THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2000
Fostoria-Findlay matchup key in GLL race
Matt Steiner
Sports Writer
Who would have thought at the halfway point of the 2000 football season that Fostoria would be sitting atop the Great Lakes League with a 4-1 overall mark and not one league loss?
Well, now the Redmen enter Week 6 of the season with maybe the biggest game of the week against Fremont Ross. The showdown could possibly have playoff implications for Fostoria. Coach Tom Grine likes his team's chances of reaching the playoffs and possibly the GLL championship if the Redmen can come away from this week's game with a fifth consecutive victory.
Carey won the first big game of the Midland Athletic League season last week, defeating Mohawk to claim the only perfect overall record in the league. The Blue Devils did it behind a ball-control offense and a tough offensive line.
This week they go from one powerful offensive opponent to the next. Fremont St. Joe possesses a multitude of weapons, any of which could make a big play in the blink of an eye. The key again will be keeping that offense off the field.
Carey's Week 5 victim, Mohawk, could be playing the snoozer of the week. The Warriors have scored 120 points to lead the MAL, while their opponent, North Baltimore, has scored just 28 in five games. However, the Tigers' offense showed signs of life in last week's loss to Hopewell-Loudon. They pumped out 14 points, doubling what they had previously done this season. Despite the improvement, the wise bet is probably still with the Warriors.
The first Suburban Lakes League win eludes first-year Lakota coach Eric Brickman. He's hoping that Eastwood can provide it. The Raiders will have to improve this week if they want the win. Two failed conversions following touchdowns last week kept them from a win. Last season, Lakota fell victim to Eastwood, 20-19, for the same reason.
St. Wendelin and Hopewell-Loudon rekindle an old rivalry when they battle in Bascom. Coach Coby Coburn of the Mohawks has put an offensive outburst atop his Week 6 wish list. St. Wendelin has struggled so far on that side of the ball. The Chieftain's Derek Kidwell is aware that looks can be deceiving. Both coaches agree that St. Wendelin is better than its record shows and could burst out on an given weekend.