PREP FOOTBALL Final SVC season to kick off

Ursuline plays host to Boardman and Mooney visits Warren Harding.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
The Steel Valley Conference is going out on top. At least that's the way it appears heading into the fourth week of the high school football season.
Austintown Fitch, Boardman, Cardinal Mooney, Ursuline and Warren Harding are a combined 12-3 as the SVC, which will disband after the school year, begins conference play this weekend.
Highlighting the SVC schedule is a match-up at Stambaugh Stadium, where Ursuline plays host to Boardman.
State respect
The Spartans have gotten off to a fast start. Not only are they 3-0, but they can stake their claim to a second-week 29-23 victory over Cleveland St. Ignatius, the defending Division I state champion.
"We've been playing well, but now the Steel Valley season starts and it doesn't get any easier," Boardman coach Garry Smith said.
Boardman comes into its SVC opener off a 42-27 win against Chaney.
"It's a game we look forward to," said Boardman coach Garry Smith on facing the Irish. "You start with [Terrence] Graves, [Delbert] Ferguson and [Daryll] Clark. They have other guys, but you have to contend with those three first."
Ferguson ran for 215 yards and three touchdowns last week as Ursuline (3-1) rolled past Wilmington 45-0.
Tom Zetts directed Boardman's win against Chaney by passing for 266 yards and three touchdowns.
The Spartans beat Ursuline 31-27 last year at Boardman hours after the Irish were officially notified by the OHSAA that they would have to forfeit four victories for using an ineligible player.
In other SVC action this weekend, Mooney travels to Warren Harding, and Fitch remains outside the conference, traveling Saturday night to Fawcett Stadium to play Canton GlenOak.
Trying to rebound
The City Series hasn't been as fortunate as the SVC.
Chaney is 1-2 in the midst of a strong non-conference schedule, with losses to Uniontown Lake and Boardman. Cowboys senior running back Ed McElroy has been impressive, rushing for 256 yards against the Spartans.
Rayen (1-2) put up a fight against unbeaten Beaver Local before losing 35-22 on Saturday, and Wilson (0-3) has been outscored 150-6 in three games.
Maybe the most enticing match-up of Metro Athletic Conference teams is Poland's trip Saturday night to Canton Central Catholic. The teams met last season in Poland, with the Bulldogs winning 24-14.
In addition to Poland's record, Canfield and Howland are perfect through three weeks. The Cardinals play host Friday to Wilson, while Howland stays home to play Brooke, W.Va.
Flying high
Lowellville is allowing a touchdown per game in its 3-0 start. Mike Palumbo and Andy Peterson led the Rockets' attack last week in a 28-0 win against Brookfield. Lowellville faces Jackson-Milton (0-3) in an Inter-County League opener.
The Trumbull Athletic Conference's game of the week will take place Friday night in Hubbard, where the Eagles play host to Newton Falls in a match-up of unbeaten teams.
Hubbard hasn't slowed since its season-opening victory over defending Div. V state champion Bedford Chanel. Newton Falls was awarded a victory in the first week when Warren Kennedy forfeited for using an ineligible player.
Columbiana (3-0) and United (3-0) have proven themselves in the non-league portion of their schedules. Now comes the Tri-County League openers this weekend. The Clippers visit Leetonia, while the Eagles head to Lisbon.
Also in Columbiana County, Beaver Local and East Liverpool put their unbeaten records on the line at the Potters' home field.