Answer: This Medina native might be the most popular person right now in his hometown.
Question: Who is Matt Amodio, one of the most successful contestants ever in the history of “Jeopardy!”?
I’m sorry, that is incorrect. We were looking for Drew Allar, the quarterback of the undefeated Battling Bees.
Medina hosts conference rival Strongsville on Friday, in our OHSAA Game of the Week in northern Ohio. The Bees are 4-0, having scored between 31 and 38 points in all four games, which includes quality wins over Avon and Stow.
Medina is ranked No. 1 in the OHSAA’s rankings for Region 1 and No. 3 is the statewide Associated Press poll for Division I.
The aforementioned Allar is committed to play at Penn State next season, and has emerged as one of the top quarterbacks in the entire Class of 2022. He’s coming off an eye-popping 523-yard, five-touchdown performance last week.
Medina entered the season with lots of momentum, coming off wins over St. Edward and St. Ignatius in back-to-back playoff games last season, before falling to Mentor in the Region 1 championship. The Bees’ 2020 campaign included a season sweep over Strongsville, by nearly identical 34-7 (regular season) and 37-7 (playoff) scores.
The Mustangs (3-1) have ponied up three straight wins after a season-opening loss to undefeated Avon Lake. Strongsville has star power, too, with offensive tackle Blake Miller committed to continuing his career at Clemson.
Since 2011, this series has been tight, with Medina winning six of the 11 meetings. However, Strongsville won the previous 22 contests before a 30-27, triple-overtime thriller that had the Bees buzzing in 2011.
In central Ohio, Pickerington Central (3-1) plays host on Friday to Hilliard Bradley (2-2). These two have actually met three of the past four years, all in the playoffs, and all Tigers victories. In 2017, en route to a state championship, Pick Central’s 42-31 win over the Jaguars was its closest score in the postseason.
The Tigers are looking to win their region for the sixth straight year, and have reached the state championship game three times since 2017, winning twice. With talent like defensive lineman Tyler Gillison and C.J. Doggette, Jr. (both Cincinnati commits), offensive lineman Kwabena Asamoah (Rutgers commit) and safety Sonny Styles (one of the top juniors in the entire country), a deep playoff run expected yet again in 2021.
Pickerington Central was knocked off last week, however, falling to rival Pickerington North 13-10, in overtime. Bradley was beaten 27-7 by Marysville.
In southwest Ohio, viewers will see a big Region 8 battle between Little Miami (2-2) and Turpin (3-1). The Spartans have dominated the series, winning all 10 meetings since 2003, by an average margin of nearly 30 points a game.
The Panthers joined the Eastern Cincinnati Conference for the 2020-21 school year, along with Winton Woods. Factor in Turpin, Kings, Anderson, West Clermont, Milford and others, and it is one of the top football conferences in all of Ohio.
Little Miami opened with two wins before dropping two decisions by a combined seven points. The Panthers are trying to build off three straight playoff appearances, with the only other one in school history back in 1992.
Turpin’s lone loss was last week to Milford. Running back Keenan Alcade leads the conference in rushing, with over 600 yards on the ground and 10 touchdowns through four weeks. The Spartans have reached the postseason in 11 of the past 15 years, and should be in the mix in one of the toughest regions in the entire state.
All three games begin Friday at 7 p.m. on Spectrum News 1 and the Spectrum News App.
