Week 11…Teams We Know, And Teams We Don’t…The Playoffs

Our Week 11 list features teams we’re familiar with and teams we aren’t.  The verdict?  Go with what you know, and a little help from the unexpected.

It’s Week 1 of the OHSAA playoffs, and what a lot of people really want to know is why do teams have to drive three hours to play a round-one tournament football game?

The answer:  It’s predicated on the particular region, by record, and geography.  In the case of Region 24, Versailles going to Portsmouth, for instance, it just worked out that the #5 team (Portsmouth) represents the far reaches of Region 24, and that’s the Ohio River.  Needless to say, it’s a big region taking in nearly all of southwest Ohio, including the Cincinnati area.

Covington, also in Region 24, will be traveling to Ross County, about half as far as Portsmouth.

St. Henry travels to the eastern boundary of the Region 24, to the London area.

And St. Bernard-Elmwood Place has to find Mechanicsburg, coming north from Cincinnati.

And, the top four seeds in the respective divisions don’t travel at all on Week 11.  They all earned byes, so picking five through twelve is tough because they don’t get the publicity…and there’s not a lot known about out-of-the-area teams because we never see them during the season.

But the neat thing about playoff football is getting to see some parts of the state you’ve never seen – from a school bus, of course.  And if you’re going to Portsmouth may I recommend that you go early enough for dinner at the Ribber, one of the state’s most unique steak houses.  Can’t go wrong.

More about games in a minute, but first…the Friday Night ‘Picks’ are brought to you by the Orthopedic Associates of Southwest Ohio, with nine locations to add convenience and confidence to your experience.  You couldn’t be in better hands, if and when you need their care.  The Orthopedic Associates of Southwest Ohio, sponsors this week of the playoffs’ ‘Picks’ page, the second season of Ohio High School football.

We will acknowledge a message received from a reader named Joyce saying it would be neat – special – for her school and community if their game could head the list this week.  And Joyce, we hear you, and happily start out with….

Butler @ Troy (Div. II)…These two played each other during the regular season about a month ago in a game that Troy pretty much dominated offensively, scoring 45 points off a big running night by Casey Anderson.  The Trojans won that game 45-31, and the question that I have with rematches is always what the losing team learned defensively.  In this case, what did Troy learned defensively because Butler scored too many points on the Trojans to take anything for granted this week.  Troy is going to run the ball until you prove they can’t.  And conversely, Butler is going to throw it, and did so successfully in their previous meeting.  There’s all kinds of angles you can dwell on with this game, but Butler’s three losses all came against teams that proved they could control the line of scrimmage – Piqua, Tipp, and Troy.  I expect that again.  I like Troy to win it, closer this time…by a score.

Covington @ Huntington (Div. VI)…I know very little about the team from suburban Huntington Township, outside of Chillicothe, and in instances like that you make some calls…and you compare schedules.  My instinct tells me that Covington is the more physical of the two, and Huntington will throw the ball because they can.  Hosting their first playoff game ever, the Huntsmen can run with a tandem of backs that have combined for over 1,300 yards.  But quarterback Frankie Frisch has thrown for 1,200 yards, too, so there’s balance.  And while Covington has a long history of playoff appearances, Huntington does not.   Covington is athletic, they have speed, and they have played good teams like Miami East tough.  If…and I say if…Covington can control their focus and play their game they’ll be fine, because I know they’re going to hit.  Huntington will have the edge with playing the overall tougher schedule…Newark Catholic, Unioto, and Portsmouth West. But does that prove anything?  Huntington has won 6 of their last 7.  Covington has won five in a row.  The emotional choice is Covington, but I fear the hometown advantage, and the passing game.  I’m guessing Huntington…by a score.

Elmwood Place @ Mechanicsburg (Division VI)…Schedule is a big asset for Mechanicsburg.  The Indians have played a much better grade of competition, and physical football will be ‘Burg’s advantage.  Elmwood Place has not played a Madison Plains, Urbana, or West Jefferson.  I like the Indians to win it by two scores, and if they get an early lead, advantage ‘Burg.

St. Henry @ Madison Plains…There may not be a team anywhere playing better or with more confidence than St. Henry, and the Redskins are going to have the athletic advantage over Madison Plains (8-2).  Madison can score in Ohio Heritage Conference, but they might have some issues at the line of scrimmage against the Redskins.  St. Henry will be stout, and Drew Langenkamp will get plenty of action at running back.  I like St. Henry by three scores.

Ridgemont @ New Bremen…I’ve seen Ridgemont one time in the past five years, but I know they’ve lost four of their last five and that New Bremen is playing with a two-game win streak.  Too much Cardinal confidence in this game, and the run game with Jacob Kelly will buzz behind Gavin Dicke.  I like Bremen by three scores.

Coldwater @ Genoa Area…Having lost three consecutive games entering the playoffs, there is no more dangerous first-round opponent than Coldwater.  And trust it, they’re not playing Anna, St. Henry or Marion Local this week.  Long trip, but expect Coldwater and Karsyn Homan to rebound and play like Coldwater.  Cavaliers by two scores.

Tri-County North @ Fort Loramie…Historically, I can’t think of another team that I seen personally that plays better at home than the Redskins.  What that means is…I’m not sure I’ve seen them lose when I was there.  But it does happen because the Redskins (5-5) are coming off a three-game loss streak and one of them was Bluffton, at home.  My point in bringing that up is that I can’t think of another Division VII team who’s played a tougher schedule this year than Loramie – LCC, Bluffton, Allen East, Columbus Grove, and Minster…five playoff teams with 40 wins between them.  That’s not the case this week, although TCN is 8-2, but with Tanner Heckman at quarterback Loramie is one of the toughest 5-5 teams in Division VII, and they’re playing where?  At home.  I like their chances…Loramie by two scores.   

Versailles @ Portsmouth…So if you’re going to Portsmouth I think it’s one of the more unique venues for tournament football.  The stadium is memorable, the food at the Ribber, two blocks away, is as good as there is in southern Ohio, and a win makes the trip home that much shorter.  Portsmouth West is 8-2, but not 8-2 against teams the likes of which Versailles has played.  If Loramie has played the toughest schedule in Division VII, I can’t believe anyone has played one tougher than Versailles in Division VI.  The Tigers are 6-4, have their featured running back (Landyn Knapke) healed from an early injury, and one of the best offensive lines in the tournament.  So, they’ll run the ball, try to control the clock and line of scrimmage, and be on the bus back to Darke County by no later than 10 pm.  Portsmouth West is talented with a pair of running backs (Anthony Bishop and Westyn Ratcliff) who’ve averaged nearly a hundred yards rushing a piece – 2,000 yards between them for the year.  They’re not a throwing team, so it comes down to who can win the line of scrimmage…and the clock.  To do that Versailles has to clamp down on the running game, keep the Portsmouth offense off the field, and initiate long drives of their own.  Comparing strength of schedule, Versailles has played the MAC even (4-4) and handed Cincinnati Hill Christian Academy its only loss of the season.  They’re also the healthiest they’ve been all year and I expect them to play well.  ‘Tiger-ball’ comes home happy…by two scores.