Big test for Saint John against Mathews Friday

The goals set at the beginning of the year are all still in reach for the Saint John football team.

The Heralds head to Mathews for a Week 8 Northeastern Athletic Conference clash.

A NAC championship and spot into the Division VII, Region 25 playoffs for the second consecutive season are all possible for the Heralds.

Coach Bob Dlwgosh, however, realizes Saint John unfortunately controls none of that heading into the matchup of identical 5-2 overall teams.

"We are still just taking a one week, one game at a time approach," Dlwgosh said. "We have to just prepare for the next three weeks and focus on what we can control."

In the NAC race, Grand Valley, at 2-0, currently has the upper hand.

The Mustangs hold a one-game lead in the loss column over both Mathews (2-1) and Saint John (1-1).

St. John, however, lost to the Mustangs 28-14 Sept. 26, and needs help from one of its NAC opponents.

"If it is out of our control, it is what it is," Dlwgosh said.

According to joeeitel.com , which is an unofficial computer ratings site, the Heralds don't even control their destiny in earning a playoff spot despite currently sitting fifth in the current playoff computer standings.

The top 12 teams qualify for the playoffs.

"We are not going to sit around and worry about that," Dlwgosh said.

While Saint John is fifth in the official Ohio High School Athletic Association ratings, Mathews also sits in playoff contention. They are rated ninth in Division VII, Region 25.

All of which is why Friday's game is so important to both schools.

After losing to Pymatuning Valley 31-14 to start conference action, Mathews has won its last three games, averaging nearly 41 points a game in that span.

In addition, Mathews has given up only a single touchdown in its last two wins over Madonna, out of West Virginia, 41-7 and Cardinal 49-0.

"They are a good football team," Dlwgosh said of Mathews. "It's going to be a good matchup."

In particular, Dlwgosh said he is concerned with the mobility of Mathews junior Caden Brubaker.

"Their quarterback [Brubaker] has made some plays with his feet, which is something we need to watch out for," Dlwgosh said. "We had some problems with that against Richmond Heights."

Slowing Brubaker will be difficult, but Mathews has the ability to air it out and stretch the field.

"Having a controlled, good pass rush is important," Dlwgosh said of the discipline his defense needs to have. "They are a fairly balanced team on offense, about 60-40 [run-pass], so we have to be on our toes."

Mathews, too, will have to be ready to defend the Saint John running game.

Tailback Chase Newsome continues to put up big numbers for the Heralds in his senior season. In the 28-22 win against Richmond Heights last Friday, Newsome scored all four touchdowns, rushing for 165 yards on 21 carries.

For the season, Newsome has gained 749 yards with 11 touchdowns.

"I am happy with how Chase is playing right now," Dwlgosh said.

The coach said sophomore Bentley Baker's emergence has helped solidify the ground attack even more.

"We have strengthened our running game and it has allowed us to open up the passing game as the season has gone along," Dlwgosh said.

In the loss to GV, Dlwgosh felt his team didn't finish well as part of the defeat.

Dlwgosh said he has watched growth in his team since then, and hopes to continue the finishing mentality until the end no matter what happens.

"The best we can do is finish out with three conference wins and let the chips fall where they may," Dlwgosh said.

The Heralds head to Northeastern Athletic Confernce opponent Mathews for a Week 8 game at 7 p.m. Friday.

A NAC championship and earning a spot into the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division VII, Region 25 playoffs for the second consecutive season are all possible for Saint John.

Heralds coach Bob Dlwgosh, however, realizes his team unfortunately controls none of that heading into Friday's game.

In terms of control of the NAC race, Grand Valley (2-0) currently has the upper hand. The Mustangs hold a one-game lead in the loss column over both Mathews (2-1) and St. John (1-1).

Mathews still has a crack at GV in Week 9.

St. John, however, lost to the Mustangs 28-14, and and needs help from another NAC school to defeat GV.

According to joeEitel.com , which posts unofficial computer ratings, the Heralds don't even control their destiny in earning a playoff spot.

They are also ranked fifth in the official OHSAA current computer standings.

Meanwhile, Mathews also sits in playoff contention. They are ninth in the Division VII, Region 25 ratings.

After losing to Pymatuning Valley in its league opener, Mathews has won its last three games, averaging nearly 41 points a game in that span.

In addition, Mathews has given up only a single touchdown the last two weeks in wins against Madonna (West Virginia) and Cardinal.

Dlwgosh particularly said he is concerned with the mobility of Mathews junior Caden Brubaker.

Slowing Brubaker will be difficult as Mathews also will air it out and stretch the field.

"Having a controlled, good pass rush is important," Dlwgosh said of the discipline his defense needs to have. "They are a fairly balanced team on offense — about 60-40 [run-pass], so we have to be on our toes."

Tailback Chase Newsome continues to put up big numbers for the Heralds in his senior season. Last week in a 28-22 win against Richmond Heights, Newsome scored all four touchdowns, rushing for 165 yards on 21 carries.

For the season, he has rushed for 749 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The coach said the emergence of sophomore Bentley Baker has helped strengthen the running game even more.

In its lone league loss to GV two weeks ago, Dlwgosh felt his team didn't finish well in part of the the defeat.

Dlwgosh said he has seen growth in his team since then, and hopes that finishing mentality continues until the end no matter what happens.