Massillon and Canton South, the two undefeated teams in Stark County, Ohio, are dominating the power polls in the area. Both teams are at the top of their respective divisions and have shown no signs of slowing down. Malvern, just outside the county, is also making waves with their impressive 4-0 start to the season.
Massillon, after a close win in their season opener, has been on a rampage, outscoring their opponents 162-17 in the last three weeks. Their rushing game has been particularly strong, averaging 278.8 yards per game, while their defense has been stellar, allowing only 69.8 rushing yards per game. This week, they face a tough challenge against defending state champion St. Edward.
Canton McKinley and Jackson have also been climbing the ranks in the power polls. McKinley, after a quality win in Week 3, dominated their league opener against Perry with 494 yards of offense while allowing only 104 yards. Quarterback Keaton Rode has been impressive, throwing for 556 yards and four touchdowns in the last two weeks. They face Green this week.
Lake, despite struggling to find their offensive identity, has relied on a strong defense to secure victories. In their last game against GlenOak, they held their opponents to a single score while gaining only 132 yards of offense. Defensive end Ryan Lippe leads the team with seven sacks this season. Lake takes on Louisville this week.
Jackson has been finding different ways to win and has a four-game winning streak going. Last week, they held Green to 13 points in a hard-fought victory. Anthony Fuline returned an interception for a touchdown for the second straight week, and linebacker Mitchell Braucher led a strong pass rush. They face Perry in their next game.
Green had a tough loss against Jackson, but they have shown enough promise this season to suggest they will be a tough opponent every week. They look to bounce back against McKinley this week.
In the small-school division, Canton South has been dominant, averaging 43 points a game and coming off a big win against Orrville. Six different players scored touchdowns in their last game, and they face a tough test against CVCA this week.
Malvern, in the Division VII, has been facing tough opponents but has risen to the challenge. They handed Tusky Valley their first loss last week and are hosting Sandy Valley in their upcoming game.
Alliance and Sandy Valley are also teams to watch as they have been performing well this season. Alliance bounced back from a loss with a strong win against Ellet, while Sandy Valley has a dynamic quarterback in Nick Petro.
Marlington had a tough loss against Chaney but has shown positive momentum this season. They play against Warren JFK in their next game.
Overall, the high school football scene in Stark County is full of exciting matchups and talented teams. It will be interesting to see how the season unfolds for these top-performing schools.
