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Everything you need ahead of Week 2 of high school football in Ashland County is right here!

ASHLAND ― Week 2 is here, and the county went 4-5 in their openers ― albeit two of those being head-to-head matchups.

Let's check out the key storylines this weekend and get you ready for kickoff.

Most Intriguing Games

Marion Harding (1-0) at Ashland (1-0)

Marion's biggest school vs. Ashland's biggest school. Both loaded with dynamic athletes, both with sky high expectations this season, and both looking to stay undefeated on the season. This could also be a playoff preview with both teams in Division II, Region 7. It's the Arrows' last home game until Week 5, so they'll be eager to give the crowd a show before going on the road.

Lucas (1-0) at Hillsdale (1-0)

Two of the premier small schools in the greater area, both have had state runs in the last decade and are notorious for giving each other their all whenever they suit up. It'll be the reigning state runner-up Falcons hosting a Lucas team getting into a groove with now second-year head coach Jim Sweat. The Falcons scored six touchdowns quickly and coasted, throttling Plymouth by hanging 51 on the Big Red. Since these two got each other on the schedule in 2021, it has been nothing but nailbiters — 14-12 Lucas in 2021, 14-13 Lucas in 2022, 21-17 Hillsdale in 2023, 26-8 Hillsdale in 2024.

Bishop Rosecrans (1-0) at New London (1-0)

The Bishops walloped the Wildcats in Zanesville last season 44-14 in what was New London's first season back at 11-man football. A full year under their belts back at full speed and in front of the home crowd for the first time this fall, New London will be eager to win back-to-back games for the first time since Week 8 and Week 9 in 2020.

Northwestern (0-1) at Black River (0-1)

What better way to round out the weekend than a county clash? Both teams are coming off losses to great teams, both teams are hungry for a win, and both teams will be eager to gain bragging rights over the other. With the Pirates at home, they'll want to avenge last year's defeat to the Huskies.

Ashland quarterback Nathan Bernhard scrambles up the middle.

Player to Watch

This is the week I'm going to have my eyes on Ashland's Nathan Bernhard, even though I'll physically be in Jeromesville. He put on a show against Bay last week and now gets a Harding team that matches up nicely with the Arrows. Will he be able to pick apart the Prexies? We'll see in a few days.

What We Need to Learn

How are our winless teams going to bounce back? Two of them face each other, so at least one win is guaranteed. Crestview has a brutal game at Kirtland, Mapleton gets a winnable game against Wellington, as does South Central against Buckeye Central.