Week: vs. St. Edward on Saturday

St. Ignatius had an impressive victory in Week 9, beating St. Xavier 31-14. The Wildcats face archrival St. Edward on Saturday in a game that is huge for their playoff positioning.

1. Archbishop Hoban (8-1)

Last Week Ranking: 1

Past Week: Win vs. Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin 41-21

Next Week: vs. Benedictine on Friday

Archbishop Hoban stays at No. 1 this week, following their victory over Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin this past weekend. Hoban is poised to be the favorite for the Division III state championship.

Top Matchup Next Week

No. 3 St. Edward plays No. 2 St. Ignatius at FirstEnergy Stadium on Saturday

The matchup of Week 10 is usually the same almost every season, the holy war between St. Ignatius and St. Edward. Both teams come into the game with just one loss, with St. Ignatius at 8-1 and St. Edward at 7-1. It will be an interesting game that will be a huge difference maker in the Division I, Region I playoff seedings. I am going with St. Ignatius, but the rivalry is almost always a close match, so expect more of the same under the bright lights of FirstEnergy Stadium.

All stats come from Cleveland.com