CVC TV Game of the Week: Cuyahoga Heights, Berkshire ready to respond

One team spent Week 1 trying to recover from an avalanche. The other spent it waiting for its offense to match its defense.

Both came up one possession short.

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Cuyahoga Heights Football and Berkshire Football get their first opportunity to respond Friday when the Badgers host the Red Wolves in the CVC TV Game of the Week at Great Lakes Cheese Stadium.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Berkshire enters at 0-1 after nearly erasing a 15-point deficit in a 27-22 loss at Harvey. Cuyahoga Heights is also searching for its first victory following a 20-13 home loss to Conneaut.

The records are identical. The paths they took to get there could not have been more different.

Berkshire refuses to stay down

Berkshire could have folded before its season opener was 12 minutes old.

Harvey returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown, added touchdown runs of 55 and 73 yards on its first two offensive touches, and built a 21-6 advantage before the end of the first quarter.

The Badgers also lost starting quarterback Oliver Miller to an injury during their second offensive series.

They kept fighting.

Zac Smith stepped in at quarterback, Trent Holland scored on a 6-yard run, and Smith added the two-point conversion to cut Harvey’s lead to 21-14 by halftime.

Miller returned in the second half and eventually connected with Bear Masink for a 14-yard touchdown on fourth-and-6 with three minutes remaining. That pulled Berkshire within 27-22 before Harvey recovered the ensuing onside kick and ran out the clock.

Despite the loss, the Badgers finished with a 17-7 advantage in first downs and outgained Harvey, 295-287. Berkshire also converted five of its six fourth-down attempts.

Miller completed 9 of 18 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Dasen Marker caught six passes for 93 yards, Bennett Miller caught three for 38 yards and a touchdown, and Masink added two receptions and the late score.

Holland led the ground game with 49 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. Marker added 31 yards on four attempts.

Berkshire proved it could move the football, overcome adversity, and remain dangerous deep into the fourth quarter.

It also learned how expensive a slow start can become.

Cuyahoga Heights creates its own opportunities

Cuyahoga Heights did not generate enough offense to get past Conneaut, but its defense and special teams repeatedly created opportunities.

Nathan Tommer intercepted a pass and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown. He also recorded three solo tackles and an assist.

Liam Conte filled the stat sheet with eight solo tackles, five assists, a tackle for loss, a pass breakup and a blocked extra-point attempt.

Brendan Flynn added five solo tackles, two first hits and an assist. Two of his stops came behind the line of scrimmage, including a sack, and he also registered a quarterback hurry.

Dustin Kraemer rushed 15 times for 85 yards and blocked a punt.

That combination makes the Red Wolves dangerous even when their offense is not consistently sustaining drives. They can change field position, produce points on defense, and create sudden momentum on special teams.

That also presents Berkshire with a clear challenge.

The Badgers committed two turnovers against Harvey while forcing none. Against a Cuyahoga Heights defense that already has produced a pick-six, protecting the football will be as important as producing yards.

Limiting the lightning strikes

Berkshire’s most urgent adjustment is obvious.

The Badgers allowed four Harvey touchdowns, and every one came from long distance. Outside those four plays, Berkshire’s defense held the Red Raiders scoreless and gave its offense enough time to climb back into the game.

Berkshire cannot afford another opening quarter filled with missed fits, broken contain, and sudden scores.

The Badgers will want to force Cuyahoga Heights to drive the length of the field, especially after the Red Wolves struggled to generate points against Conneaut.

Cuyahoga Heights will attempt to create the opposite kind of game.

Conte, Flynn and Tommer give the Red Wolves the ability to disrupt possessions before they develop. Kraemer’s impact as a runner and punt blocker makes him a threat in multiple phases.

Berkshire’s versatility creates its own problems for the Red Wolves. Miller can attack with his arm and legs, Marker emerged as the Badgers’ top Week 1 receiver, and Smith and Masink showed they can handle the football when DeWeese reaches deeper into the playbook.

The matchup could turn on which defense forces the opponent to become more patient.

Red Wolves have controlled the series

Cuyahoga Heights owns a commanding 13-2 advantage in the 15 recorded meetings between the programs since 2005. The Red Wolves have outscored the Badgers, 517-282.

Cuyahoga Heights won the first recorded matchup, 27-19, and captured the first seven meetings in the series.

Berkshire finally broke through with a dramatic 41-40 double-overtime victory in 2015. The Red Wolves responded by winning the next six meetings, including a 38-35 double-overtime thriller in 2021, a 17-6 victory in 2022 and a 27-14 win in 2023.

The most recent meeting went to Berkshire.

The Badgers traveled to Cuyahoga Heights in the 2024 season opener and returned home with a 26-15 victory. Friday gives Berkshire an opportunity to defeat the Red Wolves in consecutive meetings for the first time in the recorded series.

A response game under the lights

An 0-1 start does not define a season, but the response to it can reveal plenty.

Berkshire showed at Harvey that it has the toughness to absorb an early barrage and fight its way back into a game. Now the Badgers must show they can eliminate the mistakes that created the deficit.

Cuyahoga Heights showed against Conneaut that its defense and special teams can produce game-changing moments. Now the Red Wolves need to turn those moments into enough points to finish the job.

Both teams left Week 1 believing they were only a handful of plays away.

Friday night, in front of the CVC TV audience, one of them will prove it made the corrections.

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Cuyahoga Heights

Football Game CenterCuyahoga Heights at Berkshire2026-2027 season

Berkshire

August 28, 2026 • 7:00 PMBerkshire

Cuyahoga Heights 10-1 • Berkshire 5-5

Cuyahoga Heights at Berkshire

Matchup2026-2027 season

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Ohio Varsity Matchup Predictor™

Win Probability

Powered by the OV Sports Engine

High data confidence

Cuyahoga Heights67%

Berkshire33%

Current season: Cuyahoga HeightsRecent head-to-head: Cuyahoga HeightsAll-time series: Cuyahoga HeightsProgram strength: Cuyahoga Heights

Projected Score

Cuyahoga Heights

24

–

Berkshire

20

OV Power Rating13.5 / 10.2Cuyahoga Heights / Berkshire

Momentum MeterHot / FallingLast 3: 3-0 / 1-2

Strength of Schedule35 / 43Light / Average

Game Quality Index43/100Standard matchup

Upset AlertLOWBerkshire has 33% model probability

Why the Predictor Favors Cuyahoga Heights

Cuyahoga Heights carries a 67% modeled win probability because Current season favors Cuyahoga Heights; Recent head-to-head favors Cuyahoga Heights; All-time series favors Cuyahoga Heights. The model refreshes as new results are entered.

Current seasonCuyahoga Heights

Recent head-to-headCuyahoga Heights

All-time seriesCuyahoga Heights

Program strengthCuyahoga Heights

Home fieldBerkshire

The Ohio Varsity Matchup Predictor™ uses the previous three seasons as an early program-strength baseline, then shifts weight toward current-season record and PF/PA as results accumulate. Recent head-to-head results, strength of schedule, momentum and the longer recorded series provide additional context. An unfollowed team's missing data remains neutral instead of erasing known information about its opponent. Home field receives a small adjustment. Predicted score and win probability are editorial estimates, not betting lines.

Since 1972

Historical Notes

Automatically generated from recorded football history • See an inaccuracy? Please report it.

Cuyahoga Heights Win

• Cuyahoga Heights is now 115-7 when scoring 31-40 points since 1972.
• 24 points is Cuyahoga Heights's largest winning margin since Oct. 24, 2025.
• This is Cuyahoga Heights's first game allowing 7 or fewer points since Oct. 24, 2025.

Other Statistical Notes

• This is the 16th recorded meeting between Cuyahoga Heights and Berkshire since 1972.
• Series: Cuyahoga Heights is 14-2 against Berkshire since 1972; average score 35.5-18.1.
• Cuyahoga Heights's largest recorded win in the series: Sep. 11, 2009 • 49-0.
• Highest-scoring meeting: Oct. 16, 2015 • 40-41.
• Series shutouts since 1972: Cuyahoga Heights 1, Berkshire 0.

Program Milestones

• Cuyahoga Heights has recorded 98 shutouts since 1972; the most recent was Sep. 6, 2024.
• Cuyahoga Heights has scored 40+ points 101 times since 1972 (most recently Oct. 17, 2025).
• The program has reached 50+ points 23 times since 1972 (most recently Oct. 10, 2025).
• Berkshire has recorded 65 shutouts since 1972; the most recent was Oct. 24, 2025.
• Berkshire has scored 40+ points 80 times since 1972 (most recently Sep. 26, 2025).
• The program has reached 50+ points 27 times since 1972 (most recently Sep. 6, 2024).

Record by Points Scored

Program record in games falling within each scoring range.

Cuyahoga Heights scoring history

0-1016-134-2152 games

11-2059-59118 games

21-3088-16104 games

31-40115-7122 games

41+90-191 games

Berkshire scoring history

0-1017-123-6146 games

11-2061-81-1143 games

21-3084-26-1111 games

31-4061-970 games

41+70-474 games

Explore Cuyahoga Heights Football Almanac →•Explore Berkshire Football Almanac →

Cuyahoga Heights Results vs. Berkshire

Date	Location	Score
Aug. 28, 2026	Berkshire	Cuyahoga Heights W 31-7
Aug. 23, 2024	—	Cuyahoga Heights L 15-26
Sep. 1, 2023	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 27-14
Aug. 20, 2022	Ralph Adams Stadium	Cuyahoga Heights W 37-6
Aug. 20, 2021	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 38-35
Sep. 21, 2018	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 42-26
Oct. 13, 2017	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 39-12
Oct. 14, 2016	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 49-28
Oct. 16, 2015	—	Cuyahoga Heights L 40-41
Oct. 10, 2014	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 35-18
Oct. 11, 2013	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 41-14
Oct. 5, 2012	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 29-18
Sep. 10, 2010	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 49-6
Sep. 11, 2009	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 49-0
Sep. 29, 2006	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 20-19
Sep. 30, 2005	—	Cuyahoga Heights W 27-19

Historical Data: Series records shown here cover 1972 through the latest imported season. Earlier meetings may not be included.

Season Leaders

Top Performers

Cuyahoga Heights

Top Passer

Zach Shafer

27 YDS • 4-4 • 1 TD

Top Rusher

Zander Meriwether

7 YDS • 2 ATT

Top Receiver

Kurtis Van Divner

26 YDS • 2 REC • 1 TD

Berkshire

Top Passer

Oliver Miller

1,290 YDS • 78-137 • 16 TD • 6 INT

Top Rusher

Oliver Miller

383 YDS • 86 ATT • 11 TD

Top Receiver

Dasen Marker

511 YDS • 33 REC • 5 TD

Cuyahoga Heights Series Record14-216 recorded meetings vs. Berkshire

Cuyahoga Heights Win Percentage.875recorded series vs. Berkshire

Cuyahoga Heights — Last 5 vs. Berkshire

Aug. 28, 2026Berkshire

Cuyahoga Heights W 31-7

Aug. 23, 2024Location not recorded

Cuyahoga Heights L 15-26

Sep. 1, 2023Location not recorded

Cuyahoga Heights W 27-14

Aug. 20, 2022Ralph Adams Stadium

Cuyahoga Heights W 37-6

Aug. 20, 2021Location not recorded

Cuyahoga Heights W 38-35

Cuyahoga Heights vs. Berkshire Series Notes

Latest meeting: Aug. 28, 2026 • Cuyahoga Heights W 31-7

First recorded meeting: Sep. 30, 2005

Cuyahoga Heights longest winning streak: W 7

Berkshire longest winning streak: W 1

Largest Cuyahoga Heights win: Sep. 11, 2009 • 49-0

Highest-scoring game: Oct. 16, 2015 • 40-41

Closest game: Sep. 29, 2006 • 20-19

Average score: Cuyahoga Heights 35.5 • Berkshire 18.1

Season Totals

Team Stats

Stat Category	Cuyahoga Heights	Berkshire
Passing
Yards	27	1361
Comp-Att	4-4	82-152
Comp %	100.0%	53.9%
Yards/Att	6.8	9.0
TD / INT	1 / 0	16 / 6
Rushing
Yards	12	1574
Attempts	3	334
Yards/Carry	4.0	4.7
Touchdowns	0	23
Receiving
Yards	27	1361
Receptions	3	82
Yards/Catch	9.0	16.6
Touchdowns	1	713
Defense
Tackles	0	131
Sacks	0	14
Interceptions	0	1

Season Statbooks

Player Stats

Cuyahoga Heights Stats (2026-2027)

Passing

# ↕	Player ↕	CMP ↕	ATT ↕	PCT ↕	YDS ↕	Y/G ↕	TD ↕	INT ↕	LONG ↕	QB RTG ↕
2	Zach Shafer	4	4	100.0%	27	27.0	1	0	0	153.1

Rushing

# ↕	Player ↕	ATT ↕	YDS ↕	AVG ↕	Y/G ↕	LONG ↕	TD ↕
8	Zander Meriwether	2	7	3.5	7.0	0	0
2	Zach Shafer	1	5	5.0	5.0	0	0

Receiving

# ↕	Player ↕	REC ↕	YDS ↕	AVG ↕	Y/G ↕	LONG ↕	TD ↕
4	Kurtis Van Divner	2	26	13.0	26.0	0	1
8	Zander Meriwether	1	1	1.0	1.0	0	0

All-Purpose Yards

# ↕	Player ↕	RUSH ↕	REC ↕	KR ↕	PR ↕	IR ↕	TOTAL ↕	Y/G ↕
4	Kurtis Van Divner	0	26	0	0	0	26	26.0
8	Zander Meriwether	7	1	0	0	0	8	8.0
2	Zach Shafer	5	0	0	0	0	5	5.0

Total Yards

# ↕	Player ↕	RUSH ↕	PASS ↕	REC ↕	TOTAL ↕	Y/G ↕
2	Zach Shafer	5	27	0	32	32.0
4	Kurtis Van Divner	0	0	26	26	26.0
8	Zander Meriwether	7	0	1	8	8.0

Berkshire Stats (2026-2027)

Passing

# ↕	Player ↕	CMP ↕	ATT ↕	PCT ↕	YDS ↕	Y/G ↕	TD ↕	INT ↕	LONG ↕	QB RTG ↕
2	Oliver Miller	78	137	56.9%	1,290	143.3	16	6	70	109.4
3	Bear Masink	1	1	100.0%	40	4.4	0	0	40	137.5
11	Zac Smith	3	13	23.1%	31	5.2	0	0	25	39.6

Rushing

# ↕	Player ↕	ATT ↕	YDS ↕	AVG ↕	Y/G ↕	LONG ↕	TD ↕
2	Oliver Miller	86	383	4.5	42.6	58	11
20	Trenton Holland	76	322	4.2	35.8	25	4
20	Trent Holland	73	313	4.3	39.1	25	3
10	Estevon Huesca	20	121	6.1	13.4	12	0
27	Brice Walker	7	119	17.0	19.8	80	2
17	Vance Rice	33	95	2.9	19.0	17	0
1	Dasen Marker	15	75	5.0	8.3	16	0
28	Hudson Hunter	5	68	13.6	8.5	21	1
88	Dj Ashba	8	66	8.3	22.0	36	1
72	Anthony Walker	1	8	8.0	0.9	8	1
48	Ryan Demchak-Castro	1	3	3.0	0.3	3	0
9	Jacob Ulatowski	1	1	1.0	0.1	1	0

Receiving

# ↕	Player ↕	REC ↕	YDS ↕	AVG ↕	Y/G ↕	LONG ↕	TD ↕
1	Dasen Marker	33	511	15.5	56.8	60	5
10	Estevon Huesca	14	316	22.6	35.1	70	3
3	Bear Masink	14	181	12.9	20.1	61	3
8	Bennett Miller	12	163	13.6	18.1	41	3
48	Ryan Demchak-Castro	2	101	50.5	11.2	62	1
9	Jacob Ulatowski	3	48	16.0	5.3	42	1
20	Trenton Holland	1	39	39.0	4.3	39	0
4	Josh Heiden	1	3	3.0	0.4	3	0

All-Purpose Yards

# ↕	Player ↕	RUSH ↕	REC ↕	KR ↕	PR ↕	IR ↕	TOTAL ↕	Y/G ↕
1	Dasen Marker	75	511	0	0	0	586	65.1
10	Estevon Huesca	121	316	0	0	0	437	48.6
2	Oliver Miller	383	0	0	0	0	383	42.6
20	Trenton Holland	322	39	0	0	0	361	40.1
20	Trent Holland	313	0	0	0	0	313	39.1
3	Bear Masink	0	181	0	0	0	181	20.1
8	Bennett Miller	0	163	0	0	0	163	18.1
27	Brice Walker	119	0	0	0	0	119	19.8
48	Ryan Demchak-Castro	3	101	0	0	0	104	11.6
17	Vance Rice	95	0	0	0	0	95	19.0
28	Hudson Hunter	68	0	0	0	0	68	8.5
88	Dj Ashba	66	0	0	0	0	66	22.0
9	Jacob Ulatowski	1	48	0	0	0	49	5.4
72	Anthony Walker	8	0	0	0	0	8	0.9
4	Josh Heiden	0	3	0	0	0	3	0.4

Total Yards

# ↕	Player ↕	RUSH ↕	PASS ↕	REC ↕	TOTAL ↕	Y/G ↕
2	Oliver Miller	383	1,290	0	1,673	185.9
1	Dasen Marker	75	0	511	586	65.1
10	Estevon Huesca	121	0	316	437	48.6
20	Trenton Holland	322	0	39	361	40.1
20	Trent Holland	313	0	0	313	313.0
3	Bear Masink	0	40	181	221	24.6
8	Bennett Miller	0	0	163	163	18.1
27	Brice Walker	119	0	0	119	19.8
48	Ryan Demchak-Castro	3	0	101	104	11.6
17	Vance Rice	95	0	0	95	18.8
28	Hudson Hunter	68	0	0	68	8.5
88	Dj Ashba	66	0	0	66	22.0
9	Jacob Ulatowski	1	0	48	49	5.4
11	Zac Smith	0	31	0	31	5.2
72	Anthony Walker	8	0	0	8	0.9
4	Josh Heiden	0	0	3	3	0.4

Tackles

# ↕	Player ↕	SOLO ↕	AST ↕	TOTAL ↕	TFL ↕	SACK ↕
72	Anthony Walker	0.0	0.0	17.0	0.0	0.5
55	Chase Bajzel	0.0	0.0	17.0	0.0	1.5
20	Trent Holland	0.0	0.0	17.0	0.0	1.0
10	Estevon Huesca	0.0	0.0	11.0	0.0	0.0
48	Ryan Demchak-Castro	0.0	0.0	10.0	0.0	0.0
27	Brice Walker	0.0	0.0	8.0	0.0	1.0
4	Josh Heiden	0.0	0.0	8.0	0.0	0.0
17	Vance Rice	0.0	0.0	8.0	0.0	0.0
9	Jacob Ulatowski	0.0	0.0	7.0	0.0	0.0
44	Bradley Sheets	0.0	0.0	6.0	0.0	0.0
40	Ben Pleva	0.0	0.0	5.0	0.0	0.0
1	Dasen Marker	0.0	0.0	4.0	0.0	2.0
11	Zac Smith	0.0	0.0	4.0	0.0	1.0
60	Aidan Andre	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0
3	Bear Masink	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	1.0
8	Bennett Miller	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	2.0
12	Colton Miller Gabbard	0.0	0.0	2.0	0.0	0.0
52	Mason Brewster	0.0	0.0	1.0	0.0	0.0

Sacks

# ↕	Player ↕	SACK ↕	YDL ↕	HUR ↕	TACK ↕	TFL ↕
2	Oliver Miller	3.0	18.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
8	Bennett Miller	2.0	12.0	0.0	2.0	0.0
1	Dasen Marker	2.0	12.0	0.0	4.0	0.0
55	Chase Bajzel	1.5	5.0	0.5	17.0	0.0
3	Bear Masink	1.0	6.0	2.0	2.0	0.0
27	Brice Walker	1.0	6.0	0.0	8.0	0.0
88	Dj Ashba	1.0	6.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
20	Trent Holland	1.0	6.0	0.0	17.0	0.0
11	Zac Smith	1.0	6.0	2.0	4.0	0.0
72	Anthony Walker	0.5	1.0	0.2	17.0	0.0

Interceptions

# ↕	Player ↕	INT ↕	YDS ↕	AVG ↕	LONG ↕	TD ↕
27	Brice Walker	1	0	0.0	0	0

Kicking

# ↕	Player ↕	FGM ↕	FGA ↕	FG% ↕	LONG ↕	XPM ↕	XPA ↕	XP% ↕	PTS ↕
10	Estevon Huesca	0	0	0.0%	0	0	0	0.0%	2
28	Hudson Hunter	0	0	0.0%	0	0	0	0.0%	1
11	Zac Smith	0	0	0.0%	0	0	0	0.0%	1

Punting

# ↕	Player ↕	PUNTS ↕	YDS ↕	AVG ↕	Y/G ↕	IN 20 ↕	LONG ↕
1	Dasen Marker	0	9	0.0	1.0	0	9