Football scheduling – at the high school level – can be very challenging and difficult.

It was a true shame that Martins Ferry had to play a game against a club team called Reigning Sports Academy.

Actually, it’s a shame that any area school would have to play some kind of club team, which is what Reigning Sports Academy is.

Obviously, I realize the need and desire to fill a 10-game schedule. I get it that football is the only sport that’s not promised the postseason and the amount of work that goes into the sport, you want your players to get every chance possible to play under the Friday Night Lights.

But, at some point, taking a bye might be the best option, and that’s unfortunate.

The Reigning Sports Academy – according to its website – is playing football for the first time against OHSAA-member schools, which should tell you all need to know.

From the highlights I saw and talking to people at the game, it was as bad as you’d expect. Some of the Thunder’s players didn’t even have cleats on and played the game in high tops. This is after they arrived at the Dave Bruney Football Complex just some 40 minutes prior to kickoff.

The unfortunate part is that there are a handful of games like this each week. Matchups like Martins Ferry and Reigning Sports or even River against Cleveland Heights Lutheran East make me hope that OVAC mandatory scheduling becomes a hot-button issue again.

At least, talk about it. I think Executive Sports Editor Bubba Kapral’s column on scheduling that appeared in the Oct. 11 edition of The Times Leader was spot on.

Bringing in club teams, inner-city schools, outfits from Canada or other suspects shouldn’t need to happen.

I realize scheduling isn’t as easy as Team A and Team B should be playing, so they schedule each other and play. There are plenty of logistics involved in the entire process, but there are enough schools that the challenge shouldn’t be as difficult as it is.

It’s simply a matter of being willing to make it happen.

CHAMPIONS CROWNED

The St. Clairsville Red Devils locked up the Buckeye 8 South Division title with their victory against Union Local last Friday. St. C. finished 4-0 against the South Division. The Red Devils once again rode the legs of talented senior Brendan Ferns and a stingy defense to the title.

Ferns has been the go-to-guy and rightfully so. He could surpass the 1,000-yard mark this week. He has 839 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

The St. C. defense, which is led by Jake Stewart and Ferns, is allowing just 10 points a game this season.

The Red Devils are closing on yet another OVAC Class 4A title, but have a road trip to East Liverpool before welcoming Steubenville in Week 10 for what could be one of the area’s most anticipated football games in many, many years.

DECEPTIVE RECORD

Legendary NFL coach Bill Parcells once said “you are what your record says you are.”

In pro football, that might be the case. In high school, that may not be so.

The Shadyside Tigers are 2-6. Most of the time, a 2-6 football team would deemed a pushover. Mark Holenka’s team is far from a pushover. Quite simply, Shadyside has played probably one of the most challenging schedules in school history.

The Tigers showed some resolve and that they’re no pushover last Saturday in posting a 14-0 victory against Bellaire. The Tigers stymied the Big Reds, limiting them to less than 100 yards and only six first downs.

Shadyside will host Bridgeport this week before welcoming Division V Bidwell River Valley for the season finale next week. Seven of the Tigers’ 10 opponents are 6-2 or better.

CLICKING ON ALL CYLINDERS

The Wheeling Central Maroon Knights showed once again that they’re going to be a factor in the West Virginia Class A state title race. While, I still firmly believe that Magnolia is the clear favorite, the Knights are starting to find a very impressive rhythm.

The Maroon Knights rung up an impressive 51-21 victory against St. John Central last week. In doing so, they amassed 521 yards of offense, including 400 on the ground.

Prior to getting to Bellaire last week, the Knights had rung up 500 yards against Linsly and 410 against Shadyside.

Central is spreading the ball around offensively, too. Brandon Angalich (138) and Jacob Keane (127) both were impressive. Quarterback Isaac Rine was 9-of-9 for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

When any football team gets the offense cranking like that, they’re going to be dangerous. Central is extremely dangerous. The biggest key for Mike Young and company will be keeping it going out of a bye week, which they’re on this week.

BACK TO WORK

Speaking of bye weeks, Steubenville is about to resume its schedule after taking last week off. Big Red, which is the top-ranked team in Division IV, is 7-0 and will close out the home portion of the regular season against Cardinal O’Hara from New York this Friday.

The bye week provides an opportunity to get healthy and fine tune some things.

Not that Steubenville needs much fine tuning, but I am guessing it made extremely good use of the extra practice time. I actually feel bad for Cardinal O’Hara because if coming to Harding Stadium isn’t challenging enough, playing Big Red there when its had two weeks to prepare can be just brutal.

Only one week to go until the hype of Steubenville at St. Clairsville can officially begin.

CHECKING IN ON THE LOCALS

JOHN MAGISTRO’S Westerville Central Warhawks ran their record to 8-0 with a convincing, 42-7, victory against Westerville South. Up next for Magistro and co. is a date with 8-0 Hilliard Darby.

LEVI NELSON, who is a St. Clairsville graduate, led his Rittman Indians to an impressive 20-17 victory against West Salem Northwestern last week. A date with Apple creek Waynedale lies ahead.

MIKE ORLANDO, who is a Steubenville Central graduate, saw his Cincinnati McNicholas squad drop to 3-5 after a heart-breaking 34-33 setback at the hands of Kettering Alter.

JERRY BUTI, who is a Bellaire High graduate, watched his Defiance Bulldogs slip to 1-7 on the season after a 50-12 loss to St. Mary’s Memorial.

FRED RAY, who is the head coach at Fairview High in Kentucky, helped his team post a 24-22 victory against Raceland. Now 5-4, Fairview closes out its regular season this week at Lewis County.