Local teams will face stiff challenges this season

Press Sports Editor
sports@presspublications.com

In a state that’s obsessed with football, there are going to be plenty of good teams out there. Locally, area schools are facing particularly challenging schedules this season, notably Gibsonburg.
Joe Wyant’s crew had one of the toughest schedules in Division VII last year, and this season is no different.
The Golden Bears will have to face Ottawa Hills, Seneca East, Edison, Hopewell-Loudon and Tiffin Calvert to start the season. Those five teams — four of which qualified for the playoffs — went 47-13 (.783) in 2023.
“Our goal last year was to not get anyone hurt,” said Gibsonburg coach Joe Wyant. “Against Edison, we lost two guys, Cole Owens, and one of our leaders, Hunter Wasserman, got hurt in that game. Against Calvert, Grant Smith blew his knee out. We know the first five are tough, not that the last five aren’t tough, too.
“We know we’re going to be better than we were (last season). They’ll all be close games. I can’t see us getting blown out, we aren’t going to get beat by 28,” Wyant said.
As for Northwood, it will have to face two Michigan schools –– Erie-Mason and Otisville-Lakeville. That’s, in part, because of fellow Toledo Area Athletic Conference foe Cardinal Stritch going without a team this season, and Toledo Christian switching to 8-man football four years ago.
The Rangers will join the Sandusky Conference River Division next year, which Gibsonburg left the TAAC for six years ago, making it the eighth football team. (The other football schools in the conference are Margaretta, Willard, Calvert, Hopewell-Loudon, Lakota and Woodmore. There are five other schools — St. Mary Central Catholic, St. Joseph CC, Old Fort, New Riegel and Danbury –– in the River Division.)
Clay coach John Galyas talked about the stiff challenge his club has in front of itself.
“Eight of our 10 opponents were in the playoffs last year. In the Cardinal Division, all of the teams qualified for the playoffs,” said Galyas. “I know the Buckeye Division gets a lot of attention, as it should, but the Cardinal Division has some quality programs.”
The Eagles have crossover games with Whitmer, Perrysburg, Findlay and Northview, plus non-conference games with Sandusky and Rogers.
Genoa travels to Archbold in week one and hosts Bowsher and Huron –– three great challenges that could get the Comets some valuable computer points if they go 3-0 or 2-1. (The Blue Racers are a Division II school, and if they win some games, that would help Genoa attain some extra computer points.)
Last year, Genoa lost to the Blue Streaks (24-14) but defeated Bowsher (42-6) and held off the Tigers by one point (21-20). Huron defeated Genoa, 28-21, in a rematch in the first round of the playoffs.
“We know these are tough games,” said Genoa coach Bill Fisher. “But every team we face is going to get a great effort from us. We’re excited about (he challenge.”