Top of the Crop
Football
(2018 record listed for each team)
1. Avon 12-2
2. Avon Lake 10-2
3. Olmsted Falls 8-3
4. Elyria Catholic 9-3
5. Clearview 10-2
6. Bay 8-3
7. Lorain 6-4
8. Columbia 7-4
9. Amherst 6-4
10. North Olmsted 5-5
Watch list: Keystone 5-5, Fairview 4-6
Comments: Avon begins the season as the team to beat after advancing to its second-straight Division II state semifinal in 2018. The Eagles graduated All-Ohio quarterback Ryan Maloy, but return 12 starters and are reloading with plenty of talent. … Avon Lake was the only team to beat top-ranked Avon last season other than eventual state champion Akron Hoban. The Shoremen have lots to replace on offense but a solid defense should carry them this year. … Olmsted Falls hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2014 but graduated 18 seniors from last year’s team. Coach Tom DeLuca will no doubt have the Bulldogs ready come Week 1, however, and they should be in contention for a league title once again. … Elyria Catholic is coming off its best season in nearly a decade and returns four-star recruit Branson Taylor among a talented returning core. The Panthers should be regarded as the team to beat in the Great Lakes Conference. … Clearview won its first playoff game in 15 years last season and returns several defensive starters who made its defense one of the best around in 2018. The Clippers’ expectations are as high as ever in 2019. … Bay has not missed the playoffs since a 1-9 season in 2013, so regardless of its finish last season, should certainly be regarded as one of the area’s teams to beat this year. The addition of Fairview and Buckeye make the GLC race a bit more interesting this season, but the four-time champion Rockets won’t make it easy on any opponent. … Lorain missed the playoffs last season after two-straight appearances, but still finished above .500 and returns nearly all its skill players. The Titans won’t be satisfied with anything less than a reclaiming of the Lake Erie League title and a spot back in the postseason. … Columbia boasted arguably the greatest rusher in Lorain County history in 2018 graduate Brandon Coleman. The Kent State freshman’s departure poses some issues for the young Raiders, as does the lack of experience on both sides of the ball, but Coach Jason Ward will have his team in conference and playoff contention as the season progresses. … Amherst started the 2018 season 5-0 before stumbling the second half of the year. The Comets graduated Matt Wilhelm Award finalist Khennedy Scagliozzo and are young across the board, but have shown steady improvement since Coach Mike Passerrello took over in 2017. … North Olmsted controlled its own destiny by Week 10 last season but missed the playoffs by one game. The Eagles have plenty to replace thanks to graduation, but could makes some noise in the SWC again in 2019.
