Time to shred the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason poll.

John Carroll, a team picked to finish fifth in the 10-team conference, moved to 24th in the D3football.com Top 25. The ranking is a product of a blistering start with three victories by a combined 96-7.

The Blue Streaks handled Otterbein, 28-0, on Saturday night to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2003. Otterbein was picked to finish fourth in the OAC preseason poll.  John Carroll also has handled Baldwin Wallace, 27-7. The Yellow Jackets were picked third in the preseason poll.

The quality of competition makes John Carroll's start even more impressive. Otterbein, Baldwin Wallace and St. Norbert, a team the Blue Streaks hammered 41-0 in Week 1, went a combined 23-7 last season.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Linfield (2-0) at Case Western Reserve (1-2)

When: Noon

Where: Case Field

What to watch for: Talk about a difficult Homecoming opponent. Linfield, a 2,566-student school in McMinnville, Ore., is ranked No. 2 in the D3football.com poll. The Wildcats lead the nation in points (61.5) and yards per game (658.0). They are also balanced, averaging 287.5 rushing and 370.5 passing yards per game. Case rushed for 294 yards in last week's 36-33 loss to Frostburg State. Junior Ricky Hanzlik (Mentor) rushed for 105 yards in the loss.

Notre Dame College (2-1, 1-1 Mountain East) at Charleston (1-2, 1-1)

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Laidley Field, Charleston, W.Va.

What to watch for: Notre Dame College is 2-1 for the first time in school history and could match last year's win total with a victory over Charleston. With Colton Wallace and Mikhail Morgan trying to play through injuries, senior Jack Foy has become a big-play target for quarterback Ray  Russ (South). Foy has eclipsed 100 receiving yards in all three games. He leads the Mountain East Conference with 35 receptions and 364 receiving yards. Russ completed a school-record 32 passes in last week's 34-25 victory over West Virginia Wesleyan. Charleston defensive back Isaiah Gibson has 5 1/2 tackles for losses and has forced two fumbles.

Otterbein (1-1, 1-0 OAC) at John Carroll (2-0, 1-0)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Shula Stadium

What to watch for: John Carroll enters its first home game after crunching St. Norbert, 41-0, and Baldwin Wallace, 27-7. The Blue Streaks have outgained their opponents, 1,032-297. Wide receivers Marshall Howell (Benedictine) and Aramis Greenwood (Fairport native) are off to fast starts. Howell, a freshman, has caught 10 passes for 263 yards. Greenwood has 13 catches for 240 yards. Otterbein was picked to finish fourth, one spot ahead of John Carroll, in the Ohio Athletic Conference preseason poll. The Cardinals went 8-2 and defeated John Carroll, 21-7, last season. This year's team fell to nationally-ranked St. John Fisher, 28-0, in Week 1.

Lake Erie College (1-2, 1-1 GLIAC) and Saginaw Valley State (2-1, 2-0)

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Harvey Randall Wickes Stadium, Saginaw, Mich.

What to watch for: Another Lake Erie College game. Another shootout? The possibility for some instant offense exists. LEC averages 39 points and 534.7 yards per game. Saginaw Valley State averages 39.3 points and 485.3 yards. The Storm's secondary will face a major test. Saginaw Valley State quarterback J. Jennings has completed 51 of 80 passes for 905 yards and his nine touchdowns lead the GLIAC. Seniors Jeff Janis and Mark Thrash have combined for 549 receiving yards. LEC sophomore Anthony Bilal (Riverside) has three straight 100-yard rushing games and leads the GLIAC with 517 yards on 86 carries. Quarterback Brendan Gallagher has developed into a dual threat for the Storm. The senior has produced 667 passing and 220 rushing yards.

-- Guy Cipriano |  @newsheraldguy

Two of the three Ohio Athletic Conference Players of the Week attended Lake County high schools.

John Carroll senior linebacker Mitch Krotz (Madison) received defensive honors while junior kicker Kresimir Ivkovic (Lake Catholic) earned the special teams award.

The duo played huge parts in the Blue Streaks' 27-7 victory over Baldwin Wallace. Krotz had a game-high 15 tackles, including seven solo and 3 1/2 for losses. Ivkovic kicked a career-long 45-yard field goal. He added a 28-yard field and three extra points.

Unlike many conferences, the OAC lists other players nominated for its weekly awards. Heidelberg defensive tackle Will Nunnally (Euclid) received consideration for defensive honors. Nunnally had six tackles, 1 1/2 sacks and broke up a pass in the Scarlet Princes' 55-27 victory over Ohio Northern.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

A quick look at where some area players and teams rank among the NCAA leaders:

-- Lake Erie College sophomore running back Anthony Bilal (Riverside) is tied for the Division II lead with nine touchdowns. Bilal is ranked fourth with 517 rushing yards through three games.

-- Lake Erie College is ranked 11th in total offense (534.7 ypg). In an encouraging sign, the Storm moved from 158th to 137th in total defense following this past weekend's 35-17 victory over Wayne State. They are allowing 487.3 yards per game.

-- Notre Dame College is ranked 50th in Division II in total offense (452.3 ypg). NDC junior quarterback Ray Russ (South) is ranked 23rd with 872 passing yards.

-- John Carroll leads Division III in total defense (148.5 ypg). The Blue Streaks are ranked second in scoring defense (3.5 ppg).

-- John Carroll junior quarterback Mark Myers, a Pitt transfer, is seventh in total offense (375.5 ypg).

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

John Carroll has entered an odd place in the Division III football hierarchy.

The Blue Streaks are listed first among other teams receiving votes in the D3football.com poll released Sunday night. John Carroll received 33 points. The separation between John Carroll and No. 25 Cal Lutheran is one point.

This weekend's 27-7 victory over then-No. 23 Baldwin Wallace has led to the Blue Streaks' rise. They received no points in preseason and Weeks 1 and 2 polls. The Blue Streaks opened with a 41-0 victory over St. Norbert on Sept. 7.

First-year John Carroll Tom Arth is satisfied with his team's start. But he turned diplomatic when asked after the Baldwin Wallace game if the Blue Streaks are one of top Division III teams.

"I don't know that," he said. "We hope every Saturday that we come out we can be the best team on the field that day. We really focus on ourselves, really focus on being the best we can be."

The Blue Streaks are 2-0 for the first time since 2007. They face Otterbein (1-1) on Saturday night at Shula Stadium. John Carroll hasn't started 3-0 since 2003.

No. 1 Mount Union and No. 13 Heidelberg give the Ohio Athletic Conference two ranked teams. John Carroll ends the season against the duo, facing Heidelberg in University Heights on Nov. 9 and visiting Mount Union on Nov. 16.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Wayne State (1-1) at Lake Erie College (0-2)

When: 1 p.m., Saturday

Where: Jack Britt Memorial Stadium, Painesville

What to watch for: Can Lake Erie College's defense stop Wayne State's running attack? The Storm have allowed a 200-yard rusher in each of their first two games. Wayne State running back Toney Davis already has 302 rushing yards in three games against LEC. A shootout is possible. LEC averages 41 points per game, Wayne State averages 31. Wayne State coach Paul Winters is an Akron graduate who served as the Zips' running backs coach/offensive coordinator from 1994-2003 before landing at Wayne State in 2004. The Warriors went 12-4 and reached the NCAA Division II title game in 2011. They were 5-5 last season.

Case Western Reserve (1-1) at Frostburg State (0-2)

When: 1 p.m., Saturday

Where: Bobcat Stadium, Frostburg, Md.

What to watch for: Case Western Reserve faces a short week as it tries to recover from Sunday's 19-2 loss at Oberlin. The Spartans will be playing in the state of Maryland for the first time. The loss at Oberlin was a rare road gaffe. Case is 28-3 in road games since 2007. Frostburg State is the former home of the Washington Redskins' training camp. The Bobcats opened with losses to Geneva, 47-3, and Waynesburg, 59-49.

West Virginia Wesleyan (1-1) at Notre Dame College (1-1)

When: 2 p.m., Saturday

Where: Mueller Field, South Euclid

What to watch for: Notre Dame College is hosting its first ever Mountain East Conference home game against a West Virginia Wesleyan team that hammered Virginia-Wise, 37-7, last week. The Bobcats opened the season with a 49-7 loss to FCS member Elon. West Virginia Wesleyan intercepted six passes against Virginia-Wise. NDC quarterback Ray Russ had an interesting game last week against Urbana. Russ not only completed 24 passes, but he punted seven times in the 39-19 loss. NDC's defense was on the field for 102 plays, including 64 in the first half, against Urbana. The unit allowed 591 yards.

John Carroll (1-0) at Baldwin Wallace (1-0)

When: 6 p.m., Saturday

Where: Finnie Stadium, Berea

What to watch for: A key early-season Ohio Athletic Conference game. Baldwin Wallace won last year's game, 32-28, on Josiah Holt's 84-yard touchdown reception with 1:21 left. Holt accumulated 327 total yards against the Blue Streaks last year. And, yes, Holt still plays for the Yellow Jackets. The quarterbacks feature contrasting styles. John Carroll's Mark Myers is a pocket passer. Baldwin Wallace's Michael Slack is a dual threat. Baldwin Wallace holds a 25-23-4 lead in the all-time series. The winner receives the Cuyahoga Gold Bowl Trophy. Pro Football Hall of Famer Don Shula and College Football Hall of Famer Lee Tressel have participated in the series.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Lake Erie College's Mark McNellie wasn't the only Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference coach solemnly staring at the scoreboard following his team's opener.

The powerful Division II conference endured a difficult Week 1. The 13 teams that played last weekend went a combined 3-10. Grand Valley State, Findlay and Ohio Dominican were the only winners. Grand Valley State handled Azusa Pacific, 38-17, Findlay outlasted Urbana, 51-33, and Ohio Dominican crunched Georgetown (Ky.), 41-14.

The losses came in a variety of forms, with Lake Erie allowing a late touchdown in a 36-33 loss to Gannon and Ashland and Sanginaw Valley State losing to Indianapolis and Northwest Missouri State, respectively, in games featuring two ranked teams. Ashland, which lost to Indianapolis, 10-9, tumbled from No. 9 to No. 21 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll. Saginaw Valley State, which fell to Northwest Missouri State, 45-24, dropped out of the Top 25.

No GLIAC team had a more difficult Week 1 assignment than Ferris State. The Bulldogs faced two-time FCS champion North Dakota State in the raucous Fargo Dome. North Dakota State, which opened the season by defeating Kansas State, whipped Ferris State, 56-10.

Up next for Ferris State? The Bulldogs play host to Lake Erie on Saturday night.

Two GLIAC teams -- Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan -- begin their seasons this weekend. They join Grand Valley State as the only North Division teams without losses.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy

Area colleges went 3-for-3 in producing offensive players of the week for their respective conferences.

A weekend filled with big offensive statistics started last Thursday, when Lake Erie College running back Anthony Bilal rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in 36-33 loss to Gannon. On Tuesday, Bilal, a Riverside graduate, received Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors.

Bilal's yardage total is the second highest in LEC history. Kameron Alexander rushed for 214 yards against Tiffin on Nov. 6, 2010. Bilal, a Riverside graduate, had an electrifying 71-yard touchdown run with less than five minutes remaining against Gannon.

Quarterbacks Ray Russ of Notre Dame College and Mark Myers of John Carroll also started 2013 with big games.

Russ, a South graduate, received the first ever Mountain East Conference Offensive Player of the Week award by completing 27 of 38 passes for 340 yards and two touchdowns in a 37-31 victory over Malone. The yardage total is a career high for Russ.

Myers, the Ohio Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week, also produced huge passing numbers, completing 26 of 41 passes for a school-record 526 yards in a 41-0 victory over St. Norbert in Chicago. Myers, who threw four touchdown passes, held the previous record of 474 yards, a total he reached Oct. 12, 2012 against Muskingum. John Carroll started playing football in 1920, meaning it takes some huge numbers to hold the top two spots on any school-record list.

Bilal is a sophomore. Russ and Myers are juniors.

Perhaps last week's performances -- and this week's awards -- are harbingers for huge seasons from the second-year starters.

-- Guy Cipriano | @newsheraldguy