Marion Local will be challenged by the 9-2 Tri-Village Patriots. Expect Marion to challenge back in Friday’s quarter-final round. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
With the ‘feel good’ games now in the rear view mirror, week two of the playoffs offer some outstanding matchups that mirror the way it used to be eight teams per region.
There was very little justifying over some of the horrific Week 1 playoff scores in Ohio high school football.
68-0…58-0…62-0…62-0, again…75-14…49-7…48-7…and the list goes down the line, from one division to another, one region to another.
No one wrote, “Hey, kids got to play in the playoffs who never got there before. Now they’ve had a taste.”
And I didn’t hear anyone say, “Hey, when you get beat 62-0 you just have to get better.”
Because, in some cases it may never happen. That’s just the way sports – life – works.
But the best was the comment from a coach this week who added, “Now, we get back to where it should have been all along…sensible, logical football.”
And with that we’ll seek to point those games out, coming off a commendable 8-2 record last week – losing the Milton Union-Miami East pick, and the Versailles-Indian Lake.
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So…let’s dig in.
Ansonia senior Zane Henderson is the WOAC Offensive Player of The Year, and likely difference maker in this week’s second round game with Lehman.
Lehman Catholic @ Ansonia…If you wanted to take the time to drive out into Darke County this would be one of the week’s best. Lehman is 9-2, Ansonia is 10-1, and this picks hinges on one very important contrast. Lehman has the passing game and the athletes to put up a lot of points…46 in a rematch with Riverside last week. But to score you first have to have the ball, and Ansonia’s Knute Rockne style of football makes it very hard to get the ball. And when the Tigers have the ball they’re capable of using up time of possession better than anyone I’ve seen all year. Ansonia has a durable running back named Zane Henderson and he’s going to get his money’s worth Friday. I’m picking the Tigers to move on…by two scores over Lehman.
Miami East @ West Liberty…It was very close last week, and emotional in a 14-6 win over old-time rival Milton Union, but now Miami East has to go on the road to 10-1 West Liberty and play a very athletic 10-1 football team who beat better football teams with winning records this year, notably Mechanicsburg. A nice year for the Vikings at 8-3, but I can’t see them going any farther. Taking West Liberty-Salem in this one, by three scores.
Northeastern @ Coldwater...Northeastern coach Jake Buchholtz is a good dude and has done yeoman’s work in making Jets football a consistent winner in a short amount of time. He even added a cherry on top last week with a playoff win over West Jefferson, even if it’s not the same West Jeff we’ve come to admire. But Northeastern will go no farther than round two, like the old days of a #1 versus #8. I expect this to be wide open, just like the old days. Baylen Blockberger will be the best weapon Northeastern has seen all year. Cavaliers, by four scores, or more.
Tri-Village @ Marion Local…Riding their 59-game win streak, the question regarding Marion Local is simply…who’s next. In this case, the Tri-Village Patriots whose 9-2 season is heartening…but not nearly enough against the power and depth of Marion. Marion can score in so many ways, but it’s their defense that opens eyes. Marion has allowed just 22 points all season, has eight shutouts, and hasn’t been scored upon in six weeks. Tri-Village has six wins where they’ve scored 40 points or more, which is impressive, but it won’t help them much this week. The Marion streak will reach 60…by at least four scores.
Weaving his way…Minster’s Dylan Heitkamp scored the winning TD with a minute to go in the first meeting with St. Henry. Minster won that game, 12-7.
St. Henry @ Minster…By far the toughest of this list to break down this week…because Minster is back healthy with all-impact James Niemeyer cleared to play, and only Marion Local in local Division VII is either as explosive on offense, or more explosive. But that said, a month ago Minster struggled to a 12-7 win over this same St. Henry team…a game played in the aftermath of the Hurricane down south – wet, sloppy, and impossible to throw the football. This week’s going to dry, St. Henry is playing with a lot of confidence, and at 7-4 the Redskins have won five games in a row. It would be easy to pick this as the surprise upset, just based on emotion alone. But Minster simply has too many weapons, is a senior-laden team, and they really believe that they’re as good as their 9-2 record. The ‘Cats’ only losses have come against Marion Local and Coldwater…the only team to hold Marion Local to at least a three-touchdown margin of victory. Love to pick red in this one, but my mind tells me that Minster is really going to play well at home – the logical pick. I like the ‘Cats, by two scores this time.
Harrison @ Xenia…If Xenia can eliminate some of the mistakes, give the ball to Deaunte White about 30 times, and keep Harrison off the field, they can win this game. I really do think the two teams match up well, athletically, so White (the MVL’s leading rusher, 1,895 yards) becomes the X-factor. Keep Harrison (9-2) off the field, do what Clinton-Massie did to them (21-17 loss), and just keep giving the ball to Deaunte. I’ll take Xenia, by a score, and I bet I’m the only one.
Loramie @ Cincinnati College Prep…At 8-2, CCP got there by beating a lot of Montessori and lesser private schools…and caught Summit Country Day on a rebuilding year. For Loramie (6-5) is in rebuild mode, themselves, but owns a three-game win streak and is accustomed to playing better teams. CCP does not have a very good history against teams from west-central Ohio, and I don’t think they can beat Loramie, even at home. Taking Loramie, by two scores.
Few area coaches been more successful in big moments than Tipp’s Matt Burgbacher with the Red Devils. They have another one Friday with St. Marys.
St. Marys @ Tipp…Both Matt and Charlie Burgbacher cut their teeth on Wing-T football, so they should be right at home against Bo Frye and the St. Marys Roughriders. St. Marys is 8-2, well-tested, but they haven’t played teams that are as well-rounded as Tipp, who can both run and throw the ball…and whose defense improves with each passing week. The trick here is to keep St. Marys on defense, so they can’t grind down the clock and shorten the game, and give themselves a chance to win at the end. Sounds easy enough, but Bo is a direct descendant of Doug Fry, who won a lot of close football games in the manner I just described, you got it – sensible, and logical. Still, Tipp is the better all-around team, and should win this game by two scores.
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