Week 5…Light At The End Of The Tunnel For Teams Coming Into Their Own

Believe it or not, it’s the halfway point of the regular season and area teams reach with a grip  – confidence – in what works between now and the end of the season.

Believe it. Week 4 brought some stunning results in area football.

Eye-opening results to some who buy into what’s written too much, over what plays out on Friday night.

Examples?

St. Henry’s stunning 39-0 win over Anna, at Anna, and a team that many, including PPM, believed to be a team destined to deliver the blow prior to the season, instead of absorbing one – two actually – in a span of three weeks.

Covington’s dramatic 14-13 win over Miami East came as a surprise, but not a shock to coaches like Austin Morgan (and others) that believe in the results of hard work and pursuit of the process.  The Buccs’ win over East may turn out to be a turning point for their season, with more winnable games just head on their schedule.

Troy’s 28-14 win over rival Piqua might have proven that the Trojans, under first-year coach Ryan Jones, have settled into a zone of confidence prior to big upcoming games with Tipp and Butler.

And London and Urbana found their own way of  proving they’re as good as the best of Central Buckeye Conference has to offer on a given night.

So it all brings us to Week 5 of the Friday Night ‘Picks’, as always, sponsored by the Orthopedic Associates of Southwest Ohio, with offices in Centerville, Dayton, Fairborn, Troy, Sidney, Hamilton, Greenville, Springfield, and Eaton – nine of them – to best serve you if and when you need orthopedic care.  Their reputation for care and compassion is second to none, and the convenience of an office near you makes your journey to an optimum result that much more pleasant.  Call them when you need them…the Orthopedic Associates of Southwest Ohio, sponsors of the Friday Night ‘Picks’ on Press Pros.

And what does Week 5 bring?  Well, some more cataclysmic clashes of teams with a chance to see light at the end of the tunnel.  “Just Win, Baby,”  Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis used to say.  Win, and put the pressure on the other teams to keep pace…and you’re going to see some of that this week – Butler vs. Tipp…Tri-Village vs. Ansonia…Covington vs. Riverside…Coldwater vs. Minster…and Marion Local vs. Anna, to name a few.

Can we get ’em right.  Well, coming off another 11 for 12 week, we’ll see.  Beginning with….

Ansonia @ Tri-Village…Our first look at either of these Division VI and VII powers from the WOAC.  But who’s surprised that they’re both unbeaten after four weeks and flexing with post-season ambition.  Tri-Village and Ansonia are mirror-like in their style of play…Ansonia preferring more to control clock, and shorten the game.  Simply put, the team who can score first probably has an advantage in this game because neither is known for throwing the ball in 2026.  And neither is known for special teams play.  It’s slug it out in the trenches and move the chains.  Both will rely on the run game (Jacob Schmitmeyer at Ansonia…and Staley Colston at Tri-Village) and take their chances on benefiting from a turnover or mistake.  And they’ve scored their points in that manner.  Who wins?  Tri-Village has won three of the last five, so flip a coin if you want.  Tri-Village is the home team, but if Ansonia can get out on top they’re tough to beat…anywhere!  Probably won’t be that exciting, but I’m picking the Tigers on a hunch in this one, by a score.

Covington @ Riverside…Another not-so-easy pick, given the numbers and the competition leading up to the game.  Without question, Covington (2-2) has two wins that are better than Riverside’s three (3-1), with the Buccs’ wins over Arcanum and Miami East.  The question is whether the Buccs can avoid a letdown with going on the road up to De Graf to play.  Can they keep Riverside’s running game out of the end zone?  And can Covington score, averaging just 7 points per game against their last three opponents?  I think the Buccs are going to have a winning season, but I don’t know if this is going to be one of those wins.  Riverside, with their style and their environment, is tough to beat at home.  I like the Pirates, by a score.

Coldwater @ Minster….Beautiful matchup, if you love orange and black.  Tough game to pick if respect the competitive instincts of the two teams.  Both are 4-0, and both have their points to like.  But statistically (and stats matter in football like no other sport), Coldwater has more numbers and likely more weapons to stop than does Minster.  And Coldwater, agree or not, has proven it against the tougher schedule (Valley View and Clinton-Massie).  Coming off last week’s win over New Bremen and Braxton Taylor’s five-touchdown/245 yards rushing performance, Minster will have a lot for which to prepare.  Simply put, I like Coldwater, by at least two scores.

Anna @ Marion Local…Anna is suddenly the surprise of area football, having a pair of losses that came in surprising fashion – a last minute drive loss to Fort Loramie and a landslide loss to St. Henry.  Marion, on the other hand, has just been Marion, seemingly improving in some facet of its game with each passing week.  But what you’d better notice about Marion is its propensity to limit teams to 7 points or less in three of its four wins.  That blue and gold defense is beginning to find its core.  Make no mistake, Anna is capable of winning, but now has to get over some bumps and bruises, both physical and mental.  Who can explain football?  But this is how it works until Anna figures itself out.  Marion Local is my pick…by two, maybe three scores.

St. Henry @ Parkway…One of those games that’s more about the turnaround with St. Henry than the outcome by game’s end.  Why the sudden difference in the ‘Skins with impressive wins over Versailles and Anna?  They’ve gotten healthy, pure and simple.  They’re capable of winning the line of scrimmage on any given night and they have enough skill position athletes to ignite for big plays when big plays are necessary.  And, their confidence is peaking.  St. Hank is that team that you have to respect now because they’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel.  And next week they may prove that they’re a legitimate threat to Marion and Coldwater for the conference crown – seeing that light.  Redskins by four scores over Parkway.

Delphos St. John @ New Bremen…Very important game for New Bremen, and a team that I thought would be a tough out in 2026 prior to the season.  Coming off disappointing losses Minster and Coldwater, they have to be thinking frame of mind with Versailles, St. Henry, and Marion just ahead.  And at Delphos (1-3), it’s been a tough week.  Gavin Dicke is a playmaker for the Cardinals and Jacob Kelly is coming off his best performance with a 161 rushing yards.  At home, I have no issues with this pick. Cardinals to win, by four scores.

Crestview @ Fort Loramie…At 3-1, I’m not sure anyone considered Fort Loramie as they might consider them if they beat Crestview this week and move to 4-1.  But the first of three straight home games gives the Redskins a not-so-routine schedule advantage.  And if they can take advantage of Crestview (Lima Central Catholic, and Spencerville), they, too, will be looking at light at the end of the tunnel come late October when they play they the toughest trio of their 2026 schedule – Columbus Grove, Bluffton, and Allen East.  But they have to win now, and I like them Friday against Crestview.  Fort Loramie, at home, by two scores.

Fairborn @ Troy…If you believe in trap games, here’s the classic example.  3-1 Fairborn is not accustomed to being 3-1, but give the Skyhawks credit for beating the teams they should beat.  Troy, coming off their rival win over Piqua, needs to come back to earth in time to take care of business, because the ‘Hawks have scored a lot of points against everyone except Tipp City.  And if you want to measure Troy, this is a game they have to win for light at the end of the tunnel.   At home, I think Ryan Jones will have the juice he needs, namely quarterback Colton Akins and a run game.  Taking Troy to win…by two scores.

Bellefontaine @ Indian Lake…Indian Lake is a bit bruised with back-to-back losses to Allen East and London, and Bellefontaine is simply young and doing its best to play through the growing pains.  Not a good road matchup for the Chieftains this week, but a game that Indian Lake has to win to see the ligh –  a ‘get’ game for the Lakers.  I have them by three scores over the Chieftains.

London @ Graham…Another trap game if you’re a London fan, because at 3-1 Graham is capable of doing enough things to frustrate a team like London that can’t throw the football.  Or maybe I should say….won’t throw the football!  Point being, Graham is capable of playing tough, physical football, as evidenced by their by their near-miss last week against Urbana (42-34).  London’s only loss is to New Albany and should be able to manage what will be their toughest road test until they play Jon Alder in two weeks.  I take the Raiders to win this one, by two scores.

Urbana @ North Union…Urbana is scoring a lot of points.  North Union isn’t giving up a lot of points, plain and simple.  But Union isn’t playing teams like Urbana and London, either.  Last week, against Jon Alder, they got handled by two scores.  If I were talking with Geron Stokes he’d say…”if we don’t believe, and we’re not relentless, we don’t belong in the conversation.”  Well, in fact, they do belong in the conversation and belief amounts to how well they can execute and limit mistakes.  If they can do that, Grady Lantz is too much a factor to ignore for Urbana.  On a road in a tough football matchup…I’ll take Urbana, again, by two scores.

Butler @ Tippecanoe…If you’re Tipp you don’t believe in nursery rhymes and Dr. Suess, unless, that is, it’s quarterback Drew Suess, from Butler, who’s thrown for 734 yards and 9 touchdowns.  That stat simply must to be appreciated just four games into the season.  And if you’re Butler (4-0), you have to appreciate that Tipp has apparently gotten over its opening loss hiccup to Bellbrook, and gotten healthier at some key positions.  More importantly, Butler has not beaten Tipp in football since way back in 2017, prior to Matt Burgbacher as coach…eight years!  This is the game in Week 5, at least in our market, and Tipp’s season, and probably their mentality, is riding on the outcome.  Because the Red Devils, once again, are good.  They’re 3-1.  But they need a proving win to hang their hat on and this (and Troy) is as close as they’ll havfe.  Everything statistically between the two is close enough to have it come down to a game of will.  At home, I will not pick against Tipp until I know better. Close game, but I’ll the take the Devils, by a score.