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

MOONEY
VS. WARREN HARDING

Well, no one’s being able to slow down the Cardinals yet, and part of the reason — in addition to talented, fast and big athletes, of course — is a plus-8 in turnover margin. Cardinal Mooney has forced 10 take-aways in three games, and for the Raiders to have a chance, they are going to have to protect the ball and make some plays of their own. That’s something they’ve not done the last two years, resulting in double digit wins for the Cardinals. This game will be played at Fitch High Saturday night.

MASSILLON JACKSON
AT BOARDMAN

Last season the Spartans came into their Federal League opener with a 2-1 record, led the Polar Bears 16-7 after three quarters … then gave up three touchdowns over the final 12 minutes. That loss started Boardman on a five-week spiral, with three of the setbacks by a touchdown or less. This Boardman team comes into the Fed opener 2-1, and in what promises to be a wide-open league race, a good start Friday night is vitally important. Plus, former Warren Harding coach Thom McDaniels returns to the Valley as coach of Jackson, which is 1-2.

CANTON GLENOAK
AT FITCH

See above. The Falcons (1-2) are in the same boat as Boardman, except they get a GlenOak team that, at 3-0, has already matched its win total from 2006. Still, Fitch won this matchup, 10-3, last year, and gets the Eagles a week before one of their rivals, Canton McKinley. Fitch has won the last two meetings between these teams and would love to make it three in a row.

URSULINE
AT MASSILLON

The Irish answered a lot of questions last Friday with a seven-point win over Fitch, which began an eight-week stretch of what could arguably be the toughest schedule in Ohio. Friday’s game at Paul Brown Tiger Stadium — which, coincidentally, is the site of the Division V state championship in late November — promises to test the Irish strength. Don’t be fooled by Massillon’s 1-2 start, not when the game is being played there.

LISBON
AT SOUTH RANGE

This could develop into one of the better rivalries in the Inter Tri-County League’s Tier One (in a league already chock full of them). Last year, the Raiders put the finishing touches on their second straight 10-0 regular season with a 43-12 rout. Coach Dan Yeagley’s team has showed no signs of a letdown so far in 2007, outscoring opponents 136-34. Lisbon is 2-1, bouncing back from a surprising week one loss to Leetonia with victories over Southern and Wellsville.

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