OHIO — Big September sporting events in Delaware County are nothing new, as the Little Brown Jug draws upwards of 40,000 each year as part of the Delaware County Fair.
It is usual for high school football to cause the same stir, and while there won’t be that many people in Sunbury Friday night, they’ll be packed into the brand new Big Walnut High School Stadium, which debuted last month.
If you don’t have a ticket, you can check it out as part of Spectrum News 1’s triple crown coverage for the Ohio High School Athletic Association Game of the Week.
The Golden Eagles (3-0) have posted impressive victories over Hartley, Zanesville and Beechcroft, continuing the momentum from last year’s undefeated regular season. With one of the top juniors in the state, Garrett Stover, expectations are for Big Walnut to compete for a state title. Stover is the cousin of current Ohio State tight end Cade Stover.
Its neighbors to the west on U.S. Route 36/Ohio Route 37 didn’t enter 2022 with the same type of hype. Delaware Hayes was 3-8 a year ago, but the Pacers made the school’s second-ever playoff appearance (2008).
Delaware is also 3-0 this year, allowing just 24 total points in wins over rival Buckeye Valley, St. Charles and Mount Vernon. The Pacers have only had three seasons with winning records (2018, 2009 and 2008) since the new century.
In 19 meetings since 1999, Big Walnut has won 17 times, with the most recent Delaware triumph in 2013. The Golden Eagles have a two-year playoff streak, but hadn’t reached the postseason prior to that since 2011.
In southwest Ohio, viewers will get a Greater Miami Conference battle between Princeton (3-0) and Hamilton (2-1).
After surrendering 36 points in a 61-36 opening win over Anderson, the Vikings (ranked seventh in Division I in the 2022 debut Associated Press Ohio high school football poll) beat Colerain 28-0 and Lakota East 71-0. The Big Blue have wins over West Clermont and Middletown sandwiched around a loss to Mason.
The Vikings have controlled that series, winning 14 of 17 match-ups since 1999. The two teams did not meet last year, due to a COVID-19 cancelation.
Both reached the playoffs in each of the last three years in Region 4, while the Big Blue are still in search of the school’s first-ever postseason win. First-year head coach Arvie Crouch was an assistant at the school from 1993 to 2008, and returns after a successful stint at Mount Healthy. There he led the Fighting Owls to five conference titles, four of which came without defeat. He also coached current Chicago Bears running back David Montgomery.
There’s plenty of talent on both sides of ball, with one intriguing match-up when Hamilton has the ball. Lanky wide receiver Breeon Ishmail could see coverage from Princeton cornerback Caleb Clark, who is committed to play at Marshall. Vikings defensive end Phillip Daniels has pledged to continue his career at Pittsburgh.
When Princeton has the ball, junior playmakers TJ Engleman (running back) and Dorian Williams (wide receiver) can make things happen. Engleman is committed to Georgia Tech.
The OHSAA Game of the Week in northern Ohio takes us to the Suburban League. Copley (1-2) plays host to Aurora (2-1) for the eighth straight season since the Greenman joined the league (American Conference). Aurora has taken six of the previous seven, with the lone Indians victory in 2020.
Despite averaging over 48 points per game, Copley comes into the contest with a 1-2 mark, falling to Twinsburg and undefeated Buckeye. The Indians did beat Firestone in week two.
The Greenmen beat Twinsburg and opened the season by besting Euclid. The only loss was to Riverside.
Aurora was the Division III state champions in 2008, and have reached the postseason in 16 of the past 17 years.
Copley went 8-2 two years ago, followed by a 3-8 mark last year. Despite frequent playoff appearances, the Indians haven’t won one of those games since 2005.
All three games are available on Spectrum News on channel 1 and the Spectrum News App, Friday at 7 p.m.
