It may be hard to believe for some, but we’re midway through the high school football regular season.

There have been some good starts to the season, some disappointments and stellar play.

So, why not take a look at some of the biggest surprises that have popped up through the first five weeks of the season? And hopefully there won’t be any jinxes that take effect for future games.

BULLDOGS GOT SOME BITE

Lakeview has to be one of the biggest surprises in the first half of the season.

The Bulldogs came out of the first half with a 4-1 record after going 5-6 last season. Their only loss so far has come at the hands of an undefeated South Range.

This week, they were listed as the No. 7 team in the Division V Region 17 computer rankings.

It should be said that Lakeview got off to a 3-2 start last season, but the Northeast 8 schedule has been a tough one since the league’s founding. So the story of the 2024 Lakeview football team will be determined over the next month.

IS BOARDMAN BACK?

Boardman has been a little bit of a weird program.

It’s one of the biggest programs in the region. Yet, the Spartans have struggled to put together a breakout season for years.

Boardman’s last winning season came via a 6-5 campaign in 2018, and since then, they’ve gone 3-7, 4-4, 4-5, 4-6 and last season was the worst at 1-9.

But this season has been a little different.

The Spartans pulled out a 19-18 win over Kenston to open the season, and now they enter Week 6 with a 3-2 record. They have a shot at a winning season, but it will be a matter of putting together a strong second half.

They were ranked eighth in the Division II Region 5 computer rankings this week. Add a home game against Warren G. Harding (Oct. 4) and a road meeting with Fitch (Oct. 18), and the Spartans could make a statement.

Are the Spartans going to make a run to the state title? Probably not, but it doesn’t mean they can’t make some noise and get on the right path.

NO STOPPING JURJAVCIC

East Palestine quarterback Owen Jurjavcic carved his way through Columbiana County to start the year.

Jurjavcic has compiled 1,520 yards of total offense through five games. He’s completed 36-of-34 passes (56.2 percent) for 467 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. On the ground, he amassed 1,053 yards and 16 touchdowns on 134 carries (7.9 yards per carry).

By comparison, Jurjavcic threw for 1,094 yards, five touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year, and he ran for 749 yards and nine scores.

His play has led the Bulldogs to a 3-2 record so far. They went 3-16 over the previous two seasons, so it’s not only individual success, but the team’s taking a step forward as well.

WARREN JFK’S WINNING AGAIN

There were going to be some growing pains for the John F. Kennedy football program.

After years as an assistant throughout the Mahoning Valley, JFK head coach Damon Buente got his first crack at being a head coach last season. And there were some bumps and bruises.

The Eagles 2-7 last year, with wins coming against Champion (1-9) and St. Thomas Aquinas (0-10). There were high expectations after former head coach Dominic Prologo had the Eagles making deep playoff runs during his three-year stint on the sideline.

But so far, the down year was worth it.

Kennedy has gotten off to a 4-1 start, including a win over 4-1 Garfield and a close loss to a 4-1 LaBrae team.

As of this week, Buente has the Eagles sitting fifth in the Division VII Region 25 computer rankings.

Speaking of playoffs, the Eagles have a schedule full of larger schools. They can pick up more points down the stretch since they don’t play a Division VII program this season.

If they can put together another strong half, that will only help the Eagles in an attempt to make another postseason run.