The opening week of the playoffs feature a lot of questionable matchups for both participants and people who pay to see them. We’ll share with you our picks of the best.
Since expanding the OHSAA football playoffs to sixteen teams per region three years ago, I, along with many others, have questioned why so many teams and games, when it competitively benefits about the same number as it did when there were eight teams per region.
The official explanation is that it expands opportunity to teams that have never been in the post-season, and in some cases, may never be in the post-season, otherwise. But to most it’s a purely emotional decision, and culture driven.
And I won’t go into more games, more tickets sold, and more revenue… I’ve been to some of the high seeds versus the twelve through sixteen seeds already when there weren’t enough people there to pay the light bill.
But some sixteens have decided that this year they’ve had enough football…opening the door for ‘whosoever will may play’.
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Already this week Cedarville (4-6), and New Miami (3-6), have both declined #16 seed playoff spots because, one would assume, they’re either not healthy enough or competitive enough. With a combined record of 7-12, they’re better than some…but they’re realistic. Cedarville and New Miami would have been on a crash course with #1 seed Marion Local, but like former lightweight boxer Roberto Duran once famously said…”No mas, no mas” at the prospect of Marion, who’s allowed just 22 points all season. Fort Recovery (2-8) has accepted the opportunity to take that spot in the first round, after losing 62-0 to the Flyers three weeks ago.
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Given some of the opening games this week, we’re going to focus on the most competitive matchups – only one #1 against #16 – based on what we’ve seen, or know about, from the regular season.
So in no particular order….
#15 Manchester makes a four-hour drive from Adams County to play Brogan Stephey (above) and the #2 seed Minster Wildcats.
Manchester @ Minster (Div. VII)…Manchester (3-6) is making a four-hour bus trip from the Ohio River (Adams County) to Minster to play the 8-2 Wildcats, a #2 versus a #15. There’s not a lot to say about this game, except to say that Manchester has never seen the kind of athletic quarterback (Brogan Stephey) and assortment of skill players (James Niemeyer, Caleb Couse, Cole Richard, and Connor Schmiesing) against Green, Federal Hocking, and Sciotoville East high schools. Running clock in the third quarter, Minster wins this by multiple scores.
Twin Valley South @ Ansonia (Div. VII)…Not as far to drive, this is a rematch of TVS and Ansonia when they played back in late September. Ansonia won that game 35-0, and I see no reason to expect less this time, either. I would expect a big night for the Tigers’ Zane Henderson and the rest of the running attack. Ansonia, again…and probably the same score.
Riverside @ Lehman (Division VII)…At 4-6 Riverside is probably one of the more competitive 4-6 teams in the first week’s games. They lost to Lehman (8-2) a month ago on a miserable muddy field (34-18), but it took the Cavaliers three quarters to break away to a 16-point win. Since that game Riverside has lost two of three, and Lehman has won two of three. This will be a better game than the first one, but Lehman still has more speed and the ability to stretch the field with their pass game. This is a significant game for Lehman to get past because of those who question whether the Cavs are as good as their record would indicate. Played on a better, turf field, it will be closer than the first game…but I’m sticking with Lehman, by two scores.
Turner Lachey and Lehman seeks a second win in four weeks when the #5 Cavaliers host #12 Riverside.
Lima Perry @ Anna (Division VI)…At 7-3 Anna will overwhelmingly be the best team that Perry (5-5) has seen in the Northwest Central Conference. And Anna’s three losses came against Minster, Marion Local, and Coldwater. Not hard to figure out…Anna in this one, by at least three scores.
Oxford Talawanda @ Tipp (Div. III)…This is, in fact, a #1 vs. #16, but it’s more about Tipp than Talawanda. Talawanda (3-7) has played a pretty competitive schedule. But that said, Tipp is by far the best team they’ve seen this year. Too much run game, and Larkin Thomas will throw the ball effectively for the Red Devils. Plus, Talawanda hasn’t seen a defense that can do what Tipp did to Xenia last week. I think the best #1 vs. #16 in our area. Red Devils…by three scores.
Franklin @ Wapakoneta (Div. III)…Franklin is 4-6, Wapakoneta is 10-0 against better competition. There’s a big difference between Wapak and Washington Court House. That’s about all you need to know. Except this. Look for Wapak to have a pretty good run of it as the #2 seed in Region 12. I think they, and Tipp, are by far the best in that group. Wapak by three scores.
Troy @ Harrison…At 8-2, Harrison would be the odds-on favorite to beat Troy (6-4), because overall strength of schedule favors Harrison. Both have won four of their last five, and Harrison has been putting up a bunch of points. If this was in Troy I’d pick the Trojans. But being that they have to travel, I think that matters for two teams this evenly matched. Troy has had its ups and downs this year, and I fear that this may be a down. Taking Harrison, at home, by a score.
Milton Union @ Miami East (Div. V)…Old, old rivals from the good ol’ days of area football, now conference rivals in the Three Rivers Conference. Milton won this game a month ago by 32-14. And East has won four in a row since losing to Milton. But Milton won five of its last six, losing only to Northridge and I’m always impressed with the Bulldogs competitive spirit in rivalry games. This one means something a little more. Taking Milton Union again in this one, by two scores.
A most competitive rematch…St. Henry knocked off New Bremen 21-14 when the two teams met in week 9.
Versailles @ Indian Lake (Div. V)…Versailles won its first five when they were healthy, and since have lost five in a row against the teeth of the MAC – Marion, Minster, Coldwater, Anna, and St. Henry. Indian Lake (8-2) is probably physically healthier for this game, but they haven’t played the kind of schedule in the Central Buckeye Conference that Versailles has seen the last five weeks. Simply put, this is a ‘who have you played game’? On the road, I’m still taking Versailles to win…by two scores.
New Bremen @ St. Henry (Div. VII)…This could be the best game on this entire list, a #7 vs #10. St. Hank is 6-4, has won four in a row, and I think my #1 turnaround team in area football this year. The future is bright for first year coach Josh Werling and the ‘Skins. Likewise, New Bremen (5-5) last lost three of four, but they have the tools with quarterback Gavin Dicke and running back Rogan Muether to make life miserable for a higher seed. St. Hank and Bremen played exactly two weeks ago at New Bremen and the Redskins won that game 21-14. This is a tough pick because these two are the best-matched game on this list. That said, I’ll stick with St. Henry (because I know Jim Lachey is reading). Redskins, again, by a score.
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