Portage County High School Football: Week 6 Preview and Predictions

Week 6 brings key matchups for Portage County-area teams, including a renewed Route 43 rivalry and a battle of 4-1 Metro Athletic Conference unbeatens.

Week 6 of the Ohio high school football season features a full slate of games involving Portage County-area teams. Among the headliners is a renewed rivalry, as Field (2-3, 1-1) visits Kent Roosevelt (2-3, 0-2) in the first meeting between the State Route 43 schools since 2014. Field won that 2014 encounter, though Roosevelt took the three prior clashes in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Field was awarded a win last week without playing, as Cuyahoga Falls forfeited due to illness.

Roosevelt's Zachary Coleman turned two short passes into touchdowns of more than 70 yards against Streetsboro last week, and Makhi Jones has strengthened the Rough Riders' ground game. Field counters with Alex Williams, a threat both as a receiver and a runner. The pick: Roosevelt 35-17.

Another marquee game pits Cloverleaf (4-1, 2-0) at Streetsboro (4-1, 2-0), both unbeaten in the Metro Athletic Conference. Streetsboro has won four straight since losing its opener to Copley, averaging 39 points over that span, including 41 against Roosevelt. Logan Fincham has rushed for 761 yards and 12 touchdowns on 128 carries, while Colton Cox has thrown for 559 yards and run for 376. Cloverleaf's defense allows just 6.4 points per game. The pick: Streetsboro 28-14.

Elsewhere, Ravenna (3-2, 1-1) travels to Tallmadge (3-2, 1-1). The teams split 12 meetings played annually from 2010 through 2021, and both enter off lopsided losses — Ravenna fell 49-0 to Woodridge and Tallmadge lost 38-7 to Norton. Tallmadge's Angelo Gotto rushed for 156 yards against Roosevelt, while Ravenna's Mark Miller added 81 rushing yards against Woodridge. The pick: Tallmadge 28-14.

In the Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference, undefeated Garfield (5-0, 2-0) visits Southeast (2-3, 2-0). Garfield is averaging 45.4 points, has outscored its two league opponents 102-0, and averages 10.8 yards per carry behind Ryder Cain (671 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) and dual-threat quarterback Collin McGranahan. Southeast arrives off an upset of Crestview, with Alaunte Massrock scoring three touchdowns. The pick: Garfield 42-21. In the Scarlet Tier, Mineral Ridge (5-0, 2-0) visits Waterloo (1-4, 0-2), coming off a 45-7 win over Jackson-Milton in which Chandler Busse scored three times. The pick: Mineral Ridge 35-7.

In the Suburban American, Aurora (2-3, 1-1) visits Revere (3-2, 1-1) after snapping a three-game skid with a 28-7 win over Twinsburg, fueled by 225 rushing yards. Mathew Huth, Carter Fitzgerald and Tommy Stenger combined for 204 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Revere is led by the Hajdu brothers — Carter at quarterback, Brady at running back and outside linebacker, and Davis at rover and slot receiver. The pick: Aurora 35-28. In the Chagrin Valley Conference, Conneaut (4-1, 1-1) visits Crestwood (1-4, 0-1) after suffering its first loss, 48-0 to Kirtland.