Team

Austintown Fitch

Record	Div.	Conf.
6/4	Div. I	All-American Conference Gold Tier

Team

Youngstown Chaney

Record	Div.	Conf.
/

Team

Campbell Memorial

Record	Div.	Conf.
3/7	Div. V	All-American Conference Blue Tier

Team

South Range

Record	Div.	Conf.
13/1	Div. V	Independents

Team

Ursuline

Record	Div.	Conf.
2/8	Div. IV	Independents

Team

Howland

Record	Div.	Conf.
6/4	Div. III	All-American Conference Red Tier

Team

Canfield

Record	Div.	Conf.
12/1	Div. III	All-American Conference Red Tier

Four weeks into the high school football season, I’ve been fortunate enough to see our strongest unbeaten teams in action.

Two of the games were blowouts (Fitch 58, Chaney 7; Campbell 42, South Range 21) but the others were competitive (Ursuline 14, Mentor Lake Catholic 10; Howland 16, Canfield 0).

Most impressive win

Division V Ursuline defeating Division II Lake Catholic at Stambaugh Stadium in Week 3. Because of their independent status, the Irish play a wacky schedule loaded with unfamiliar (and sometimes unnecessary) opponents. (Is there any intelligent reason the Irish still play Cleveland East Tech which struggles to find 25 players?)

But the Irish went toe-to-toe with a big school contender and stood their ground with tailback Akise Teague (5-foot-8, 174 pounds, perhaps with winter clothing on) dominating. Teague rushed for 150 yards to help the Irish gobble time off the clock. He also intercepted Cougars quarterback Bryan Blondeaux’s final pass to seal the victory.

“Akise has real good balance,” Ursuline coach Dan Reardon said. “Just when you think he’s done, he has great balance, he has a chance to keep a play alive. Sometimes, I’d like to see him be a little more patient and hit it up in there. He’s always trying to make that big play.”

Teague described his style as elusive scatback and prides himself “in the moves I can make [to make] people miss. I think I’m also strong and that’s why it’s hard to tackle me.”

Asked if he has moves on the dance floor, Teague smiled.

“[I’m] kinda good at the salsa,” Teague said. “I can salsa.” (I wonder how many linemen know that salsa is more than a chip dip.)

Reardon showed a willingness to gamble against a strong opponent. In the first half, he had the Irish run a fake punt (it worked) and try an onside kick (it didn’t).

“We were trying to keep them off-balance with a couple of new wrinkles,” Reardon said. “We thought we had it, but we didn’t quite execute it.

“I don’t regret that call — we were playing good defense and trying to sneak another possession.”

Asked if he had played the lottery, Reardon laughed and said no.

“But we had a baby boy born yesterday and his weight came up in the Pick Three last night — eight pounds, five ounces — 0-8-5 and a couple of people played it.

“I should have played it.”

Reardon and his wife, Amanda, named their son Patrick.

Honorable mention

Howland shutting out Canfield on the Cards’ home field for the Tigers’ second straight impressive victory. In Week 3, Howland defeated Warren Harding, 25-22.

In both games, field goal kicker Chris McClearn made a huge impact. His career-long 49-yard field goal against Harding provided the margin of difference.

Against the Cards, McClearn connected for field goals covering 48, 42 and 29 yards.

“There’s no question that in the last two weeks he’s been very instrumental in our two victories,” Howland coach Richard Angle said.

“We certainly know that we’re not out of the woods by any means and we have a lot of work to get better,” Angle said. “But to be 4-0, to beat the four teams we [played], we’re pretty proud.”

A 10-0 season and home playoff game is definitely in reach for the Tigers. Their toughest remaining challenge should come on Oct. 8 at Poland (2-2).

Most impressive start

We’ll give it to Fitch for wins at Poland (48-13) and against Canton McKinley (24-21).

Tonight, the Falcons risk their unbeaten season with a tough challenge at Canton GlenOak (3-1). Falcons head coach Phil Annarella is looking for his first win against the Golden Eagles.

Pleasant surprise

Only one of Campbell’s wins has come against a team with a winning record (South Range at 3-1) but first-year head coach Mickey Sikora has the Red Devils off to their best start in a long time.

The meatiest part of Campbell’s schedule remains to be played (Salem, Champion, Girard and Struthers) but a return to the postseason remains possible.

Best team that didn’t win

If you count teams from outside the Mahoning Valley, then it’s Lake Catholic (3-1).

Closer to home, it’s a toss-up. Canfield has probably one of the best 1-3 teams in the state (their other losses were to Aurora and Dover). A six-game winning streak to close the season is a possibility for the Cards.

On the other hand, South Range has plenty to play for — the Inter Tri-County League Tier One crown and a Region 17 home playoff game. Tonight’s game with Mineral Ridge and the Oct. 15 game against Crestview will show just how far the Raiders have rebounded from last year’s 2-8 season.