Southwest Conference looks strong with five undefeated teams to start conference play – Morning Journal

At the end of the first three weeks, more than half of the Southwest Conference was undefeated.

With the SWC opener set to begin on September 13, five of the eight teams are riding 3-0 records and preparing for what looks to be a recipe for a competitive seven-week stretch.

“(The SWC) is one of the best, if not the best Division II conference in Ohio,” North Ridgeville coach Bryan Morgan said. “We have great teams and great coaches in that conference. That’s one of the great things about coaching in that conference. Every night you have to be ready to go.”

Since the conference condensed to eight teams in 2021, the number of undefeated SWC teams heading into the conference has ranged from two to three.

This year, we have Amherst (which beat North Olmsted, 24-7, in Week 3), North Ridgeville (which beat North Royalton, 31-0), Olmsted Falls (which beat Canfield, 35-6), Midview (which beat Elyria Catholic, 27-0) and defending conference champions Avon (which beat Glenville, 13-12).

“Time will tell if this is the toughest season, but I think the SWC is the strongest right now (compared to other years),” said Tom DeLuca, Olmsted Falls’ coach for 12 years. “There’s no team that we’re going to take a break from. It’s always like that, but I think this year, every team is proving themselves and they’re capable. With five teams (3-0), that’s saying something.”

Amherst was a team that made huge strides last year. They snapped a 21-game losing streak. At this point, the Comets have already matched their 3-7 win total from 2023.

“That’s what you play for and that’s what you coach for,” Amherst coach Tom Thome said. “I remember when I took this job, a lot of people thought I was crazy because they asked me why I wanted to go back to the SWC with a team that had lost so many games in a row. That’s what we do it for. We do it for those Friday nights. It’s better than most environments. We have that for the next seven weeks.”

Avon’s win over Glenville (D-IV) marked its second straight season beating a defending state champion.

“(Five undefeated SWC teams) doesn’t surprise me,” Avon coach Mike Elder said. “I think (the SWC) is a really good league. I’ve always spoken highly of it and I think it’s always prepared us to make deep playoff runs. You don’t come out of the SWC without being battle-tested. Our non-conference schedule is always challenging, but our conference schedule is, too.”

The Eagles are the defending SWC champions. As a team that has won it eight years in a row, they are aiming for the No. 9 spot, knowing that Avon has a target on their backs as they also look to potentially compete for a D-II state championship.

“Because of Avon’s success, we’re going to give everybody the best chance we can,” Elder said. “Everybody’s going to be around us on the schedule as the big game for their school and their program. If they beat us, it’s their year. Our players have to understand that people are going to be hunting them. We don’t want to sit back and be the hunted. We want to be the hunter.”

Olmsted Falls has graduated most of its starting lineup for 2023. DeLuca praised his team’s work as they approached each day of practice, resulting in quality performances on the field.

“It’s a great honor for the kids to want to improve every day and come to practice ready to give it their all,” he said. “It says a lot about who they are and what they want to accomplish.”

Like many SWC teams, Olmsted Falls is still hungry and aiming higher, as a three-time D-II, Region 6 semifinalist.

Two SWC teams face off in the conference opener on Sept. 13. Olmsted Falls will be in one of them, as it takes on North Ridgeville.

It was a game North Ridgeville won, 10-3, on Olmsted Falls’ home field in 2023. The rematch will take place in North Ridgeville.

The Rangers started their season 3-0 for the third straight year. The defense led the way with 13 points allowed and two shutouts.

“We’re healthy right now, which is great,” Morgan said. “Being 3-0 and being healthy is really good for the football season. We know the Southwest Conference challenge is coming up. We’re working hard every day to make sure we’re the best team we can be on Friday.”

Amherst will travel to Midview for the second game of the undefeated SWC teams. Last year, Amherst beat Midview, 17-7, at home.

Among SWC teams, Midview has the advantage of playing in Division III, Region 10. Middies coach Jack Armstrong calls the conference a “meat grinder.”

He hopes the Midview team that emerges from this competition can be playoff ready, even if it’s playing against a smaller roster. This is Midview’s first 3-0 start since 2017, when it went 8-2 (7-2 SWC) regular season.

Midview vs. Elyria Catholic football: Middies shut out Panthers, 27-0

“I think (the SWC) is one of the best Division II-I conferences in all of Ohio,” Armstrong said. “We’re a Division III school, so it’s even more important that we execute, do our job and really put in the work in the weight room, with the technique so we can be competitive week in and week out.”

Week 4 SWC Games (every September 13)

Amherst (3-0) at Midview (3-0), 7 p.m.

Avon Lake (2-1) at Berea-Midpark (1-2), 7 p.m.

Elyria (0-3) at Avon (3-0), 7 p.m.

Olmsted Falls (3-0) at North Ridgeville (3-0), 7 p.m.

Originally published: September 10, 2024 at 5:22 p.m.