Midview vs. North Ridgeville tonight

Tonight is the final regular season game of the high school football season 2011. I will be North Ridgeville, Ohio as the Rangers host the Midview Middies. You can tune in to 1320 AM or listen online (replay will be available online as well). I'll be working with play-by-play announcer Bob Karlovec and sideline reporter Darrin Goats.

These two teams are very familiar with each other. After facing off as rivals in the old Lakeland and Erie Shore Conferences, the two schools, only 8 miles apart from each other, are now foes in the West Shore Conference. North Ridgeville has won 3 straight and is 4-2 vs. Midview as WSC opponents. In 5 of the 6 meetings, the game has been decided as by one score including last year's 19-14 Ranger victory in which Ridgeville's Christian Watkins scored the game-winner on an interception return.

Both teams have an outside chance at the OHSAA play-offs. Midview (7-2) is #12 in Division 2, Region 6 while North Ridgeville (8-1) is #12 in Division 1, Region 2.

Midview suffered their 2nd loss of the season last week in a 14-10 defeat against Avon snapping a 7-game winning streak. 2011 is the Middies first winning season since 2007 and are led by sophomore QB Cody Callaway who is 135-237 passing for 57% completion percentage for 1753 yards with 17 TDs and 7 INTs along with 165 yards rushing with 4 more TDs. Midview uses a spread offense and Callaway has several targets including RB Jacob Bennett, and receivers Ryan Mains, Eric Lauer, Patrick Linn and Jeff Ondo.

North Ridgeville is a little more balanced offensively. Senior QB P.J. Bunevich has passed for 950 yards and 10 touchdowns with only 3 INTs. The balanced rushing attack is led by Jr. FB Paul Sonego (99-498 yards rushing), David Bowden (77-356) and Christian Watkins (21-198 rushing). Watkins is also a threat at receiver with five touchdowns through the air.

The Ranger defense has been solid this year allowing only 97 points and had a string of three straight shut-outs against Willard, Elyria Catholic and Rocky River.