Undecided on what game to take in this weekend? There’s some solid matchups. Let’s start with:

FITCH
VS. URSULINE

These two football heavyweights will battle on the turf at Stambaugh Stadium Friday night. The Irish haven’t been tested in their first two games, outscoring Cleveland East Tech and East Liverpool by a combined 115-0. Fitch, meanwhile, is 1-1 against the City schools. The Falcons will have to put together a better offensive performance than they did last week in a 20-3 loss to East. Last year, the Irish eked out a 20-14 win at Falcon Stadium. This one might not be that close, but it’s sure to be Ursuline’s toughest test of the young season.

GIRARD
AT WARREN JFK

This promises to be a close game, regardless if there’s 23 points scored (like last year) or 126 (as in 2004). Both teams have victories this season over Campbell Memorial — Girard’s was far more impressive. This is No. 2 in a stretch of difficult games for the Eagles, who lost at Hubbard last weekend, and whose next four opponents all won at least seven games last season.

ALLIANCE
AT CANFIELD

Two playoff-tested programs bring 2-0 records into this nonconference showdown at Bob Dove Stadium. Canfield is sitting pretty already in the computer ratings with victories over East and Canton South, two teams expected to get their share of wins this season. The Aviators, meanwhile, have defeated Crestwood of the Portage Trail Conference and Chaney and have allowed just one touchdown in doing so. This isn’t the wide-open Alliance team of the last couple of seasons, but a ball-control, run-oriented approach. Still, it should provide a nice test for a Canfield team that hopes to go into the Metro Athletic Conference schedule on a roll.

BEAVER LOCAL
AT POLAND

Can a game in week 3 be considered “must-win” for these teams? Yes, considering both sit at 1-1 and still have reachable Division III postseason hopes. Poland’s win at Hubbard in Week 1 was impressive, considering what the Eagles did last weekend against JFK. The jury is still out on the Beavers, who routed East Liverpool in the opener but were done in by turnovers and penalties against West Branch last weekend.

COLUMBIANA
AT WESTERN RESERVE

These two prograns were playoff Division IV participants a year ago, and the Clippers’ résumé included a 28-6 rout of the Blue Devils in week 3. Neither ’07 team appears to be the equal of their 2006 editions, but this game should still provide Inter Tri-County League followers with a good idea of just how much these squads will challenge for the title.

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